diff --git a/build_process/commit_12_api_key_validation.md b/build_process/commit_12_api_key_validation.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65d1b7fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build_process/commit_12_api_key_validation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# Commit 12: Real API Key Validation & OpenRouter Support
+
+## Overview
+Implemented real API key validation by making actual API calls to each provider, replacing the mock validation. Also added OpenRouter as a new provider option.
+
+## Changes
+
+### 1. Real API Key Validation (`electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts`)
+
+**Before**: Mock validation that only checked key format (e.g., `apiKey.startsWith('sk-ant-')`)
+
+**After**: Real API validation that sends a minimal chat completion request to verify the key works
+
+#### New Functions Added:
+- `validateApiKeyWithProvider(providerType, apiKey)` - Routes to provider-specific validation
+- `validateAnthropicKey(apiKey)` - Calls Anthropic `/v1/messages` endpoint
+- `validateOpenAIKey(apiKey)` - Calls OpenAI `/v1/chat/completions` endpoint
+- `validateGoogleKey(apiKey)` - Calls Google Gemini `generateContent` endpoint
+- `validateOpenRouterKey(apiKey)` - Calls OpenRouter `/api/v1/chat/completions` endpoint
+- `parseApiError(data)` - Extracts user-friendly error messages from API responses
+
+#### Validation Logic:
+- Sends minimal request with `max_tokens: 1` and message "hi"
+- HTTP 200: Key is valid
+- HTTP 401/403: Invalid API key
+- HTTP 429: Rate limited but key is valid
+- HTTP 402 (OpenRouter): No credits but key is valid
+- HTTP 400/404: Check error message for auth vs model issues
+
+#### Error Handling:
+- Returns user-friendly "Invalid API key" instead of raw API errors like "User not found."
+
+### 2. Setup Page Real Validation (`src/pages/Setup/index.tsx`)
+
+**Before**:
+```typescript
+// Mock validation
+await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1500));
+const isValid = apiKey.length > 10;
+```
+
+**After**:
+```typescript
+// Real API validation via IPC
+const result = await window.electron.ipcRenderer.invoke(
+  'provider:validateKey',
+  selectedProvider,
+  apiKey
+);
+```
+
+### 3. OpenRouter Provider Support
+
+Added OpenRouter to:
+- `src/pages/Setup/index.tsx` - Provider selection in setup wizard
+- `src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx` - Provider settings panel
+- `electron/utils/secure-storage.ts` - ProviderConfig type
+- `src/stores/providers.ts` - ProviderConfig type
+
+### 4. IPC Handler Improvement
+
+Modified `provider:validateKey` handler to accept provider type directly:
+- During setup, provider may not exist in storage yet
+- Falls back to using `providerId` as the provider type
+- Enables validation before provider is saved
+
+## Files Changed
+- `electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts` - Real API validation implementation (+300 lines)
+- `src/pages/Setup/index.tsx` - Real validation call, OpenRouter option
+- `src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx` - OpenRouter option
+- `electron/utils/secure-storage.ts` - OpenRouter type
+- `src/stores/providers.ts` - OpenRouter type
+
+## API Endpoints Used
+| Provider | Endpoint | Model |
+|----------|----------|-------|
+| Anthropic | `https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages` | claude-3-haiku-20240307 |
+| OpenAI | `https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions` | gpt-4o-mini |
+| Google | `https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/gemini-2.0-flash:generateContent` | gemini-2.0-flash |
+| OpenRouter | `https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions` | meta-llama/llama-3.2-3b-instruct:free |
+
+## Testing
+1. Select OpenRouter in setup wizard
+2. Enter an invalid API key (e.g., "asdasfdsadf")
+3. Click Validate - should show "Invalid API key"
+4. Enter a valid API key
+5. Click Validate - should show "API key validated successfully"
diff --git a/build_process/process.md b/build_process/process.md
index 7da31783c..b60ff3092 100644
--- a/build_process/process.md
+++ b/build_process/process.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 * [commit_9] Skills browser - Bundles, categories, detail dialog
 * [commit_10] Cron tasks - Create/edit dialog, schedule presets, improved UI
 * [commit_11] OpenClaw submodule fix - GitHub URL, auto-generated token, WebSocket auth
+* [commit_12] Real API key validation - OpenRouter support, actual API calls to verify keys
 
