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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPDFShift’s current API authentication method is the X-API-Key request header. Add your API key there, then test it with a GET request to the credits-usage endpoint before retrying the PDF conversion. PDFShift says it replaced its older Basic Auth method on May 6, 2025; requests with missing or incorrectly sent authentication may return 401 or 403, depending on how the key was sent. PDFShift Help Center
1. Send the API key in the current header
Set a request header named X-API-Key and use your PDFShift API key as its value. If your request only uses the older Basic Auth configuration, replace that authentication method with the header. PDFShift states that the migration to X-API-Key took effect on May 6, 2025. The provider says missing or incorrectly sent authentication can result in either 401 or 403; it does not publish a precise cause-to-status mapping.
Python: test authentication, then convert
This example first checks authentication at the usage endpoint. If that succeeds, it submits a separate conversion request.
import requests
api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"
check = requests.get(
"https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/credits/usage",
headers={"X-API-Key": api_key},
)
print("Usage check:", check.status_code, check.text)
response = requests.post(
"https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/convert/pdf",
headers={"X-API-Key": api_key},
json={"source": "https://example.com"},
)
print("Conversion:", response.status_code, response.text)PDFShift’s Python guide demonstrates the conversion request and header; its Help Center describes the GET usage check. See the Python requests guide and usage diagnostic instructions.
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Node.js: conversion request
PDFShift’s Node guide shows the conversion request with the key in the header:
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
const response = await fetch(
"https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/convert/pdf",
{
method: "post",
headers: {
"X-API-Key": apiKey,
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: JSON.stringify({ source: "https://example.com" }),
}
);
console.log(response.status, await response.text());For the provider’s example and language-specific context, see the PDFShift NodeFetch guide.
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cURL: isolate the usage check
Use the same header with the diagnostic endpoint to verify whether the key is being accepted:
curl -i "https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/credits/usage"
-H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"2. Read the usage-check response
Send a GET request to https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/credits/usage using the same X-API-Key value you intend to use for conversion. PDFShift says an authenticated response contains JSON with usage and available-credit data. If authentication is not accepted, it may return 401 or 403; the provider does not specify an exact mapping between those statuses and particular mistakes.
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- Usage and available-credit data is returned: the diagnostic confirms that this request’s authentication was accepted. Retry the conversion separately with the same header.
- The usage request returns 401 or 403: check that the outgoing request actually includes the header spelled
X-API-Keyand that its value is your API key. Remove a Basic Auth-only setup. - The usage check succeeds but conversion does not: inspect the conversion response and request independently. A successful authentication check does not establish that every conversion failure is an authentication problem.
3. Check workflow and client configuration
n8n
In an n8n HTTP Request step, use the conversion URL https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/convert/pdf and the POST method. Leave the authentication selector at None, then add X-API-Key with the API key as a request header. The PDFShift integration guide documents this setup: Integrate PDFShift into your n8n workflow.
Other HTTP clients
- Confirm the header is configured as a request header, not as a query parameter or a field in the JSON body.
- Check the actual outgoing request if your client has a request inspector or execution log; a header entered in the wrong configuration panel may not be sent.
- When moving from Basic Auth, remove the old method if it is the only authentication being sent, and configure
X-API-Keyinstead.
4. Troubleshoot based on what fails
| Symptom | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Usage check returns 401 or 403 | Whether the request carries X-API-Key with the key as its value; whether the client is still using only Basic Auth. |
Correct the header and repeat the GET usage check. PDFShift does not publish a definitive mapping of individual mistakes to 401 versus 403. |
| Usage check returns usage and available-credit JSON, but conversion fails | The conversion request and its response, separately from authentication. | Retry the POST to https://api.pdfshift.io/v3/convert/pdf with the same header and inspect the returned status and body. The available provider guidance does not establish that this is still an authentication failure. |
| Workflow request fails while a direct request works | The workflow’s HTTP method, URL, authentication selector, and request-header configuration. | For n8n, set POST, use the conversion URL, keep authentication at None, and send X-API-Key as a header. |
The provider sources cited here do not establish key revocation, rotation, or dashboard lifecycle behavior as the cause of a particular 401. Avoid assuming one of those explanations without evidence from the response or your account.
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