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User Access Token

Guides Authentication JWT Auth User Access Token
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Required Guides

User Access Token

It is possible for a JWT application to create an Access Token for a specific user instead of for the Service Account.

Preconditions

The application must be configured to allow the creation of user Access Tokens. This setting can be found in the Configuration tab of the Developer Console.

Advanced Features

Additionally, the authenticated user needs to be a user with Admin permissions, meaning either an Admin, Co-Admin, or Service Account. See our guide on User Types for more details.

User Access Tokens with SDKs

To create a Box SDK client that authenticates as a specific user, follow the steps described in the JWT with SDK guide, but create a user client instead of an "Enterprise" client.

.Net
var userId = "12345";
var sdk = new BoxJWTAuth(config);
var token = sdk.UserToken(appUserID);
BoxClient client = sdk.UserClient(userToken, userId);
Java
String userId = "12345";
BoxDeveloperEditionAPIConnection api = new BoxDeveloperEditionAPIConnection.getAppUserConnection(userId, config)
Python
user = client.user(user_id='12345')

auth = JWTAuth(
    client_id='[CLIENT_ID]',
    client_secret='[CLIENT_SECRET]',
    user=app_user,
    jwt_key_id='[JWT_KEY_ID]',
    rsa_private_key_file_sys_path='[CERT.PEM]',
    rsa_private_key_passphrase='[PASSPHRASE]'
)
auth.authenticate_user()
user_client = Client(auth)
Node
var sdk = BoxSDK.getPreconfiguredInstance(config);
var client = sdk.getAppAuthClient('user', '12345');

Learn more about using the Box SDKs with JWT

User Access Tokens without SDKs

To create a user Access Token that authenticates as a specific user, follow the steps as described in the JWT without SDK guide but instead of creating a claim for the enterprise, create one for a specific user ID.

.Net
var userId = "12345";

var claims = new List<Claim>{
    new Claim("sub", userid),
    new Claim("box_sub_type", "user"),
    new Claim("jti", jti),
};
Java
String userId = "12345";

JwtClaims claims = new JwtClaims();
claims.setIssuer(config.boxAppSettings.clientID);
claims.setAudience(authenticationUrl);
claims.setSubject(userId);
claims.setClaim("box_sub_type", "user");
claims.setGeneratedJwtId(64);
claims.setExpirationTimeMinutesInTheFuture(0.75f);
Python
user_id = '12345'

claims = {
    'iss': config['boxAppSettings']['clientID'],
    'sub': user_id,
    'box_sub_type': 'user',
    'aud': authentication_url,
    'jti': secrets.token_hex(64),
    'exp': round(time.time()) + 45
}
Node
let user_id = '12345';

let claims = {
    iss: config.boxAppSettings.clientID,
    sub: user_id,
    box_sub_type: "user",
    aud: authenticationUrl,
    jti: crypto.randomBytes(64).toString("hex"),
    exp: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 45
};
Ruby
user_id = '12345'

claims = {
  iss: config['boxAppSettings']['clientID'],
  sub: user_id,
  box_sub_type: 'user',
  aud: authentication_url,
  jti: SecureRandom.hex(64),
  exp: Time.now.to_i + 45
}
PHP
$userId = '12345';

$claims = [
  'iss' => $config->boxAppSettings->clientID,
  'sub' => $userId,
  'box_sub_type' => 'user',
  'aud' => $authenticationUrl,
  'jti' => base64_encode(random_bytes(64)),
  'exp' => time() + 45,
  'kid' => $config->boxAppSettings->appAuth->publicKeyID
];

Learn more about manually using JWT authentication