 ### Plan:
 1. ~~Initialize project structure~~ ✅
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ All core features have been implemented:
 - Skills browser with bundles
 - Cron tasks management for scheduled automation
 - OpenClaw submodule from official GitHub (v2026.2.3) with auto-token auth
+- Real API key validation via actual API calls (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, OpenRouter)
 
 ## Version Milestones
 
diff --git a/electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts b/electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts
index eb93e5f25..60273958b 100644
--- a/electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts
+++ b/electron/main/ipc-handlers.ts
@@ -266,45 +266,326 @@ function registerProviderHandlers(): void {
     return await getDefaultProvider();
   });
   
-  // Validate API key by making a test request (simulated for now)
+  // Validate API key by making a real test request to the provider
+  // providerId can be either a stored provider ID or a provider type (e.g., 'openrouter', 'anthropic')
   ipcMain.handle('provider:validateKey', async (_, providerId: string, apiKey: string) => {
-    // In a real implementation, this would make a test API call to the provider
-    // For now, we'll just do basic format validation
     try {
-      // Basic validation based on provider type
+      // First try to get existing provider
       const provider = await getProvider(providerId);
-      if (!provider) {
-        return { valid: false, error: 'Provider not found' };
-      }
       
-      switch (provider.type) {
-        case 'anthropic':
-          if (!apiKey.startsWith('sk-ant-')) {
-            return { valid: false, error: 'Anthropic keys should start with sk-ant-' };
-          }
-          break;
-        case 'openai':
-          if (!apiKey.startsWith('sk-')) {
-            return { valid: false, error: 'OpenAI keys should start with sk-' };
-          }
-          break;
-        case 'google':
-          if (apiKey.length < 20) {
-            return { valid: false, error: 'Google API key seems too short' };
-          }
-          break;
-      }
+      // Use provider.type if provider exists, otherwise use providerId as the type
+      // This allows validation during setup when provider hasn't been saved yet
+      const providerType = provider?.type || providerId;
       
-      // Simulate API validation delay
-      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
-      
-      return { valid: true };
+      console.log(`Validating API key for provider type: ${providerType}`);
+      return await validateApiKeyWithProvider(providerType, apiKey);
     } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Validation error:', error);
       return { valid: false, error: String(error) };
     }
   });
 }
 
