Box Developer Documentation
Log in

Request access token

post
https://api.box.com
/oauth2/token

Request an Access Token using either a client-side obtained OAuth 2.0 authorization code or a server-side JWT assertion.

An Access Token is a string that enables Box to verify that a request belongs to an authorized session. In the normal order of operations you will begin by requesting authentication from the authorize endpoint and Box will send you an authorization code.

You will then send this code to this endpoint to exchange it for an Access Token. The returned Access Token can then be used to to make Box API calls.

Related Guides

Request

application/x-www-form-urlencoded

Request Body

string / tokenin bodyoptional
c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ

The token used to create an annotator token. This is a JWT assertion.

Used in combination with urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:token-exchange as the grant_type.

string / urnin bodyoptional
urn:ietf:params:oauth:token-type:id_token

The type of actor_token passed in.

Used in combination with urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:token-exchange as the grant_type.

Value is always urn:ietf:params:oauth:token-type:id_token

string / jwtin bodyoptional
xxxxx.yyyyy.zzzzz

A JWT assertion for which to request a new access token.

Used in combination with urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer as the grant_type.

string / urlin bodyoptional
https://cloud.box.com/s/123456

Full URL of the shared link on the file or folder that the token should be generated for.

stringin bodyoptional
123456789

Used in combination with client_credentials as the grant_type. Value is determined by box_subject_type. If user use user ID and if enterprise use enterprise ID.

stringin bodyoptional
enterprise

Used in combination with client_credentials as the grant_type.

Value is one of enterprise,user

stringin bodyoptional
ly1nj6n11vionaie65emwzk575hnnmrk

The Client ID of the application requesting an access token.

Used in combination with authorization_code, client_credentials, or urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer as the grant_type.

stringin bodyoptional
hOzsTeFlT6ko0dme22uGbQal04SBPYc1

The client secret of the application requesting an access token.

Used in combination with authorization_code, client_credentials, or urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer as the grant_type.

string / tokenin bodyoptional
n22JPxrh18m4Y0wIZPIqYZK7VRrsMTWW

The client-side authorization code passed to your application by Box in the browser redirect after the user has successfully granted your application permission to make API calls on their behalf.

Used in combination with authorization_code as the grant_type.

string / urnin bodyrequired
authorization_code

The type of request being made, either using a client-side obtained authorization code, a refresh token, a JWT assertion, client credentials grant or another access token for the purpose of downscoping a token.

Value is one of authorization_code,refresh_token,client_credentials,urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:jwt-bearer,urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:token-exchange

string / tokenin bodyoptional
c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ

A refresh token used to get a new access token with.

Used in combination with refresh_token as the grant_type.

string / urlin bodyoptional
https://api.box.com/2.0/files/123456

Full URL for the file that the token should be generated for.

string / space_delimited_listin bodyoptional
item_upload item_preview base_explorer

The space-delimited list of scopes that you want apply to the new access token.

The subject_token will need to have all of these scopes or the call will error with 401 Unauthorized.

string / tokenin bodyoptional
c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ

The token to exchange for a downscoped token. This can be a regular access token, a JWT assertion, or an app token.

Used in combination with urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:token-exchange as the grant_type.

stringin bodyoptional
urn:ietf:params:oauth:token-type:access_token

The type of subject_token passed in.

Used in combination with urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:token-exchange as the grant_type.

Value is always urn:ietf:params:oauth:token-type:access_token

Response

application/jsonAccess token

Returns a new Access Token that can be used to make authenticated API calls by passing along the token in a authorization header as follows Authorization: Bearer <Token>.

application/jsonOAuth 2.0 error

An authentication error.

application/jsonOAuth 2.0 error

An authentication error.

post
Request access token
You can now try out some of our APIs live, right here in the documentation.
Log in

Request Example

cURL
curl -i -X POST "https://api.box.com/oauth2/token" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
     -d "client_id=[CLIENT_ID]" \
     -d "client_secret=[CLIENT_SECRET]" \
     -d "code=[CODE]" \
     -d "grant_type=authorization_code"
Python
from boxsdk import Client

# Make sure that the csrf token you get from the `state` parameter
# in the final redirect URI is the same token you get from the
# get_authorization_url method to protect against CSRF vulnerabilities.
assert 'THE_CSRF_TOKEN_YOU_GOT' == csrf_token
access_token, refresh_token = oauth.authenticate('YOUR_AUTH_CODE')
client = Client(oauth)

Response Example

{
  "access_token": "c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ",
  "expires_in": 3600,
  "issued_token_type": "urn:ietf:params:oauth:token-type:access_token",
  "refresh_token": "c3FIOG9vSGV4VHo4QzAyg5T1JvNnJoZ3ExaVNyQWw6WjRsanRKZG5lQk9qUE1BVQ",
  "restricted_to": [
    {
      "scope": "item_download",
      "object": {
        "id": 12345,
        "etag": 1,
        "type": "file",
        "sequence_id": 3,
        "name": "Contract.pdf",
        "sha1": "85136C79CBF9FE36BB9D05D0639C70C265C18D37",
        "file_version": {
          "id": 12345,
          "type": "file_version",
          "sha1": "134b65991ed521fcfe4724b7d814ab8ded5185dc"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "token_type": "bearer"
}