How to get PayPal API username, password and signature information?

Here’s how you get your API details:

The API credentials show up in different places for different people – mainly depending on the version of PayPal admin interface, and their country. We cover the most common cases here.

Option 1: Under Tools, More Tools – for latest PayPal interface

1. Log in to your PayPal account
2. Move your mouse over the Tools menu in top navigation. Find More Tools within that. And click it.
3. Scroll the page till you see a box with API credentials written. Click on it.
   

   

4. Shortcut: Click on this link to directly open Tools page in your PayPal account.
5. Once on the API credentials page, click on the last option for NVP/SOAP API integration.
   

   

6. If this is the first time you are creating API credentials, complete the API Credential Request form.
7. Once you’ve created the API credentials, you will see View API Signature option under NVP / SOAP API integration. Clicking on that will bring you to a page like the following screenshot. Click on each “Show” link to see API username, password and signature.
   

   

8. Remember, API credentials are sensitive information. Store them securely and never share them with unauthorized people. In case you suspect a compromise, immediately remove API signature and create a new one – following the steps above.

Option 2: Under Profile – Account information – API access

1. Log in to your PayPal Premier or Business account.
2. Click the Profile subtab located in the top navigation area.
3. Click the API Access link under the Account Information header.
4. Click the Get Started link under the Request API Credentials heading.
5. Click the My selling preferences sub option in left sidebar.
6. Click the Update option for API access item
   

   

7. Complete the API Credential Request form by clicking the agreement checkbox and clicking Submit.
8. You will now get the API username, password and signature.
9. Copy the values from this page into the app that’s requesting it, or securely send to your developer.

Still can’t find the API details?

If the above instructions did not work for you, try this:

1. Login to your PayPal account
2. Click on Profile
3. See the classic Profile version (on the left side, outside the My Selling tools box)
4. API Access (under Account Information)
5. Choose Option 2 – Request API credentials – click on View API signature.

Using API Certificate and not signature?

If you are using API certificates, you may need to remove your existing certificate and then “Request API Signature” using steps outlined above.

Note that if you are using the certificate in another system, that system may need to be updated / given the API Signature info to continue working.

You should then be able to see the three pieces of info – API signature, username and password.

Still no luck?

You may find PayPal developer documentation about creating and managing NVP/SOAP API credentials also helpful.

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