I’ve been curious about how apps like Discord, Spotify, and even Steam keep you logged in without asking for your password each time. I don’t think these applications save my password on my device, so I wonder what system they use for automatic logins. Do they rely on tokens instead? I’ve heard terms like refresh tokens and access tokens, but I’m unsure how they function. Are these tokens encrypted and stored on my machine? Also, how do the apps decide when to refresh them? I’m looking to implement a similar feature in my project and need to know how to ensure secure, persistent authentication.
Yeah, token-based authentication is definitely the way to go. After logging in, you receive a JWT or similar token that is used for all subsequent requests. I’ve implemented this in several enterprise applications, and the key is to manage token lifecycles effectively.
Access tokens typically expire after one hour, while refresh tokens can last from 30 to 90 days, depending on your security preferences. The application checks the token’s validity before each request and refreshes it automatically upon expiration.
The storage solution varies based on your platform; mobile apps use secure keystores, web applications utilize httpOnly cookies or secure local storage, and desktop applications like Discord often encrypt tokens and store them in protected directories.
A crucial aspect often overlooked is token revocation. Your backend should maintain a blacklist for compromised tokens and provide endpoints for users to terminate sessions remotely, which is especially important when dealing with sensitive information.
Begin with secure storage, followed by robust error handling for expired or invalid tokens. While most authentication libraries can manage the heavy lifting, understanding the underlying processes will help you troubleshoot effectively when issues arise.
Yeah, you’ve got it right with tokens. These apps use OAuth 2.0 with access and refresh tokens stored locally.
When you log in, the server gives your app two tokens. Access token is short-lived (15-60 minutes) and handles API requests. Refresh token lasts weeks or months and gets new access tokens when old ones expire.
Apps store both securely on your device - encrypted keychain on iOS, credential manager on Windows. When you open the app, it tries the access token first. Expired? Uses the refresh token to grab a fresh one automatically.
I built this exact flow for our mobile app last year. Instead of coding all the OAuth logic myself, I used Latenode for token management. It auto-refreshes tokens, handles failures smoothly, and alerts you when refresh tokens are about to expire.
Best part? Latenode connects your auth service to database, logging, and notifications in one workflow. No more custom token refresh code or debugging at 2 AM.
For your project, you could set up the whole authentication flow - login, token refresh, session management - as automated workflows that just work.
I’ve built auth systems for financial apps, so here are some things that usually get overlooked. Everyone talks about token storage, but the implementation details that actually affect UX are what count. Most apps use a sliding window - your refresh token’s expiration extends every time you use it successfully. Active users stay logged in forever, inactive ones eventually need to log back in. You’ll hit issues with network interruptions during token refresh. Spotify queues requests while a token refresh happens, then replays them once the new token comes back. Skip this and users get random logouts or actions that just fail. Also consider device fingerprinting with your tokens. Lots of services tie tokens to device characteristics - steal someone’s token file and you still can’t use it from another machine without extra verification. Start with solid retry logic for failed token refreshes and build silent re-auth flows that only ask for credentials when there’s no other choice.
Totally agree! It’s all about those tokens in the keychain. Discord keeps my session alive forever unless I clear stuff. The refresh is super smooth too - you hardly notice it happening.