Help & FAQ
Understand the tools, your Apify connection, and the data you see.
Find answers to common questions about keyword research, contributor portfolios, performance metrics, and saved results.
Apify and searches
Why do I need an Apify API key?
MicrostockIQ uses your own Apify account when a request needs new discovery or additional asset analysis. Connect your account before using Keyword Search or Portfolio Lookup.
Previously stored results may be reused when available. Connecting Apify does not mean that every search starts a paid run.
Where do I get my API key?
- Sign in to Apify Console.
- Open Settings → API & Integrations and find your API token.
- Copy the token, open the API Key menu in MicrostockIQ, and choose Connect Apify.
New to Apify? Create an Apify account. You can also read Apify’s API token guide.
Does every search use Apify credit?
Your Apify account can be charged when a request runs an Actor for discovery or analysis. Stored results and freshness checks can reduce the need for new runs. Requesting more pages or different search settings may need additional work.
Costs depend on the work performed and Apify’s current pricing; they are not a fixed fee for every click. Review your usage and available credit in Apify Console.
Is my API token saved?
Your token is kept in this browser’s session storage and sent to the MicrostockIQ backend when needed to authorize requests. MicrostockIQ does not save it in the shared database.
Use Disconnect in the API Key menu to remove the token from this session. Never include your token in screenshots or support messages.
Why is a search temporarily limited?
Fresh-data limits and temporary cooldowns protect against repeated runs and unnecessary charges. When the service provides a retry time, the error message tells you when to try again.
A retry button waits for that time before becoming available. It never submits automatically. If Apify reports a billing issue, check your available credit before starting another request.
Results and performance
What do the asset metrics mean?
- Lifetime downloads: the total downloads reported for that asset in the returned data.
- Uploaded: the asset’s available upload or creation date.
- Avg. downloads/month: lifetime downloads divided by the asset’s age in months.
The monthly figure is a lifetime average, not the number of downloads in the last month. A dash means that the displayed metric is unavailable.
How does Best performance work?
Best performance = lifetime downloads ÷ asset age in months. It sorts the assets already loaded on this page. It does not rank every asset on Adobe Stock or predict future sales.
The existing calculation treats very young assets as at least one day old. Monthly rates can be less representative for newly uploaded assets.
Does a portfolio summary cover the entire portfolio?
No. Loaded Assets, AI counts, and Loaded Downloads describe only the assets loaded on the current page. Loaded Downloads adds their reported lifetime downloads.
Loading another page changes the displayed set. These summaries should not be interpreted as complete contributor-level totals.
Are the results always live?
Results may come from stored data, cached results, or a new discovery request. Asset analysis and discovery can have different freshness schedules, so information may be delayed or incomplete.
Verify important information directly with Adobe Stock. Performance figures provide research context and do not guarantee future earnings.
What is the difference between Adobe sort and Sort this page?
Adobe sort is sent with your search request. Sort this page only rearranges the assets currently loaded in your browser.
Changing the local sort does not start another search. Content and AI filters apply when you submit a search.
Favorites, export, and support
Where are my Favorites stored?
Saved assets and contributors stay in this browser’s local storage. They are not synchronized between devices or browsers.
Clearing site data can remove Favorites. Opening the Favorites view does not submit a new search; explicitly opening a saved contributor portfolio can.
What do CSV and Excel export?
Both export the assets loaded on this page, in their current local order, using four columns: asset ID, contributor ID, keywords, and title.
Exports are generated in your browser. They do not download the original Adobe Stock files or automatically fetch every portfolio page.
Can I use Asset Lookup or Market Analysis?
These features are marked Coming soon and remain unavailable. Keyword Search, Portfolio Lookup, and Favorites are the current tools.
How can I support MicrostockIQ or report a problem?
The Support Microstock IQ button appears beside CSV and Excel when export is available. It opens a support message with a link to Trakteer in a new tab. Contributions are completely optional.
For a technical problem, email [email protected] with the feature involved and a short description. Remove API tokens and other private information from screenshots.