+/**
+ * Validate API key by making a real chat completion API call to the provider
+ * This sends a minimal "hi" message to verify the key works
+ */
+async function validateApiKeyWithProvider(
+  providerType: string,
+  apiKey: string
+): Promise<{ valid: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  const trimmedKey = apiKey.trim();
+  if (!trimmedKey) {
+    return { valid: false, error: 'API key is required' };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    switch (providerType) {
+      case 'anthropic':
+        return await validateAnthropicKey(trimmedKey);
+      case 'openai':
+        return await validateOpenAIKey(trimmedKey);
+      case 'google':
+        return await validateGoogleKey(trimmedKey);
+      case 'openrouter':
+        return await validateOpenRouterKey(trimmedKey);
+      case 'ollama':
+        // Ollama doesn't require API key validation
+        return { valid: true };
+      default:
+        // For custom providers, just check the key is not empty
+        return { valid: true };
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
+    return { valid: false, error: errorMessage };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse error message from API response
+ */
+function parseApiError(data: unknown): string {
+  if (!data || typeof data !== 'object') return 'Unknown error';
+  
+  // Anthropic format: { error: { message: "..." } }
+  // OpenAI format: { error: { message: "..." } }
+  // Google format: { error: { message: "..." } }
+  const obj = data as { error?: { message?: string; type?: string }; message?: string };
+  
+  if (obj.error?.message) return obj.error.message;
+  if (obj.message) return obj.message;
+  
+  return 'Unknown error';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate Anthropic API key by making a minimal chat completion request
+ */
+async function validateAnthropicKey(apiKey: string): Promise<{ valid: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch('https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'x-api-key': apiKey,
+        'anthropic-version': '2023-06-01',
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        model: 'claude-3-haiku-20240307',
+        max_tokens: 1,
+        messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'hi' }],
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const data = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+
+    if (response.ok) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Authentication error
+    if (response.status === 401) {
+      return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+    }
+
+    // Permission error (invalid key format, etc.)
+    if (response.status === 403) {
+      return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) };
+    }
+
+    // Rate limit or overloaded - key is valid but service is busy
+    if (response.status === 429 || response.status === 529) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Model not found or bad request but auth passed - key is valid
+    if (response.status === 400 || response.status === 404) {
+      const errorType = (data as { error?: { type?: string } })?.error?.type;
+      if (errorType === 'authentication_error' || errorType === 'invalid_api_key') {
+        return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+      }
+      // Other errors like invalid_request_error mean the key is valid
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) || `API error: ${response.status}` };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return { valid: false, error: `Connection error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}` };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate OpenAI API key by making a minimal chat completion request
+ */
+async function validateOpenAIKey(apiKey: string): Promise<{ valid: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch('https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        model: 'gpt-4o-mini',
+        max_tokens: 1,
+        messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'hi' }],
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const data = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+
+    if (response.ok) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Authentication error
+    if (response.status === 401) {
+      return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+    }
+
+    // Rate limit - key is valid
+    if (response.status === 429) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Model not found or bad request but auth passed - key is valid
+    if (response.status === 400 || response.status === 404) {
+      const errorCode = (data as { error?: { code?: string } })?.error?.code;
+      if (errorCode === 'invalid_api_key') {
+        return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+      }
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) || `API error: ${response.status}` };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return { valid: false, error: `Connection error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}` };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate Google (Gemini) API key by making a minimal generate content request
+ */
+async function validateGoogleKey(apiKey: string): Promise<{ valid: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  try {
+    const response = await fetch(
+      `https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/models/gemini-2.0-flash:generateContent?key=${apiKey}`,
+      {
+        method: 'POST',
+        headers: {
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          contents: [{ parts: [{ text: 'hi' }] }],
+          generationConfig: { maxOutputTokens: 1 },
+        }),
+      }
+    );
+
+    const data = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+
+    if (response.ok) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Authentication error
+    if (response.status === 400 || response.status === 401 || response.status === 403) {
+      const errorStatus = (data as { error?: { status?: string } })?.error?.status;
+      if (errorStatus === 'UNAUTHENTICATED' || errorStatus === 'PERMISSION_DENIED') {
+        return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+      }
+      // Check if it's actually an auth error
+      const errorMessage = parseApiError(data).toLowerCase();
+      if (errorMessage.includes('api key') || errorMessage.includes('invalid') || errorMessage.includes('unauthorized')) {
+        return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) };
+      }
+      // Other errors mean key is valid
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Rate limit - key is valid
+    if (response.status === 429) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) || `API error: ${response.status}` };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return { valid: false, error: `Connection error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}` };
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate OpenRouter API key by making a minimal chat completion request
+ */
+async function validateOpenRouterKey(apiKey: string): Promise<{ valid: boolean; error?: string }> {
+  try {
+    // Use a popular free model for validation
+    const response = await fetch('https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
+        'HTTP-Referer': 'https://clawx.app',
+        'X-Title': 'ClawX',
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify({
+        model: 'meta-llama/llama-3.2-3b-instruct:free',
+        max_tokens: 1,
+        messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'hi' }],
+      }),
+    });
+
+    const data = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+    console.log('OpenRouter validation response:', response.status, JSON.stringify(data));
+
+    // Helper to check if error message indicates auth failure
+    const isAuthError = (d: unknown): boolean => {
+      const errorObj = (d as { error?: { message?: string; code?: number | string; type?: string } })?.error;
+      if (!errorObj) return false;
+      
+      const message = (errorObj.message || '').toLowerCase();
+      const code = errorObj.code;
+      const type = (errorObj.type || '').toLowerCase();
+      
+      // Check for explicit auth-related errors
+      if (code === 401 || code === '401' || code === 403 || code === '403') return true;
+      if (type.includes('auth') || type.includes('invalid')) return true;
+      if (message.includes('invalid api key') || message.includes('invalid key') || 
+          message.includes('unauthorized') || message.includes('authentication') ||
+          message.includes('invalid credentials') || message.includes('api key is not valid')) {
+        return true;
+      }
+      return false;
+    };
+
+    if (response.ok) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Always check for auth errors in the response body first
+    if (isAuthError(data)) {
+      // Return user-friendly message instead of raw API errors like "User not found."
+      return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+    }
+
+    // Authentication error status codes - always return user-friendly message
+    if (response.status === 401 || response.status === 403) {
+      return { valid: false, error: 'Invalid API key' };
+    }
+
+    // Rate limit - key is valid
+    if (response.status === 429) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // Payment required or insufficient credits - key format is valid
+    if (response.status === 402) {
+      return { valid: true };
+    }
+
+    // For 400/404, we must be very careful - only consider valid if clearly not an auth issue
+    if (response.status === 400 || response.status === 404) {
+      // If we got here without detecting auth error, it might be a model issue
+      // But be conservative - require explicit success indication
+      const errorObj = (data as { error?: { message?: string; code?: number } })?.error;
+      const message = (errorObj?.message || '').toLowerCase();
+      
+      // Only consider valid if the error is clearly about the model, not the key
+      if (message.includes('model') && !message.includes('key') && !message.includes('auth')) {
+        return { valid: true };
+      }
+      
+      // Default to invalid for ambiguous 400/404 errors
+      return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) || 'Invalid API key or request' };
+    }
+
+    return { valid: false, error: parseApiError(data) || `API error: ${response.status}` };
+  } catch (error) {
+    return { valid: false, error: `Connection error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}` };
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Shell-related IPC handlers
  */
diff --git a/electron/utils/secure-storage.ts b/electron/utils/secure-storage.ts
index fbb861d30..140140728 100644
--- a/electron/utils/secure-storage.ts
+++ b/electron/utils/secure-storage.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ async function getProviderStore() {
 export interface ProviderConfig {
   id: string;
   name: string;
-  type: 'anthropic' | 'openai' | 'google' | 'ollama' | 'custom';
+  type: 'anthropic' | 'openai' | 'google' | 'openrouter' | 'ollama' | 'custom';
   baseUrl?: string;
   model?: string;
   enabled: boolean;
diff --git a/src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx b/src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx
index f452fc32d..298225030 100644
--- a/src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx
+++ b/src/components/settings/ProvidersSettings.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const providerTypes = [
   { id: 'anthropic', name: 'Anthropic', icon: '🤖', placeholder: 'sk-ant-api03-...' },
   { id: 'openai', name: 'OpenAI', icon: '💚', placeholder: 'sk-proj-...' },
   { id: 'google', name: 'Google', icon: '🔷', placeholder: 'AIza...' },
+  { id: 'openrouter', name: 'OpenRouter', icon: '🌐', placeholder: 'sk-or-v1-...' },
   { id: 'ollama', name: 'Ollama', icon: '🦙', placeholder: 'Not required' },
   { id: 'custom', name: 'Custom', icon: '⚙️', placeholder: 'API key...' },
 ];
diff --git a/src/pages/Setup/index.tsx b/src/pages/Setup/index.tsx
index 9cdfafdeb..8b5764b7a 100644
--- a/src/pages/Setup/index.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Setup/index.tsx
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ const providers: Provider[] = [
   { id: 'anthropic', name: 'Anthropic', model: 'Claude', icon: '🤖', placeholder: 'sk-ant-...' },
   { id: 'openai', name: 'OpenAI', model: 'GPT-4', icon: '💚', placeholder: 'sk-...' },
   { id: 'google', name: 'Google', model: 'Gemini', icon: '🔷', placeholder: 'AI...' },
+  { id: 'openrouter', name: 'OpenRouter', model: 'Multi-Model', icon: '🌐', placeholder: 'sk-or-...' },
 ];
 
