How can I update my Spotify access token in a React app?

Other Questions Spotify
1

I’m working on a React app that connects to Spotify. I’ve got a function to log in and get the access token, and another to refresh it. But when I try to use the refresh function with Axios, I keep getting 400 or 404 errors. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.

Here’s a simplified version of my login code:

const SPOTIFY_AUTH = 'https://accounts.spotify.com/authorize?client_id=MY_APP_ID&response_type=token&redirect_uri=http://localhost:3000/&scope=user-read-playback-state';

function SpotifyLogin() {
  useEffect(() => {
    if (window.location.hash) {
      const { token, expiry } = parseHash(window.location.hash);
      localStorage.setItem('spotifyToken', token);
      localStorage.setItem('tokenExpiry', expiry);
    }
  }, []);

  return (
    <a href={SPOTIFY_AUTH}>
      <button>Connect to Spotify</button>
    </a>
  );
}

And here’s my token refresh function:

async function refreshSpotifyToken() {
  const appId = 'your_app_id';
  const appSecret = 'your_app_secret';

  const config = {
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' },
    auth: { username: appId, password: appSecret }
  };

  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      'https://accounts.spotify.com/api/token',
      querystring.stringify({ grant_type: 'client_credentials' }),
      config
    );
    return response.data.access_token;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Token refresh failed:', error);
  }
}

Can someone help me figure out why the token refresh isn’t working? Am I missing something obvious?

2

In my experience, the main issue is that the client credentials flow isn’t suitable for refreshing a user’s access token because it is intended for server-to-server scenarios. You need to use the authorization code flow with PKCE to obtain both access and refresh tokens during authentication. This means keeping the refresh token secure (ideally on a backend) and using it to request a new access token when needed. For example, you might create a function like the one below:

async function refreshToken(refreshToken) {
  const params = new URLSearchParams();
  params.append('grant_type', 'refresh_token');
  params.append('refresh_token', refreshToken);

  const response = await axios.post('https://accounts.spotify.com/api/token', params, {
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
      'Authorization': 'Basic ' + btoa(CLIENT_ID + ':' + CLIENT_SECRET)
    }
  });
  return response.data.access_token;
}

Managing your tokens securely is crucial, so using a backend service to handle the refresh logic can help mitigate security risks.

3

I’ve dealt with Spotify API authentication headaches before, and I can tell you’re on the right track. The issue is definitely with your token refresh approach. You’re using client credentials, which won’t work for refreshing user tokens.

What worked for me was implementing the authorization code flow with PKCE. It’s a bit more complex, but way more secure. You’ll need to update your initial auth request to get both access and refresh tokens. Then, use the refresh token to get a new access token when needed.

One thing I learned the hard way: never expose your client secret in front-end code. I ended up setting up a small backend service to handle token management. It was a game-changer for security.

Also, don’t forget to handle token expiration properly. I set up a timer to check and refresh the token before it expires, which saved me a lot of headaches with interrupted playback.

4

hey bro, i feel ur pain w/ spotify auth. i had same issue. u need to use auth code flow w/ PKCE, not client creds. get both access & refresh tokens during login. then use refresh token to get new access token when it expires. keep refresh token safe tho, maybe on backend. good luck man!

5

I’ve encountered similar issues when working with Spotify’s API. The problem lies in your refresh token approach. You’re using the client credentials flow, which doesn’t work for refreshing user-specific tokens. Instead, you need to implement the authorization code flow with PKCE.

Here’s what I’d suggest:

Update your initial auth request to include ‘code’ as the response_type and add a code_verifier. After getting the code, exchange it for both access and refresh tokens. Store these securely, preferably on the server side, and when refreshing, use the refresh token instead of client credentials.

Remember to keep your client secret secure and never expose it in client-side code. A backend service to handle token management is ideal for security reasons.