API Keys
Learn how to set up API keys for weather data providers.
Why Do I Need API Keys?
OSS Weather accesses weather data from third-party providers. While some providers like Open-Meteo don't require API keys, others like OpenWeather and AccuWeather do. API keys allow you to:
- Access premium features
- Avoid rate limits
- Get more frequent updates
- Access historical data
Provider Requirements
| Provider | API Key Required | Free Tier | Sign Up Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-Meteo | ❌ No | Yes | N/A |
| OpenWeather | ✅ Yes* | Yes | Sign up |
| AccuWeather | ✅ Yes | Yes | Sign up |
| Meteo France | ❌ No | Yes | N/A |
*OSS Weather includes a default OpenWeather API key with limited access. For best experience, get your own key.
OpenWeather API Key
Creating an Account
- Go to OpenWeather
- Fill in your details
- Verify your email
- Log in to your account
Getting Your API Key
- Navigate to API keys page
- Your default API key will be shown
- Or click "Generate" to create a new key
- Copy the API key
Adding to OSS Weather
- Open OSS Weather
- Go to Settings → Weather Providers → OpenWeather
- Tap "API Key"
- Paste your API key
- Tap "Save"
Free Tier Limits
- 1,000 API calls per day
- Current weather data
- 5-day forecast
- 60 calls per minute
TIP
The free tier is usually sufficient for personal use. The app intelligently caches data to minimize API calls.
AccuWeather API Key
Creating an Account
- Go to AccuWeather Developer Portal
- Click "Register"
- Fill in your details
- Verify your email
Getting Your API Key
- Log in to the Developer Portal
- Go to "My Apps"
- Click "Add a new App"
- Fill in app details (name can be anything)
- Copy the API key provided
Adding to OSS Weather
- Open OSS Weather
- Go to Settings → Weather Providers → AccuWeather
- Tap "API Key"
- Paste your API key
- Tap "Save"
Free Tier Limits
- 50 API calls per day
- Current conditions
- 5-day forecast
- Limited endpoint access
WARNING
AccuWeather's free tier is quite limited. Consider using it as a secondary provider.
Default API Key Behavior
Using the Built-in Key
OSS Weather includes a default OpenWeather API key for convenience. However:
- ⚠️ This key is shared among all users
- ⚠️ It may hit rate limits during peak usage
- ⚠️ You might see errors like "Too Many Requests"
If you encounter these issues, get your own API key.
Rate Limiting
When you hit rate limits, you'll see error messages like:
- "API rate limit exceeded"
- "Too many requests"
- "Service temporarily unavailable"
Solutions:
- Get your own API key (recommended)
- Switch to Open-Meteo (no key required)
- Increase update interval in settings
- Reduce number of saved locations
Provider Comparison
Open-Meteo (Recommended for Free Usage)
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ No rate limits for personal use
- ✅ High-quality forecasts
- ✅ European-focused but global coverage
- ❌ Less detailed than premium providers
OpenWeather
- ✅ Comprehensive data
- ✅ Generous free tier
- ✅ Global coverage
- ✅ Historical data available
- ⚠️ Requires API key
- ❌ Rate limits on free tier
AccuWeather
- ✅ Detailed forecasts
- ✅ Minute-by-minute precipitation
- ✅ Severe weather alerts
- ⚠️ Requires API key
- ❌ Very limited free tier (50 calls/day)
Meteo France
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ High quality data
- ✅ Excellent for French territories
- ❌ Limited to French territories and some European areas
- ❌ Less comprehensive than global providers
Troubleshooting
"Invalid API Key"
- Double-check you copied the key correctly
- Ensure there are no extra spaces
- Verify the key is activated (OpenWeather keys can take a few minutes)
"API Rate Limit Exceeded"
- You've hit the daily/hourly limit
- Get your own API key if using the default
- Reduce update frequency
- Wait for the limit to reset
"API Key Not Working"
- New API keys may take 10-15 minutes to activate
- Check if your account is verified
- Ensure you're using the correct key for the provider
Weather Data Not Updating
- Check your internet connection
- Verify API key is entered correctly
- Check provider status page for outages
- Try switching to a different provider
Best Practices
- Get Your Own Key: Don't rely on the default OpenWeather key
- Use Open-Meteo: When possible, use Open-Meteo to avoid rate limits
- Multiple Providers: Set up multiple providers as backups
- Reasonable Updates: Don't set update frequency too high (1 hour is usually fine)
- Cache Awareness: The app caches data intelligently, manual refreshes use API calls