Generating a user access token for a GitHub App

About user access tokens

A user access token is a type of OAuth token. Unlike a traditional OAuth token, the user access token does not use scopes. Instead, it uses fine-grained permissions. A user access token only has permissions that both the user and the app have. For example, if the app was granted permission to write the contents of a repository, but the user can only read the contents, then the user access token can only read the contents.

Similarly, a user access token can only access resources that both the user and app can access. For example, if an app is granted access to repository A and B, and the user can access repository B and C, the user access token can access repository B but not A or C. You can use the REST API to check which installations and which repositories within an installation a user access token can access. For more information, see GET /user/installations and GET /user/installations/{installation_id}/repositories in REST API endpoints for GitHub App installations.

When you make API requests with a user access token, the rate limits for user access tokens apply. For more information, see Rate limits for GitHub Apps.

By default, the user access token expires after 8 hours. You can use a refresh token to regenerate a user access token. For more information, see Refreshing user access tokens.

Users can revoke their authorization of a GitHub App. For more information, see Token expiration and revocation. If a user revokes their authorization of a GitHub App, the app will receive the github_app_authorization webhook. GitHub Apps cannot unsubscribe from this event. If your app receives this webhook, you should stop calling the API on behalf of the user who revoked the token. If your app continues to use a revoked access token, it will receive the 401 Bad Credentials error. For more information about this webhook, see Webhook events and payloads.

You should keep user access tokens and refresh tokens secure. For more information, see Best practices for creating a GitHub App.

Using the web application flow to generate a user access token

If your app runs in the browser, you should use the web application flow to generate a user access token. For a tutorial about using the web application flow, see Building a "Login with GitHub" button with a GitHub App.

1. Direct the user to this URL, and add any necessary query parameters from the following list of parameters: http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/authorize. For example, this URL specifies the client_id and state parameters: http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/authorize?client_id=12345&state=abcdefg.

   Query parameter	Type	Required?	Description
   client_id	string	Required	The client ID for your GitHub App. The client ID is different from the app ID. You can find the client ID on the settings page for your app. For more information about navigating to the settings page for your GitHub App, see Modifying a GitHub App registration.
   redirect_uri	string	Strongly recommended	The URL in your application where users will be sent after authorization. This must be an exact match to one of the URLs you provided as a "Callback URL" in your app's settings and can't contain any additional parameters.
   state	string	Strongly recommended	When specified, the value should contain a random string to protect against forgery attacks, and it can also contain any other arbitrary data.
   login	string	Optional	When specified, the web application flow will prompt users with a specific account they can use for signing in and authorizing your app.
   allow_signup	boolean	Optional	Whether unauthenticated users will be offered an option to sign up for GitHub during the OAuth flow. The default is true. Use false when a policy prohibits signups.

2. If the user accepts your authorization request, GitHub will redirect the user to one of the callback URLs in your app settings, and provide a code query parameter you can use in the next step to create a user access token. If you specified redirect_uri in the previous step, that callback URL will be used. Otherwise, the first callback URL on your app's settings page will be used.

   If you specified the state parameter in the previous step, GitHub will also include a state parameter. If the state parameter does not match the state parameter that you sent in the previous step, the request cannot be trusted, and the web application flow should be aborted.

3. Exchange the code from the previous step for a user access token by making a POST request to this URL, along with the following query parameters: http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token

   Query parameter	Type	Description
   client_id	string	Required. The client ID for your GitHub App. The client ID is different from the app ID. You can find the client ID on the settings page for your app. For more information about navigating to the settings page for your GitHub App, see "Modifying a GitHub App registration."
   client_secret	string	Required. The client secret for your GitHub App. You can generate a client secret on the settings page for your app.
   code	string	Required. The code you received in the previous step.
   redirect_uri	string	The URL in your application where users will be sent after authorization. This must be an exact match to one of the URLs you provided as a "Callback URL" when setting up your GitHub App and can't contain any additional parameters.
   repository_id	string	The ID of a single repository that the user access token can access. If the GitHub App or user cannot access the repository, this will be ignored. Use this parameter to restrict the access of the user access token further.

4. GitHub will give a response that includes the following parameters:

   Response parameter	Type	Description
   access_token	string	The user access token. The token starts with ghu_.
   expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until access_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 28800 (8 hours).
   refresh_token	string	The refresh token. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The token starts with ghr_.
   refresh_token_expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until refresh_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 15897600 (6 months).
   scope	string	The scopes that the token has. This value will always be an empty string. Unlike a traditional OAuth token, the user access token is limited to the permissions that both your app and the user have.
   token_type	string	The type of token. The value will always be bearer.

