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In this article, we'll cover what an API is and how to generate an API key to grant access to your Mailchimp account. We’ll also cover where to go for support with questions about the Mailchimp Marketing API.
Note
This article refers only to API keys for the Mailchimp Marketing API. To learn more about the Mailchimp Transactional API, check out the Transactional API Quick Start Guide.
API stands for application programming interface. Think of an API as a way for different apps to talk to one another. You send and receive data between apps using API requests and responses. An API key is a unique series of characters that’s included in a request to verify that the requesting system is allowed to communicate with the receiving system.
You’ll often need to generate an API key when you set up an integration with your Mailchimp account. Users with Manager permissions can generate their own API keys. Users with Admin permissions can also see the API keys other account users have generated.
Note
You’ll only be able to see the full API key immediately after you generate it. After that, you’ll only see the name you’ve given it and its first 4 digits.
To generate an API key, follow these steps.
If an API key has been compromised, or you no longer use the integration that was accessing your account through it, you can revoke that API key. Once you’ve revoked an API key, it can’t be reactivated. You’ll need to generate a new key and update any integrations that use the original key.
To revoke an API key, follow these steps.
API keys grant full access to your Mailchimp account. You should protect them the same way you would protect your password. Keep these common scenarios in mind when working with API keys.
Our Mailchimp Support team isn't trained for in-depth API troubleshooting. If you need a developer to help you configure something using the API, check out our great Experts Directory. This lists third-party Mailchimp experts who can be hired to help out.
If you're a developer who wants to build your own integration with Mailchimp, check out our API documentation.
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Learn about user permission levels, how to grant access to a user, troubleshoot an invite, and change or remove user access.
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