Use cookie authentication with a wp_rest nonce for requests made by a logged-in user from a same-origin WordPress plugin or theme. For scripts, mobile apps, deployment jobs, and other remote clients, use a dedicated WordPress Application Password over HTTPS. In either flow, authentication establishes the user; WordPress capabilities and endpoint permission checks still determine which operations that user may perform.
How do I authenticate WordPress REST API requests?
Choose the method according to where the request originates:
| Request origin | Recommended method | Key constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Logged-in user in a same-origin plugin or theme | WordPress cookie authentication with a wp_rest nonce |
The user must also have the capability required for the requested operation. |
| Remote script, mobile app, deployment job, or external integration | Application Password using HTTP Basic authentication over HTTPS | Keep the credential secret and revoke it when it is no longer needed. |
| Special external authentication design | A carefully reviewed plugin may add OAuth 1.0a Server or JWT authentication | Verify that the specific plugin is maintained, secure, and compatible; WordPress documentation does not endorse or compare current plugins. |
WordPress’s built-in JavaScript API is the preferred route for plugin and theme developers because it handles nonce delivery. The two built-in approaches are not interchangeable: cookie authentication relies on a logged-in browser session, while Application Passwords are credentials for programmatic access.
How do I send a WordPress REST API nonce?
For a custom same-origin request made in a logged-in context, obtain a nonce for the wp_rest action and send it in the X-WP-Nonce HTTP header. WordPress checks that nonce as part of cookie authentication. The official REST API authentication guide explains that without a nonce, WordPress sets the current user to 0 and treats the request as unauthenticated—even if the browser is logged in.
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When writing plugin or theme code, use WordPress’s built-in JavaScript API where possible; it handles nonce delivery automatically. A nonce is not a replacement for checking whether the authenticated user is allowed to perform the action.
How do I use an Application Password with the WordPress REST API?
Application Passwords are intended for programmatic access and avoid sharing the user’s main account password. They are tied to a WordPress user, can be revoked individually, and are displayed only once when created. WordPress introduced them in version 5.6. The Application Passwords administration guide says they are available by default when requests are served over HTTPS.
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Create a dedicated credential
- Sign in to WordPress with the user account the integration should use.
- Open that user’s profile and find the Application Passwords section.
- Enter a descriptive name for the integration and generate the password.
- Copy and store the password securely when it is shown; you cannot retrieve the same password from the profile later.
Use an account with only the capabilities the integration needs, where your site’s roles and workflow allow it. Do not place the password in public source control, logs, or browser-side code.
Send it with HTTP Basic authentication
Application Passwords use HTTP Basic authentication. Send the WordPress username and the Application Password as the Basic Auth credentials, and use HTTPS so the credentials are protected in transit. WordPress’s documented example is:
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curl --user "USERNAME:APPLICATION_PASSWORD" https://example.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users/me
Replace the example host and credentials with your own. The /users/me route is a convenient way to check which user the request authenticates as; successful authentication does not itself grant access to every endpoint.
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Why is my WordPress REST API Authorization header not working?
If a request using an Application Password is not authenticated, check the request path and credentials in this order:
- Use HTTPS. Application Passwords are intended to be sent over a protected connection.
- Use the Application Password, not the account password. Confirm that the username is correct and that the credential was copied accurately.
- Check whether the feature is disabled. Site code or a security plugin can disable Application Passwords.
- Check header forwarding. A CGI or web-server configuration may strip the
Authorizationheader before WordPress receives it. The WordPress REST API FAQ links to official Apache and Nginx examples for forwarding the header.
If the server receives the header but the request still fails, verify the user’s permissions for that endpoint. Authentication and authorization are separate checks.
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Do WordPress REST API nonces grant permission?
No. A nonce is a CSRF defense, not authentication, authorization, access control, or a true one-time replay defense. WordPress’s nonce security guide says nonces should never be relied on for authentication, authorization, or access control.
Protect operations with capability checks and endpoint permission checks. The REST API applies WordPress authentication restrictions, but the user associated with a valid cookie or Application Password still needs the capabilities required by the specific operation. See the REST API handbook overview of custom endpoints and permissions for endpoint permission guidance.
When should I use OAuth or JWT instead?
WordPress documentation names OAuth 1.0a Server and JWT as examples of authentication methods added by plugins. They may suit a particular external authentication design, but the documentation does not establish that a specific plugin is secure, actively maintained, or compatible with your site. Review the implementation, maintenance status, and compatibility of any plugin before relying on it. For many remote integrations, Application Passwords are the simpler built-in option.
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