Chrome Extension Permissions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 104 views

Introduction

As a developer building a Chrome extension that interacts with the GoHighLevel (GHL) API, you may encounter issues when making requests to the API using the Fetch API. In this article, we will explore the issue of receiving a 401 Unauthorized response despite providing a correct Bearer token in the Chrome extension.

Background

GoHighLevel is a powerful CRM and marketing automation platform that provides a robust API for developers to integrate with their services. When building a Chrome extension that interacts with the GHL API, you need to authenticate your requests using a Bearer token. This token is typically obtained by exchanging your GHL API key for a token.

The Issue

When making requests to the GHL API using the Fetch API in your Chrome extension, you may encounter a 401 Unauthorized response despite providing a correct Bearer token. This issue can be frustrating, especially when you have verified that your token is correct and your request is properly formatted.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

Incorrect Token Format: Make sure that your Bearer token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.
Token Expiration: Check if your token has expired and needs to be refreshed. GHL API tokens typically have a limited lifespan and need to be refreshed periodically.
Cors Issues: The Fetch API may be subject to CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) restrictions, which can prevent your extension from making requests to the GHL API.
Chrome Extension Permissions: Ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Debugging the Issue

To debug this issue, follow these steps:

Verify Token Format: Check that your Bearer token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.
Check Token Expiration: Verify that your token has not expired and needs to be refreshed.
Inspect CORS Headers: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response. This can help you determine if CORS is the cause of the issue.
Check Chrome Extension Permissions: Ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Example Code

Here is an example of how to make a request to the GHL API using the Fetch API in your Chrome extension:

fetch('https://api.gohighlevel.com/v1/contacts', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${gohighlevelApiToken}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    // contact data
  })
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data))
.catch(error => console.error(error));

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the issue of receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GHL API using the Fetch API in a Chrome extension. We discussed possible causes of this issue, including incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, and Chrome extension permissions. We also provided an example of how to make a request to the GHL API using the Fetch API in your Chrome extension.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some additional troubleshooting tips to help you resolve this issue:

Use the Chrome DevTools: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response and determine if CORS is the cause of the issue.
Check the GHL API Documentation: Verify that your request is properly formatted and meets the requirements of the GHL API.
Test with Postman: Use Postman to test your request and verify that it works correctly.
Check the Chrome Extension Permissions: Ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

FAQs

Q: Why am I receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GHL API? A: This issue can be caused by incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, or Chrome extension permissions.
Q: How do I verify that my token is correct? A: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response and verify that your token is correctly formatted.
Q: How do I refresh my token? A: Check the GHL API documentation for instructions on how to refresh your token.
Chrome Extension Fetch to GoHighLevel API Returns 401 Unauthorized Despite Correct Bearer Token: Q&A ===========================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GoHighLevel (GHL) API using the Fetch API in a Chrome extension. We discussed possible causes of this issue, including incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, and Chrome extension permissions. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue.

Q&A

Q: Why am I receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GHL API?

A: This issue can be caused by incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, or Chrome extension permissions. Make sure to verify that your token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.

Q: How do I verify that my token is correct?

A: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response and verify that your token is correctly formatted. You can also use Postman to test your request and verify that it works correctly.

Q: How do I refresh my token?

A: Check the GHL API documentation for instructions on how to refresh your token. Typically, you will need to exchange your GHL API key for a new token.

Q: What are CORS issues and how can I resolve them?

A: CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) issues occur when the Fetch API is subject to CORS restrictions, preventing your extension from making requests to the GHL API. To resolve this issue, ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Q: How do I check the Chrome extension permissions?

A: To check the Chrome extension permissions, follow these steps:

Open the Chrome DevTools by pressing F12 or right-clicking on the page and selecting "Inspect".
Click on the "Application" tab.
Click on the "Permissions" tab.
Verify that your extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Q: What are the possible causes of the 401 Unauthorized response?

A: The possible causes of the 401 Unauthorized response include:

Incorrect Token Format: Make sure that your Bearer token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.
Token Expiration: Check if your token has expired and needs to be refreshed.
CORS Issues: The Fetch API may be subject to CORS restrictions, which can prevent your extension from making requests to the GHL API.
Chrome Extension Permissions: Ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Q: How do I troubleshoot the issue?

A: To troubleshoot the issue, follow these steps:

Verify Token Format: Check that your Bearer token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.
Check Token Expiration: Verify that your token has not expired and needs to be refreshed.
Inspect CORS Headers: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response.
Check Chrome Extension Permissions: Ensure that your Chrome extension has the necessary permissions to make requests to the GHL API.

Q: What are the best practices for making requests to the GHL API?

A: The best practices for making requests to the GHL API include:

Verify Token Format: Ensure that your Bearer token is correctly formatted and included in the Authorization header of your request.
Check Token Expiration: Verify that your token has not expired and needs to be refreshed.
Use the Correct API Endpoint: Use the correct API endpoint for your request.
Include the Necessary Headers: Include the necessary headers, such as the Authorization header, in your request.

Conclusion

In this article, we provided a Q&A section to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue of receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GHL API using the Fetch API in a Chrome extension. We discussed possible causes of this issue, including incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, and Chrome extension permissions. By following the troubleshooting steps and best practices outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve this issue and successfully make requests to the GHL API.

FAQs

Q: Why am I receiving a 401 Unauthorized response when making requests to the GHL API? A: This issue can be caused by incorrect token format, token expiration, CORS issues, or Chrome extension permissions.
Q: How do I verify that my token is correct? A: Use the Chrome DevTools to inspect the CORS headers of the GHL API response and verify that your token is correctly formatted.
Q: How do I refresh my token? A: Check the GHL API documentation for instructions on how to refresh your token.