How to Open Your Encrypted API Key File

What you will need: The email from Sunwave Support telling you which patient chart the file is in, the password (included in that email), and about 5 minutes of your time.

Overview

Your Sunwave support team has placed an encrypted file containing your API credentials (Client ID and Client Secret) directly inside your Sunwave environment. The file is in the .7z archive format and has been password-protected using AES-256 encryption to keep your credentials safe in transit.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to find the file, install the free software needed to open it, and decrypt it.

Why the file is password-protected

Your Client ID and Client Secret are like a username and password for your Sunwave API. Encrypting the file means that even if it's intercepted or forwarded by mistake, the credentials inside stay unreadable without the password — so please keep the password private and don't share it alongside the file.

Step 1 — Install 7-Zip (Windows) or The Unarchiver (Mac)

Your computer needs a free app to open the encrypted .7z file. You only need to do this once — once installed, it will handle every future encrypted file from Sunwave automatically.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 — 7-Zip Windows

Windows cannot open .7z files without additional software, even on Windows 11. You will need to install 7-Zip, which is free and widely trusted.

Visit Download in your browser.
Click the download link for the 64-bit Windows installer (the file ending in .exe). Most modern computers are 64-bit — if you are unsure, choose 64-bit.
Open the downloaded file. Click Install when prompted, then Close when finished.
You do not need to open 7-Zip — it works automatically when you right-click a file.

Video guide: How to install 7-Zip on Windows (YouTube search)

Mac — The Unarchiver macOS

Macs need a free app called The Unarchiver to open .7z files.

Open the App Store on your Mac (in your Dock, or press ⌘ + Space and type App Store).
Search for The Unarchiver and install it — it is completely free.
Direct link: The Unarchiver on the Mac App Store
After installing, open The Unarchiver once and confirm that 7-Zip archive (.7z) is checked in its list of supported formats.

Alternative: If you don't have an Apple ID for the App Store, you can use Keka instead — it's free at https://www.keka.io. Just download, drag into your Applications folder, and it will open .7z files via double-click in the same way.

Video guide: How to open a password-protected .7z file on Mac (YouTube search)

Step 2 — Find the file in your Sunwave chart

Your support team uploaded the encrypted file directly into your Sunwave environment so it never had to travel as an email attachment.

Log into your Sunwave environment.
Use the name and MRI from the Sunwave Support email to find the test patient.
Navigate to the section of the chart shown in the screenshot from the email — your file is attached there.
Click the file to download it. It will be named something like YourOrg_APIKeys_May2026.7z. Save it somewhere easy to find, such as your Desktop or your Downloads folder (which is where browsers usually save files by default).

Step 3 — Open (decrypt) the file

Windows (7-Zip) Windows

Locate the downloaded .7z file on your computer.
Right-click the file. On Windows 11, you may need to click Show More Options first to see the 7-Zip menu.
Hover over 7-Zip, then click Extract Here.
A password prompt will appear. Type or paste the password from the Sunwave Support email and click OK.
A .txt file will appear in the same folder as the archive. Double-click it to open your credentials in Notepad.

Mac (The Unarchiver or Keka) macOS

Locate the downloaded .7z file (e.g., in your Downloads folder or on your Desktop).
Double-click the file. If it does not open automatically, right-click the file → Open With → The Unarchiver (or Keka).
Choose where to save the extracted file (e.g., your Desktop) and click Extract.
Enter the password from the Sunwave Support email when prompted and click OK.
A .txt file will appear in the folder you chose. Double-click it to open your credentials in TextEdit.

Step 4 — Store your credentials safely

Do not email or share your credentials in plain text. Treat them like a password — keep them private. API keys can grant access to nearly all the PHI stored in Sunwave.

Store them in your organization's password manager or a secure internal document.
Do not paste them into shared spreadsheets, public channels, or support tickets.
If you believe your credentials may have been compromised, contact Sunwave Support immediately to have them revoked and regenerated.

Troubleshooting

The password isn't working. The most common cause is an accidental extra space when copying from the email. Try copying the password again carefully — make sure you don't grab a space before or after it. Passwords are case-sensitive, so capitalization matters. Do not keep guessing — if it still fails after a careful copy-paste, contact Sunwave Support.

Windows says "We can't open this file" or doesn't show a 7-Zip option. 7-Zip is not installed yet, or the installation didn't finish. Go back to Step 1 and install 7-Zip from Download , then try again.

Mac shows an error or won't open the file. The Unarchiver (or Keka) is not installed yet, or .7z isn't enabled in its supported formats. Go back to Step 1 and complete the installation, including the step that confirms .7z is checked.

I can't find the file in Sunwave. Double-check that you're looking at the correct test patient — the name and MRI in the support email must match exactly. The file is attached to a form in that patient's chart, in the location shown in the screenshot from the email.

Need help? If the file won't open, the password doesn't work, or you can't find the file in Sunwave — contact Sunwave Support at support@sunwavehealth.com and we will assist you right away. Do not attempt to guess the password repeatedly.