Featured Images

Getting Unsplash API Key

How to create a free Unsplash developer account and get your API key.

Overview

VidToArticle can automatically add high-quality featured images to your articles using Unsplash. To enable this, you need your own Unsplash API key (Access Key) so requests are made against your account and usage limits.

This guide shows you how to create an Unsplash developer account and obtain the key.

1. Create or sign in to your Unsplash account

  1. Go to https://unsplash.com.
  2. Click Log in or Join free.
  3. Sign in with your preferred method (email, Google, etc.).

2. Open the Unsplash Developers dashboard

  1. While logged in, go to https://unsplash.com/developers.
  2. Click Your apps (or Get started if you have no apps yet).

If this is your first time, Unsplash may ask you to agree to API guidelines and basic usage policies.

3. Create a new Unsplash application

  1. Click New Application or Create app.
  2. Fill in the required details, for example:
    • Name: VidToArticle Featured Images
    • Description: Short explanation of how you will use the API.
    • Platform / Use case: Web or similar.
  3. Accept the terms of use and submit the form.

Unsplash will create an application and take you to its details page.

4. Copy your Access Key

On the application details page, you will see two key values:

  • Access Key – public key used for API requests.
  • Secret Key – private key; do not share or commit this anywhere.

For VidToArticle you only need the Access Key.

  1. Find the Access Key field.
  2. Click Copy.
  3. Keep this value handy; you will paste it into VidToArticle in the next step.

5. Add the key to VidToArticle

Once you have your Access Key, follow Configuring Image Settings in the docs to:

  1. Open the Settings → Image Settings section in VidToArticle.
  2. Paste the Unsplash Access Key into the Unsplash API Key field.
  3. Save your settings.

After saving, VidToArticle can start using Unsplash to search for relevant featured images for your generated articles.

6. Usage limits and best practices

  • Unsplash offers a generous free tier, but there are monthly rate limits.
  • Because the key is yours, you stay in control of:
    • How many image searches are performed.
    • Which applications use your key.
  • If you hit rate limits, VidToArticle may fall back to articles without automatic images until the limit resets.

You can always rotate or revoke keys from the Unsplash Your apps dashboard if needed.