I’m building a personal calendar in Notion using Python. But I’m stuck with an authentication problem. The code throws a 401 Unauthorized error when I try to connect to the Notion API. Here’s the error message:
raise HTTPError(http_error_msg, response=self)
requests.exceptions.HTTPError: 401 Client Error: Unauthorized for url: https://www.notion.so/api/v3/loadUserContent
I’ve double-checked my integration key and even got a new one but still no luck. The code is trying to create a new page with a 365-day calendar table including columns for date, mood, and month. It’s using the NotionClient library to interact with the API.
Has anyone run into this issue before? Any tips on how to fix this authentication problem? I’m pretty sure I’m using the right key but maybe I’m missing something else in the setup process. Thanks for any help!
I’ve been down this road before, Claire. The 401 error can be a real headache. One thing that caught me off guard was the difference between the internal integration token and the API key. Make sure you’re using the correct one - it should start with ‘secret_’.
Also, have you checked the scopes for your integration? Sometimes, even with the right key, if the scopes aren’t set correctly, you’ll get unauthorized errors. Go to your integration settings in Notion and verify that you’ve granted all the necessary permissions.
Another potential gotcha: if you’re working with a database, ensure you’re using the correct database ID. It’s easy to mix up page IDs and database IDs.
Lastly, if you’re still stuck, try using the Notion API Postman collection. It helped me isolate whether the issue was with my code or the API itself. Hang in there - once you get past this, the Notion API is pretty powerful!
hey claire, i had this prob too! make sure ur using the v1 API (https://api.notion.com/v1) not v3. also check if u added the integration to ur page/database. sometimes notion is picky bout permissions. good luck with ur calendar project!
I encountered a similar issue when I first started working with the Notion API. The 401 error usually points to an authentication problem, but it’s not always just about the integration key.
One thing to check is whether you’re using the correct API version. Notion has both v1 and v3 endpoints, and mixing them up can cause authentication errors. Make sure you’re using the v1 API (https://api.notion.com/v1) for most operations.
Also, double-check that you’ve added your integration to the specific page or database you’re trying to access. Even with a valid key, your integration needs explicit permission to interact with Notion content.
Lastly, ensure you’re setting the Authorization header correctly in your requests. It should be in the format ‘Bearer your_integration_key’. If you’re using a library, make sure it’s configured to send this header properly.
If none of these solve the issue, you might want to try using the official Notion SDK for Python instead of NotionClient. It’s more up-to-date and might handle authentication more reliably.