diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4d29575..2706b36 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 /.pnp
 .pnp.js
 
+# env files
+.env
+
 # testing
 /coverage
 
diff --git a/src/App.js b/src/App.js
index 99bd8f3..d76f0d6 100644
--- a/src/App.js
+++ b/src/App.js
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import Weather from './components/Weather';
 import LoadingIndicator from './UI/LoadingIndicator';
 
+require('dotenv').config();
+
 import './app.css';
 
 function App() {
@@ -17,6 +19,8 @@ function App() {
     setSearch(e.target.value);
   }
 
+  const apiKey = process.env.REACT_APP_RAPIDAPI_KEY;
+
   async function geoHandler() {
     setSearch('');
     setIsLoading(true);
@@ -32,7 +36,7 @@ function App() {
     const options = {
       method: 'GET',
       headers: {
-        'X-RapidAPI-Key': '0173291af0msh62b3ca25953f210p13d732jsn66b4d9f97708',
+        'X-RapidAPI-Key': apiKey,
         'X-RapidAPI-Host': 'weatherapi-com.p.rapidapi.com',
       },
     };