5. Use the user access token from the previous step to make API requests on behalf of the user. Include the user access token in the Authorization header of an API request. For example:

   curl --request GET \
   --url "http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/user" \
   --header "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
   --header "Authorization: Bearer USER_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
   --header "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28"
   

Using the device flow to generate a user access token

If your app is headless or does not have access to a browser, you should use the device flow to generate a user access token. For example, CLI tools, simple Raspberry Pis, and desktop applications should use the device flow. For a tutorial that uses device flow, see Building a CLI with a GitHub App.

Before you can use the device flow, you must first enable it in your app's settings. For more information on enabling device flow, see Modifying a GitHub App registration.

The device flow uses the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant.

1. Send a POST request to http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/device/code along with a client_id query parameter. The client ID is different from the app ID. You can find the client ID on the settings page for your app. For more information about navigating to the settings page for your GitHub App, see Modifying a GitHub App registration.

2. GitHub will give a response that includes the following query parameters:

   Response parameter	Type	Description
   device_code	string	A verification code that is used to verify the device. This code is 40 characters long.
   user_code	string	A verification code that your application should display so that the user can enter the code in a browser. This code is 8 characters with a hyphen in the middle. For example, WDJB-MJHT.
   verification_uri	string	The URL where users need to enter their user_code. The URL is: http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/device.
   expires_in	integer	The number of seconds before the device_code and user_code expire. The default is 900 seconds (15 minutes).
   interval	integer	The minimum number of seconds that must pass before you can make a new access token request (POST http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token) to complete the device authorization. If you make a request before this interval passes, then you will hit the rate limit and receive a slow_down error. The default is 5 seconds.

3. Prompt the user to enter the user_code from the previous step at http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/device.

   If the user does not enter the code before the expires_in time passes, the code will be invalid. In this case, you should restart the device flow.

4. Poll POST http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token along with the client_id, device_code, and grant_type query parameters (described below) until the device and user codes expire or the user has successfully authorized the app by entering the user_code.

   Query parameter	Type	Description
   client_id	string	Required. The client ID for your GitHub App.
   device_code	string	Required. The device verification code you received in the previous step.
   grant_type	string	Required. The grant type must be urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code.
   repository_id	string	The ID of a single repository that the user access token can access. If the GitHub App or user cannot access the repository, this will be ignored. Use this parameter to restrict the access of the user access token further.

   Do not poll this endpoint at a higher frequency than the frequency indicated by interval. If you do, you will hit the rate limit and receive a slow_down error. The slow_down error response adds 5 seconds to the last interval.

   Until the user enters the code, GitHub will respond with a 200 status and an error response query parameter.

   Error name	Description
   authorization_pending	This error occurs when the authorization request is pending and the user hasn't entered the user code yet. The app is expected to keep polling the POST http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token at a frequency no faster than the frequency specified by interval.
   slow_down	When you receive the slow_down error, 5 extra seconds are added to the minimum interval or timeframe required between your requests using POST http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token. For example, if the starting interval required at least 5 seconds between requests and you get a slow_down error response, you must now wait a minimum of 10 seconds before making a new request for a token. The error response includes the new interval that you must use.
   expired_token	If the device code expired, then you will see the token_expired error. You must make a new request for a device code.
   unsupported_grant_type	The grant type must be urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code and included as an input parameter when you poll the OAuth token request POST http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token.
   incorrect_client_credentials	For the device flow, you must pass your app's client ID, which you can find on your app settings page. The client ID is different from the app ID and client secret.
   incorrect_device_code	The device_code provided is not valid.
   access_denied	When a user clicks cancel during the authorization process, you'll receive an access_denied error, and the user won't be able to use the verification code again.
   device_flow_disabled	Device flow has not been enabled in the app's settings. For more information on enabling device flow, see Modifying a GitHub App registration.

5. Once the user has entered the user_code, GitHub will give a response that includes the following query parameters:

   Response parameter	Type	Description
   access_token	string	The user access token. The token starts with ghu_.
   expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until access_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 28800 (8 hours).
   refresh_token	string	The refresh token. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The token starts with ghr_.
   refresh_token_expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until refresh_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 15897600 (6 months).
   scope	string	The scopes that the token has. This value will always be an empty string. Unlike a traditional OAuth token, the user access token is limited to the permissions that both your app and the user have.
   token_type	string	The type of token. The value will always be bearer.

6. Use the user access token from the previous step to make API requests on behalf of the user. Include the user access token in the Authorization header of an API request. For example:

   curl --request GET \
   --url "http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/user" \
   --header "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
   --header "Authorization: Bearer USER_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
   --header "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28"
   

Generating a user access token when a user installs your app

If you select Request user authorization (OAuth) during installation in your app settings, GitHub will start the web application flow immediately after a user installs your app.

