> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.seismic.systems/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.seismic.systems/clients/python/src20/intelligence-providers/register-viewing-key.md).

# register\_viewing\_key

Register a viewing key in the Directory contract

Register a 32-byte AES-256 viewing key in the Directory genesis contract for SRC20 event decryption.

## Signatures

```python
def register_viewing_key(
    w3: Web3,
    encryption: EncryptionState,
    private_key: PrivateKey,
    key: Bytes32,
) -> HexBytes

async def async_register_viewing_key(
    w3: AsyncWeb3,
    encryption: EncryptionState,
    private_key: PrivateKey,
    key: Bytes32,
) -> HexBytes
```

## Parameters

| Parameter     | Type                                                               | Description                         |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- |
| `w3`          | `Web3` / `AsyncWeb3`                                               | Web3 instance with Seismic support  |
| `encryption`  | [`EncryptionState`](/clients/python/client/encryption-state.md)    | Encryption state from wallet client |
| `private_key` | [`PrivateKey`](/clients/python/api-reference/types/private-key.md) | Signing key for the transaction     |
| `key`         | [`Bytes32`](/clients/python/api-reference/types/bytes32.md)        | Viewing key to register             |

## Returns

`HexBytes` — transaction hash.

## Example

```python
import os
from seismic_web3 import PrivateKey, Bytes32, SEISMIC_TESTNET
from seismic_web3.src20 import register_viewing_key

pk = PrivateKey.from_hex_str(os.environ["PRIVATE_KEY"])
w3 = SEISMIC_TESTNET.wallet_client(pk)

viewing_key = Bytes32(os.urandom(32))
tx_hash = register_viewing_key(w3, w3.seismic.encryption, pk, key=viewing_key)
receipt = w3.eth.wait_for_transaction_receipt(tx_hash)
print(f"Registered in block {receipt['blockNumber']}")
```

## Notes

* Uses a **shielded write** (`setKey(suint256)`) — the key is encrypted in transit
* Registering a new key overwrites the previous one
* The key is stored per `msg.sender` address
* `compute_key_hash(key)` returns the `keccak256` hash used for event topic filtering

## See Also

* [get\_viewing\_key](/clients/python/src20/intelligence-providers/get-viewing-key.md) — Fetch your viewing key back
* [check\_has\_key](/clients/python/src20/intelligence-providers/check-has-key.md) — Check if an address has a registered key


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