---
title: Dashboard
description: Your configuration (Ready to generate / Needs attention), Generate a test image on a draft, and account cards.
url: "https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/dashboard/"
updated: "2026-08-15"
category: Setup the plugin
---

# Dashboard

After you open **Magic Post Thumbnail**, the first screen is **Dashboard**. Version 7 checks whether your chain and keys can run, and can generate a test image on a draft.

![Magic Post Thumbnail Dashboard with Your configuration and account cards](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dashboard-full.png)

## Your configuration

The **Your configuration** card shows an overall badge:

- **Ready to generate** — the chain can run.
- **Needs attention** — something is missing or failed.

Each row is a check, with a **Configure** link when you need to fix it:

- **Automatic bank chain** — banks in order (for example Bing Images → GPT Image), or “No bank selected. Add at least one bank below, otherwise no image can be generated.”
- **API keys** — “All banks in the chain are ready.” or messages such as “GPT Image: no API key”.
- **Image placement** — **Featured Image**, **Inline content**, or “No image placement configured.”
- **Brand overlay** — **Disabled** (default), or a warning if overlay is on but PHP GD / TrueType is missing.

![Magic Post Thumbnail Dashboard — Your configuration health checks and Generate a test image](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dashboard-health.png)

## Generate a test image

**Generate a test image** creates a draft titled **Magic Post Thumbnail — test** so live articles are left untouched. The hint under the button is: “Creates a draft post so your live articles are left untouched.”

The button is disabled until the first bank in the chain is usable (key present, or a default image chosen).

If the first bank is AI, confirm: “This test will call a generative AI service and consume tokens. Continue?” The button then shows **Generating…** (AI can take 10–90 seconds). On success you get **Open the test draft**.

This uses the **saved** Source chain — the same path as **Generate Automatically**, bulk and cron — not Gutenberg photo search.

![Generate a test image button — creates a draft so live articles are left untouched](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dashboard-test.png)

## Account cards

Below the health card:

- **My account** — **Free**, **Pro**, or **Pro (licence expired)**; name; email; **Version**; **Verified** or **Not Verified**; **Account Details**; **Upgrade the plugin** when relevant.
- **Support Forum** — WordPress.org, button **Support**.
- **Get In Touch** — button **Contact Us**.
- **Tutorials** — Documentation, Youtube Tutorial, Frequently Asked Questions.

You do not need a paid account to use the free plugin.

![Magic Post Thumbnail My account card](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dashboard-account-1.png)

## Next steps

1. If the badge is **Needs attention**, follow **Configure** to **Source** or Automatic.
2. When it is **Ready to generate**, click **Generate a test image**.
3. Then generate on real posts — see [How to use Magic Post Thumbnail](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/how-to-use-magic-post-thumbnail/).

Related: [What is Magic Post Thumbnail ?](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/what-is-magic-post-thumbnail/), [Settings : Source](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/settings-source/).