You can generate a user access token with this method regardless of whether the app is installed on a user account or an organization account. However, if the app was installed on an organization account, you will need to use the web application flow or device flow to generate a user access token for other users in the organization.

1. When a user installs your app, GitHub will redirect the user to http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/authorize?client_id=CLIENT_ID, where CLIENT_ID is the client ID of your app.

2. If the user accepts your authorization request, GitHub will redirect the user to the first callback URL in your app settings, and provide a code query parameter.

   If you want to control which callback URL is used, do not select Request user authorization (OAuth) during installation. Instead, direct users through the full web application flow and specify the redirect_uri parameter.

3. Exchange the code from the previous step for a user access token by making a POST request to this URL, along with the following query parameters: http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/oauth/access_token

   Query parameter	Type	Description
   client_id	string	Required. The client ID for your GitHub App. The client ID is different from the app ID. You can find the client ID on the settings page for your app. For more information about navigating to the settings page for your GitHub App, see "Modifying a GitHub App registration."
   client_secret	string	Required. The client secret for your GitHub App. You can generate a client secret on the settings page for your app.
   code	string	Required. The code you received in the previous step.
   redirect_uri	string	The URL in your application where users will be sent after authorization. This must be an exact match to one of the URLs you provided as a "Callback URL" when setting up your GitHub App and can't contain any additional parameters.
   repository_id	string	The ID of a single repository that the user access token can access. If the GitHub App or user cannot access the repository, this will be ignored. Use this parameter to restrict the access of the user access token further.

4. GitHub will give a response that includes the following parameters:

   Response parameter	Type	Description
   access_token	string	The user access token. The token starts with ghu_.
   expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until access_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 28800 (8 hours).
   refresh_token	string	The refresh token. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The token starts with ghr_.
   refresh_token_expires_in	integer	The number of seconds until refresh_token expires. If you disabled expiration of user access tokens, this parameter will be omitted. The value will always be 15897600 (6 months).
   scope	string	The scopes that the token has. This value will always be an empty string. Unlike a traditional OAuth token, the user access token is limited to the permissions that both your app and the user have.
   token_type	string	The type of token. The value will always be bearer.

5. Use the user access token from the previous step to make API requests on behalf of the user. Include the user access token in the Authorization header of an API request. For example:

   curl --request GET \
   --url "http(s)://HOSTNAME/api/v3/user" \
   --header "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" \
   --header "Authorization: Bearer USER_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
   --header "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28"
   

Using a refresh token to generate a user access token

By default, user access tokens expires after 8 hours. If you receive a user access token with an expiration, you will also receive a refresh token. The refresh token expire after 6 months. You can use this refresh token to regenerate a user access token. For more information, see Refreshing user access tokens.

GitHub strongly encourages you to use user access tokens that expire. If you previously opted out of using user access tokens that expire but want to re-enable this feature, see Activating optional features for GitHub Apps.

Troubleshooting

The following sections outline some errors you may receive when generating a user access token.

Incorrect client credentials

If the client_id or client_secret that you specify are incorrect, you will receive an incorrect_client_credentials error.

To resolve this error, make sure to use the correct credentials for your GitHub App. You can find the client ID and client secret on the settings page for your GitHub App. For more information about navigating to your GitHub App settings page, see Modifying a GitHub App registration.

Redirect URI mismatch

If you specify a redirect_uri that doesn't match one of the callback URLs in your GitHub App registration, you will receive a redirect_uri_mismatch error.

To resolve this error, either provide a redirect_uri that matches one of the callback URLs for your GitHub App registration, or omit this parameter to default to the first callback URL that is listed on your GitHub App registration. For more information, see About the user authorization callback URL.

Bad verification code

If you are using device flow and the verification code (device_code) that you specified is incorrect, expired, or doesn't match the value that you received from the initial request to http(s)://HOSTNAME/login/device/code, you will receive a bad_verification_code error.

To resolve this error, you should start the device flow again to get a new code. For more information, see Using the device flow to generate a user access token.

Bad refresh token

If the refresh token that you specified is invalid or expired, you will receive a bad_refresh_token error.

To resolve this error, you must restart the web application flow or device flow to get a new user access token and refresh token. You will only receive a refresh token if your GitHub App has opted in to expiring user access tokens. For more information, see Refreshing user access tokens.

Unsupported grant type

When you request a user access token via the device flow, the grant_type parameter must be urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:device_code. When you refresh a user access token by using a refresh token, the grant_type parameter must be refresh_token. If you don't use the correct grant type, you will receive an unsupported_grant_type error.

Unverified user email

If the user for whom you are trying to generate a user access token has not verified their primary email address with GitHub, you will receive an unverified_user_email error.

To resolve this error, prompt the user to verify the primary email address on their GitHub account. For more information, see Verifying your email address in the GitHub Free documentation.