Step 1: Verify your podcast is claimed
First, log into your Apple Podcasts Connect account. Take a quick look at your dashboard to ensure your podcast is listed there and correctly shows as being hosted by Acast. (If your show isn't listed, you will need to claim it first).
Step 2: Generate and download your key file
Next, you will need to generate a "Media" type API key using Apple's official setup guide.
On your Apple Podcasts Connect dashboard, click Account in the top navigation bar.
Click on the Keys tab.
Click the plus (+) icon next to "Active" to create a new key.
Give your key a clear name (like "Acast Video") and click Generate.
Click Download API Key. This will download a .pem file directly to your computer.
⚠️ Important: Do not rename this file under any circumstances. The file name will be a long string of numbers and letters ending in .pem (it will look something like this: 015737281-2a90-4c83-8fe2-9bf1122f9ec7_X95FJEO33EC9.pem). The exact name of this file is required for Apple's system to authorize the connection. Save the file as-is and upload it directly to your Acast dashboard.