 // Channel types
@@ -593,18 +594,26 @@ function ProviderContent({
     setValidating(true);
     setKeyValid(null);
     
-    // Simulate API key validation
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1500));
-    
-    // Basic validation - just check format
-    const isValid = apiKey.length > 10;
-    setKeyValid(isValid);
-    setValidating(false);
-    
-    if (isValid) {
-      toast.success('API key validated successfully');
-    } else {
-      toast.error('Invalid API key format');
+    try {
+      // Call real API validation
+      const result = await window.electron.ipcRenderer.invoke(
+        'provider:validateKey',
+        selectedProvider,
+        apiKey
+      ) as { valid: boolean; error?: string };
+      
+      setKeyValid(result.valid);
+      
+      if (result.valid) {
+        toast.success('API key validated successfully');
+      } else {
+        toast.error(result.error || 'Invalid API key');
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      setKeyValid(false);
+      toast.error('Validation failed: ' + String(error));
+    } finally {
+      setValidating(false);
     }
   };
   
diff --git a/src/stores/providers.ts b/src/stores/providers.ts
index 69bb4edb2..755781256 100644
--- a/src/stores/providers.ts
+++ b/src/stores/providers.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { create } from 'zustand';
 export interface ProviderConfig {
   id: string;
   name: string;
-  type: 'anthropic' | 'openai' | 'google' | 'ollama' | 'custom';
+  type: 'anthropic' | 'openai' | 'google' | 'openrouter' | 'ollama' | 'custom';
   baseUrl?: string;
   model?: string;
   enabled: boolean;