***
title: Configure runners for internal APIs
approved: 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
slug: docs/monitoring-your-api/runners/configure-a-runner
max-toc-depth: 2
topictype: multiple
-------------------
This feature is available on Postman Enterprise plans. For more information, see the [pricing page](https://www.postman.com/pricing/).
As an [Admin or Super Admin](/docs/administration/roles-and-permissions/#team-roles), you can use Private API Monitoring to create runners that monitor and test your organization's APIs. Runners enable your team to run monitors from your internal network, without publicly exposing your endpoints.
You can [create a runner](#create-a-runner-with-private-api-monitoring) when configuring a monitor or from **Runner** settings. [Start a runner with the Postman CLI](#set-up-a-runner-with-the-postman-cli) from your internal network where it securely polls Postman for monitor runs.
Once set up, your teammates can [configure monitors with the runner](#configure-a-monitor-with-a-runner) and [view monitor results](#check-your-internal-api-monitor) in Postman.
## Create a runner with Private API Monitoring
You can create a runner when configuring a monitor or from **Runner** settings.
To create a runner when configuring a monitor, follow the steps to [create](/docs/monitoring-your-api/setting-up-monitor/#create-a-monitor) or [edit](/docs/monitoring-your-api/setting-up-monitor/#work-with-monitors) a monitor. Under **Runners**, select **Manually Select** then click 
**Add Runner**.
To create a runner from [**Runner** settings](https://go.postman.co/settings/team/postman-cli), click your profile icon in the upper right corner, click your organization name, then click **Runners** in the left sidebar. Click **Add runner** in the upper right of **Runner** settings.
To create a runner, do the following:
1. Give your runner a name and description.
2. Choose [internal workspaces](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/internal-workspaces/overview/) where the runner is visible. Select one of the following:
* **All internal workspaces** — The runner is visible in all internal workspaces in your team.
* **Selected workspace** — Click the **Select workspace** dropdown list and then select the internal workspace where the runner is visible.
You can change this later when you're ready to make the runner visible in all your team's internal workspaces.
3. Click **Next: install runner**.
4. Click 
**Copy to clipboard** to copy the Postman CLI `runner` command with the runner ID and key. Postman identifies a runner using its runner ID, and a runner uses the runner ID and key to authenticate with Postman.
You can't access the runner key again later. You can [reset the runner key](/docs/monitoring-your-api/runners/manage-runners/#reset-a-runner-key) later, if needed.
5. Click **Done**.
6. [Set up the runner in your internal network](/docs/monitoring-your-api/runners/set-up-a-runner-in-your-network/).
Learn how to [manage your runners](/docs/monitoring-your-api/runners/manage-runners/) from **Runner** settings.
## Set up a runner with the Postman CLI
You can get started by learning how to start the runner in your internal network. You can containerize the runner using Docker to set up the runner in your cloud network, like a virtual private cloud. Learn more about [setting up the runner with the Postman CLI](/docs/monitoring-your-api/runners/set-up-a-runner-in-your-network/).
Once the runner is set up and running, your teammates can [configure a monitor with the runner](#configure-a-monitor-with-a-runner).
Your Postman plan gives you a limited number of requests that can be run by your Postman Monitors each month. Requests run by Private API Monitoring count toward this same limit. Learn more about [resource usage in Postman](/docs/billing/resource-usage/#monitoring-usage).
## Configure a monitor with a runner
When creating a monitor, select a runner to run in your internal network. Runners are only supported in [internal workspaces](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/internal-workspaces/overview/). After you've created the monitor with the runner, you can [check your monitor's results in Postman](#check-your-internal-api-monitor).
To create a monitor that uses an existing runner, do the following
1. [Create](/docs/monitoring-your-api/setting-up-monitor/) or [edit](/docs/monitoring-your-api/setting-up-monitor/#work-with-monitors) a monitor.
2. Under **Run method**, specify how often Postman runs the selected monitor. This can be as often as every five minutes for a status page, or a basic check once a week on your endpoints. You can also configure the monitor to only run when trigger by the Postman CLI.
3. Under **Runners**, select **Manually Select** then select a runner created with Private API Monitoring.
4. Continue [configuring your monitor](/docs/monitoring-your-api/setting-up-monitor/).
5. Click **Create Monitor** or **Update Monitor**.
## Check your internal API monitor
Your monitor's results show the health and performance of your internal APIs. For more information about Postman Monitor features, see [View monitor results](/docs/monitoring-your-api/viewing-monitor-results/).