---
title: "Getting Started with the Strava API | Apps for Strava"
canonical: https://appsforstrava.com/developers/getting-started
source: Markdown mirror of https://appsforstrava.com/developers/getting-started — the HTML page is canonical.
---

# Getting Started

Register your app on Strava and make your first API request in under 5 minutes.

## 2026 developer program update

Strava announced changes to its developer program in 2026, including a Strava subscription requirement for API access, the retirement of some API endpoints (announced June 1, 2026 and effective September 1, 2026), and new self-service tooling. Your application's access tier is now shown in the [API Settings Dashboard](https://www.strava.com/settings/api), where you can also request expanded access. See the [full rundown of the 2026 changes](https://appsforstrava.com/blog/strava-developer-program-changes-2026) and Strava's [API changelog](https://developers.strava.com/docs/changelog/) for the latest details.

## Quick Start Steps

1.  Create a Strava account (if you don't have one)
2.  Register your application on Strava
3.  Get your Client ID and Client Secret
4.  Make your first API request

## Step 1: Create a Strava Account

If you don't already have a Strava account, you'll need to create one first. Visit [strava.com/register](https://www.strava.com/register) to sign up. You'll also need an active Strava subscription: since June 2026, Strava's docs state that "a Strava subscription is a prerequisite for creating an app."

## Step 2: Register Your Application

Navigate to the [Strava API Settings page](https://www.strava.com/settings/api) and create your app by filling out the application form.

### Required Information

Application Name

A unique name for your app (shown to users during authorization)

Category

Select the category that best describes your app

Club

Optional - associate your app with a Strava club

Website

Your app's website URL

Application Description

Brief description of what your app does

Authorization Callback Domain

The domain Strava will redirect to after authorization. Use `localhost` for development.

**Tip:** For local development, set the callback domain to `localhost`. You'll update this to your production domain when you deploy.

## Step 3: Get Your API Credentials

After creating your app, you'll see your API credentials on the "My API Application" page:

| Credential | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Client ID | Your application's unique identifier |
| Client Secret | Secret key for authentication (keep this secure!) |
| Access Token | Your personal token for testing (expires every 6 hours) |
| Refresh Token | Used to get new access tokens when they expire |

Security Warning

Never expose your Client Secret or tokens in client-side code, public repositories, or logs. Always store credentials securely using environment variables.

## Step 4: Make Your First API Request

Use the Access Token from your app settings to make a test request. This token only has access to your own data and is perfect for testing.

### Using cURL

```
curl -X GET "https://www.strava.com/api/v3/athlete" \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"
```

### Using JavaScript (fetch)

```
const response = await fetch('https://www.strava.com/api/v3/athlete', {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN'
  }
});

const athlete = await response.json();
console.log(athlete);
```

### Using Python (requests)

```
import requests

response = requests.get(
    'https://www.strava.com/api/v3/athlete',
    headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN'}
)

athlete = response.json()
print(athlete)
```

### Example Response

```
{
  "id": 12345678,
  "username": "athlete_username",
  "firstname": "John",
  "lastname": "Doe",
  "city": "San Francisco",
  "state": "California",
  "country": "United States",
  "sex": "M",
  "premium": true,
  "created_at": "2015-03-21T18:04:07Z",
  "updated_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
  "profile": "https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/...",
  "profile_medium": "https://dgtzuqphqg23d.cloudfront.net/..."
}
```

## