# Create a project

Create a project so a service or team gets its own API keys, models and funding.

## Before you begin

- You need the Owner, Admin or Account Manager role. [Roles and permissions](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/reference/roles-and-permissions.md) lists what each role can do.
- Decide how the project is funded. You can't change the funding mode later.

## Create the project

1. In the sidebar, open **Projects** and select **New Project**.
2. Enter a **Name**. It's required, must be unique, and can be up to 255 characters.
3. Optional: enter a **Code** of letters, digits and hyphens, up to 64 characters. Leave it blank to get a generated code such as `PRJ-2026-0001`.
4. Choose how the project is funded:
   - **Funded** gives the project a budget. It stops when the budget is spent.
   - **Tracked** has no limit by default, and ATLAS records its cost. You can add a monthly limit later. See [Fund a project or set a monthly limit](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-fund-a-project.md).
5. For a **Funded** project, you can enter an **Opening allocation** and a reason, for example "Q3 pilot budget". Enter both or neither.
6. Select **Create Project**.

**Result:** the project opens as active. A Funded project with no allocation refuses all traffic until you [add funds](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-fund-a-project.md). A Tracked project serves traffic straight away.

## Archive, reactivate or delete a project

- **Archive** stops all gateway traffic but keeps the keys and history. **Reactivate** restores service. Both are in the **Project actions** menu on the list and in the project header.
- **Delete** (Owner and Admins only) opens **Delete Project** with a preview of what will be destroyed: the project's own API keys and its memberships. Deletion is permanent, but ATLAS keeps the recorded spend.

Deleting a project deletes the project's own keys only. People's personal API keys that were acting under the project aren't deleted. They stay with their owners and lose their acting context, so their owners must switch them to another project or space.

## Related

- [Fund a project or set a monthly limit](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-fund-a-project.md)
- [Manage project members](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-manage-members.md)
- [Configure a project's models and AI settings](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/guides/admin/projects-configure-models-and-ai-settings.md)
- [Projects](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/concepts/projects.md)
- [Project lifecycle](https://docs.atlas.ilionx.dev/concepts/projects.md#lifecycle)