---
title: "I'm getting error message \"Full authentication is required to access this resource\""
description: Check and make sure that you are sending an access token in the request header and that your current access token has not expired You need to obtain an access token See this section of our API doc htt
---

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# I'm getting error message "Full authentication is required to access this resource"

Developers · Troubleshooting

## "Full authentication is required"? Your token is missing or stale

This message shows up on any endpoint, not just /topups — here's what's actually wrong and how to fix it for good.

HTTP Status

401

Causes

2 common ones

Applies to

Any endpoint

If a request comes back with **"Full authentication is required to access this resource"**, it's an authentication problem — and it boils down to one of two things.

## 1. No access token in the request header

Check that you're actually sending an access token in your request header. If you haven't obtained one yet, see the [Access Token section](https://developers.reloadly.com/api.html#access-token) of our API docs for the exact request format.

## 2. Your access token has expired

Access tokens have a limited lifetime — once a token expires, it stops working and you need to obtain a new one to keep making requests.

**Good to remember:** access tokens always expire eventually. Plan for this in your integration — re-obtain a token automatically when the current one expires, rather than expecting it to keep working indefinitely.

 ℹ️ Seeing this specifically on the `/topups` endpoint with an `access_denied` error instead? Check our article on the /topups 401 error for that exact case.

Still getting this after refreshing your token?

Our support team can take a look at your request.

[Contact support →](mailto:tickets@reloadly.com)

 

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