External Media API Settings

ZenBlocks lets you search for images and videos from external services right inside the block editor. To enable this, you need to register API keys under Settings > ZenBlocks > API Settings.

Summary

If you want to search for images or videos directly from ZenBlocks, register the API key for each service you plan to use. Here are the three key points to keep in mind:

Unsplash: Focused on photos. Be mindful of credit requirements and terms of use
Pexels: Works well for both images and videos
Pixabay: Covers both images and videos, and is a good fit when looking for CC0-licensed assets

Pexels and Pixabay use the same API key for both image and video searches.

How It Works

ZenBlocks does not host any images or videos itself. Instead, it uses API keys to ask external services to return assets matching your search keywords.

The workflow is:

Set up your API key
Search for images or videos inside the block editor
Select and use the asset you like

What Is an API Key?

An API key is essentially a credential that grants access to a service.

Without an API key, searches will not work
An incorrect key will result in an error
Some services have usage limits, review processes, or specific terms of use

Supported Services

Service	Admin Field Name	Primary Use	Best For
Unsplash	Unsplash Access Key	Image search, download tracking on selection	When visual quality of photos is a priority
Pexels	Pexels API Key	Image search, video search	When you want images and videos from one service
Pixabay	Pixabay API Key	Image search, video search	When you want to browse a wide variety of assets

Differences Between Services

Unsplash

High-quality photos, well suited for visually focused pages
ZenBlocks triggers a download count when you select an image
Always review the terms of use and credit policies before using assets

Pexels

Handles both images and videos within a single service, keeping things simple
A good choice when you want background videos and images from one provider
Uses the same API key for both image and video searches — no need for separate keys

Pixabay

Also covers both images and videos with a single key
Offers a broad range of assets, making it easy to find what you need
A strong candidate when you want to prioritize CC0-licensed content

What Is CC0?

Think of CC0 as a "use as freely as possible" license.

Generally suitable for commercial use
Credit attribution is often not required
Easy to modify and repurpose

However, in practice, "CC0-like" does not mean "completely free to do anything."

Services may have their own separate terms of use
Content featuring people, logos, trademarks, or buildings may involve additional rights
Always check the terms of the platform where you plan to publish

When selecting assets in ZenBlocks, treat CC0 as a useful guideline for ease of use, not an absolute guarantee.

Setup Steps

Open Settings > ZenBlocks
Select the API Settings tab at the top
Paste the API key for the service you want to use
Click Save API Settings
Return to the block editor and confirm the service works by running an image or video search

Unsplash API before and after setup, with image search screen

Images vs. Videos

Unsplash is primarily for image searches
Pexels supports both image and video searches
Pixabay also supports both image and video searches

In short, if you need video as well, setting up a Pexels or Pixabay key is the practical choice.

Verification Checklist

Does searching on Unsplash return results without an "API key missing" error?
Do Pexels / Pixabay image searches return results?
Can you use Pexels / Pixabay for video searches as well?
After updating an existing key, does reloading the editor pick up the change?

Important Notes

Unsplash triggers a download count when an image is selected
Review Unsplash's terms of use and credit policies before using its images
Pexels and Pixabay share the same API key for both image and video searches
API rate limits or insufficient permissions may cause searches to return no results