Skip to content

invalid_client (401) on client_credentials token request — app appears not activated #563

Description

@hanselpierredoan

Issue found of: July 29, 2026

Endpoint(s): POST https://secure.soundcloud.com/oauth/token

Scope(s): grant_type=client_credentials (server-side integration, public resources only)

Summary:
I registered a new API application under my Artist Pro account, but every client_credentials token request returns 401 {"error":"invalid_client"}. My Client ID and Client Secret match exactly what's shown in my app settings at soundcloud.com/you/apps, and the request format matches the documentation at developers.soundcloud.com/docs/api/guide#client-creds. This suggests my app may not be fully activated/provisioned on your end.

Steps to reproduce:

curl --location 'https://secure.soundcloud.com/oauth/token'
--header 'accept: application/json; charset=utf-8'
--header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded'
--header 'Authorization: Basic Base64(client_id:client_secret)'
--data-urlencode 'grant_type=client_credentials'

Expected: access_token, refresh_token, and related fields.

Actual: 401 {"error":"invalid_client"}

What I've already verified:

Account is on Artist Pro (active)
Client ID and Client Secret copied directly from soundcloud.com/you/apps (no whitespace/typos)
Tested the request directly against the token endpoint, outside my application code — same invalid_client result, which rules out my implementation
Request format matches the official docs exactly

Client ID: HgPpqterA1NKC5BjW2nm0IC24D31yEVZ
(Client Secret withheld — happy to provide privately if needed.)

Could you please check whether my application is activated for the Client Credentials flow and activate it if required? I'm only using it to display my own public tracks on my artist blog website. Thanks!

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    No labels
    No labels

    Type

    No type

    Projects

    No projects

    Milestone

    No milestone

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions