GoDaddy API access and errors
Last updated
PapiDNS works through GoDaddy’s Domains API, using an API key from your own GoDaddy account. If PapiDNS can’t load your domains or save a change, this page covers the usual causes.
Who can use GoDaddy’s API
GoDaddy decides which accounts can use its API. When we last checked, its help center said:
- Accounts with at least one active domain can use the Domains API, up to 20,000 calls a month.
- Accounts with 50 or more domains, or an average spend of at least US$20 a month, also get domain availability checks, with the same 20,000-call limit.
- GoDaddy sells plans with higher limits.
GoDaddy used to require 10 or more domains or US$20 a month in spending, and some messages in PapiDNS still say so. GoDaddy changes these rules from time to time, so its API access help page is the final word.
Create an API key
- Sign in at developer.godaddy.com/keys with the GoDaddy account that owns your domains.
- Create a new API key and give it a name you’ll recognize.
- Choose Production for your real domains.
- Copy the key and the secret. GoDaddy shows the secret only once, so paste both into PapiDNS right away.
In PapiDNS, tap the menu button at the top right of the home screen, open Settings, add the key and set a passphrase. The key is encrypted on your device before it’s saved, as our privacy policy explains.
Fix common errors
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized (401) | The key or secret is wrong, the key was deleted at GoDaddy, or it's a key for the other environment (OTE instead of Production, or the reverse). | Copy the key and secret from GoDaddy again. Keys can't be edited in PapiDNS, so delete the key in Settings and add it again. |
| Forbidden (403) or access denied | GoDaddy won't let this account use its API, usually because it doesn't meet GoDaddy's API access requirements. | Check GoDaddy's requirements below. If your account meets them, ask GoDaddy's API support. |
| Too many requests (429) | GoDaddy's rate limit for your account was reached. | Wait a few minutes before refreshing again. Pull to refresh only when you need fresh data. |
| No domains found | The active key can't see any domains: it may be an OTE key, or from a different GoDaddy account. | In Settings, set a Production key from the account that owns your domains as active, then tap Refresh. |
| A change is refused | GoDaddy's Domain Protection or two-step verification settings can block changes made through the API. | Review those settings for the domain in your GoDaddy account. |
Production and OTE keys
GoDaddy has two environments. Production (api.godaddy.com) is your real account and your real domains. OTE (api.ote-godaddy.com) is GoDaddy’s test environment: it’s separate from your real domains, so an OTE key won’t show them. Use OTE to try things safely, then switch to a Production key for real changes.
Still stuck?
Send us a message through our contact form and choose “Connecting to GoDaddy or API key errors”. Tell us the exact error message, but not your key or secret. For questions about your GoDaddy account’s API access, GoDaddy’s own support is the place to ask. PapiDNS is an independent app and isn’t affiliated with GoDaddy.