Connect an API key (BYOAK)

MediaSnap generations use your provider account (Bring Your Own API Key — BYOAK). Keys are stored on your MediaSnap Cloud account under AI Providers (Connected Providers). Desktop Studio syncs those keys after you sign in.

You can paste a key in the Creation Engine connect modal, or manage keys anytime in Cloud.

Recommended: MediaSnap Cloud → AI Providers

  1. Open MediaSnap Cloud in your browser (or from the desktop app: profile / Cloud links).
  2. In the Cloud sidebar, open AI Providers (URL ends with /account/byoak or /cloud/byoak).
  3. Under Your connections, review existing providers. You can turn a connection On or Off without deleting the key. Off connections are not used for generation.
  4. Under Add or update connection:
    • Choose a Provider (for example Fal, Runware, OpenRouter).
    • Optionally set a Label (e.g. “Work Fal account”).
    • Paste your API key from the provider’s dashboard.
    • Save / connect.
  5. Confirm the new row appears in Your connections with status On.
  6. Return to Studio (Creation Engine or Snap) and try generating again. Desktop users: allow a moment for Cloud → desktop sync after login.

Keys are encrypted on your Cloud account. After save, the full key is not shown again — only a masked preview.

From the Creation Engine modal

If you open Creation Engine without a usable provider, the Connect your AI provider dialog appears:

  1. Select a Provider.
  2. Paste your API key.
  3. Click Connect.

That saves the same Cloud BYOAK connection. Prefer the Cloud AI Providers page when you want to manage, rename, disable, or replace keys.

Where to get a provider key

Create an account with the provider you want to use, then copy an API key from their console (examples: Fal, Runware, OpenRouter). You pay that provider directly for usage; MediaSnap does not add generation markup on BYOAK.

Tips

  • Keep at least one connection On for the provider your chosen model needs.
  • If generation says the provider is missing or invalid, open Cloud AI Providers, check status, and update the key.
  • Snap chat (LLM) may need a text-capable provider (for example OpenRouter / OpenAI / Anthropic / Fal) in addition to image/video providers.

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