---
title: "Microsoft Azure Translator API Key"
date: 2026-02-03
author: "Jeroen Moolenschot"
---

# Microsoft Azure Translator API Key

Obtaining a Microsoft Azure API Key is slightly more complex than other services because of the extensive Azure interface. However, it is highly rewarding, as the **Free F0 Tier** allows you to translate up to **2 million characters per month for free**.

 
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## Step 1: Account and Login

 
1. Navigate to the [Azure Portal](https://portal.azure.com/).
2. Log in with your **Microsoft account** (Outlook, Hotmail, Live, etc.) or create a new one.
3. **Note:** You must have an active **Subscription**. If you are new, you can sign up for a free account. Like Google Cloud, Microsoft requires a credit card or debit card for identity verification, even for the free usage tier.

---

 
## Step 2: Create the Translator Resource

 
1. In the Azure Portal, click **+ Create a resource** in the top-left corner.  
![microsoft api 01](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-01.png)
2. In the search bar, type: `Translator`.
3. Select the result titled **Translator** (published by Microsoft).  
![microsoft api 02](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-02.png)

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## Step 3: Configure Project Details

 Fill out the form with the following details:

 
- **Subscription:** Select your subscription (e.g., "Pay-As-You-Go" or "Azure subscription 1").
- **Resource Group:** Click **Create new** and give it a name, such as `JoomlaTranslation`.  
  
![microsoft api 03](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-03.png)
- **Region:** This is a crucial setting.

 
- Choose **Global** for the simplest setup (standard for most plugins).
- Choose a specific region (e.g., **West Europe**) if your data must remain within a specific territory for GDPR compliance.
- *Note: Remember your choice; you will need to enter this in your plugin settings later.*
- **Name:** Enter a unique name, like `MySite-Translator`.  
  
![microsoft api 04](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-04.png)
- **Pricing Tier:**

 
- Select **Free F0 (Up to 2M characters...)**.
- *Note: If you don't see F0, you may already have a free resource elsewhere. Azure allows only one F0 Translator resource per account.*

 Click **Review + create** at the bottom, then click **Create**.

 
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## Step 4: Retrieve the API Key

 
1. Wait for the deployment to finish (usually about 30 seconds).
2. Click the **Go to resource** button once it appears.
3. In the left-hand menu, look under the **Resource Management** section.
4. Click on **Keys and Endpoint**.  
  
![microsoft api 05](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-05.png)
5. You will see **Key 1** and **Key 2**. You can use either one.
6. Copy **Key 1**.

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## Step 5: Configure in Joomla

 
1. Log in to the backend of your **Joomla site**.
2. Open the plugin: **System - Autolanguage**.
3. Go to the **Service & API** tab and Choose Microsoft Azure API.
4. **Microsoft API Key:** Paste the key you copied in Step 4.
5. **Region:**

 
- If you chose **Global** in Step 3, enter `global` or leave it blank (depending on the plugin requirements).
- If you chose **West Europe**, enter `westeurope` (lowercase, no spaces).
- *Tip: You can find the exact "Region code" in the Azure portal on the "Keys and Endpoint" screen under "Location".*

 ![microsoft api 06](https://ext26.joomill.dev/images/documentation/autolanguage/microsoft-api-06.png)