- What is OAuth token authentication?
- Why do I sometimes need to re-authorize my OAuth tokens?
- Why am I seeing a "Browser pop-ups currently blocked" message?
- Where can I view and manage my OAuth tokens?
- Why can't I connect to a service?
- How do I re-authorize an expired OAuth token?
1. What is OAuth token authentication?
OAuth token authentication is an open standard for authentication and is used as a security measure when retrieving data from web services. Many third-party services require an OAuth token to be passed with the API request to ensure that the server requesting the data is safe.
When working with PowerMetrics, OAuth tokens (sometimes referred to as connections) are generated as part of the connection workflow and are stored for future use in your account, so you don't have to share your login credentials every time you connect to a service. By default, your OAuth token looks like this: yourname<date and time created but you can rename it if desired.
2. Why do I sometimes need to re-authorize my OAuth tokens?
If you have trouble accessing a data service, it may be because your OAuth token has expired. Learn how to re-authorize an expired OAuth token.
Some of the most popular services that use OAuth authentication are Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram Business. Here are some common reasons for token expiry for these services:
- The account password was changed.
- You were removed as a user from Business Manager.
- You were removed as a user from the social network.
- Posts on your social site were reported or flagged.
- Community guidelines were violated.
- You exceeded API limitations.
- You chose to prevent an application from accessing your account.
- Tokens for some services expire after a set time period and need to be re-authorized. Go here for an example of token expiry details for LinkedIn. To prevent data disruptions, we recommend you set a reminder for yourself to re-authorize your LinkedIn account before expiry.
3. Why am I seeing a "Browser pop-ups currently blocked" message?
Are you seeing an error like this one? If you're using Safari or Firefox as your browser and it's set to block pop-ups, the OAuth pop-up window will be blocked and you'll be unable to authenticate with OAuth services.
To authenticate, you'll need to allow pop-ups in the browser. (Safari > Settings for this website > Pop-up window > Allow) (Firefox > Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Deselect the checkbox beside "Block pop-up windows")
4. Where can I view and manage my OAuth tokens?
To view your list of connections and manage your OAuth tokens (share, re-authorize, and delete), click the 
button in the left navigation sidebar and select Connections.
5. Why can't I connect to a service?
Having trouble connecting to specific data for a service? It might be because:
Your login credentials don't provide access to the specific data you're looking for.
For example, you want to connect to your company's Facebook Ads data but the login credentials you entered when connecting to the service only provide access to your company's Facebook page and not its Facebook Ads account.
For example, you want to connect to Google Ads data but your login credentials only include access to your company's Google Analytics data and not its Google Ads data.
You're trying to connect to a Facebook personal page.
PowerMetrics gets data from Facebook business pages, not Facebook personal pages. Facebook requires all business pages to be linked to an authentic personal account so you can administer the business page. To learn how to add users to a business page for administrative purposes, see the Facebook help article How do I manage roles for my Facebook Page?
Your Instagram Business account isn't connected to a Facebook business page.
To get data from your Instagram Business account it needs to be connected to a Facebook Business Page. If you need help, ask the administrator of your company’s Facebook account.
6. How do I re-authorize an expired OAuth token?
You'll need valid credentials to re-authorize a token. Note also that some APIs require you to log into the service account when re-authorizing.
To re-authorize an expired OAuth token:
- Click the button in the left navigation sidebar and select Connections.
- Click the Name of the token that requires re-authorization.
- Click Re-Authorize.