---
title: "Exchange public token for an access token"
method: POST
path: "/item/public_token/exchange"
tags: ["plaid"]
---

# Exchange public token for an access token

`POST /item/public_token/exchange`

Exchange a Link `public_token` for an API `access_token`. Link hands off the `public_token` client-side via the `onSuccess` callback once a user has successfully created an Item. The `public_token` is ephemeral and expires after 30 minutes. An `access_token` does not expire, but can be revoked by calling `/item/remove`.

The response also includes an `item_id` that should be stored with the `access_token`. The `item_id` is used to identify an Item in a webhook. The `item_id` can also be retrieved by making an `/item/get` request.

## Request body

- ItemPublicTokenExchangeRequest — ItemPublicTokenExchangeRequest defines the request schema for `/item/public_token/exchange`
  - `client_id` string — Your Plaid API `client_id`. The `client_id` is required and may be provided either in the `PLAID-CLIENT-ID` header or as part of a request body.
  - `secret` string — Your Plaid API `secret`. The `secret` is required and may be provided either in the `PLAID-SECRET` header or as part of a request body.
  - `public_token` string, required — Your `public_token`, obtained from the Link `onSuccess` callback or `/sandbox/public_token/create`.

## Response `200`

OK

- ItemPublicTokenExchangeResponse — ItemPublicTokenExchangeResponse defines the response schema for `/item/public_token/exchange`
  - `access_token` string, required — The access token associated with the Item for which data is being requested.
  - `item_id` string, required — The `item_id` value of the Item associated with the returned `access_token`
  - `request_id` string, required — A unique identifier for the request, which can be used for troubleshooting. This identifier, like all Plaid identifiers, is case sensitive.

## Other responses

- `default` — Error response

## Changes

- **2026-07-22** `a1bbca018160` — 13 warning
  - added the new `ASSETS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CRA_MONITORING_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CREDIT_PROFILE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `ENCOMPASS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - …9 more
- **2026-06-25** `80d23bfdc2e5` — 1 warning
  - added the new `IDEMPOTENCY_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2026-06-10** `fb8c3f188d8b` — 1 warning
  - added the new `BASE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2025-12-11** `465584b48c99` — 2 info
  - added the optional property `provided_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
  - added the optional property `required_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
- **2025-11-19** `4abee1c56929` — 1 info
  - removed the `IDENTITY_ERROR` enum value from the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/changes/item/public_token/exchange/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/plaid/the-plaid-api/revisions/e536704a333f/schema)