---
title: Youtube
description: "YouTube does not return stock photos. The plugin searches YouTube with the Data API and uses **video thumbnails** as featured images. You must provide your own **Google API key** with the YouTube Data API enabled. **Pro.** This bank is locked…"
url: "https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/docs/youtube/"
updated: "2026-08-16"
category: Image Databases
---

# Youtube

YouTube does not return stock photos. The plugin searches YouTube with the Data API and uses **video thumbnails** as featured images. You must provide your own **Google API key** with the YouTube Data API enabled.

**Pro.** This bank is locked on the Free plan (Pro badge on Source).

Source badge: **Photos**.

**Gutenberg:** yes. Enable it as a search tab on **Magic Post Thumbnail → Gutenberg Block**. API keys and filters stay on Source.

## Open the bank in Source

In version 7, banks are configured from **Magic Post Thumbnail → Source**. Click the bank in the left column (or tick it to add it to the chain), then click **Configure**. The **Banks Settings** panel opens on the right. Save when you are done.

The left column is the **Automatic generation chain** used by the editor button, bulk generation, cron and imports. Drag to set priority: the first bank is tried first. Unchecked banks sit below the chain.

![Youtube bank settings](https://magic-post-thumbnail.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/panel-youtube.png)

## Get a Google / YouTube API key

1. In [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/), create or select a project.
2. Enable **YouTube Data API v3** (Library).
3. Create an **API key** under Credentials.
4. Paste it into the Source panel, click **API testing**, then Save.

Google’s overview of API credentials is here: [API key prerequisites](https://developers.google.com/custom-search/json-api/v1/overview#prerequisites). For this bank you need the **YouTube Data API**, not Custom Search.

## Options

- **Api key** — required. This panel has no extra filters (language, size, licence): the plugin requests video search results and takes their thumbnails.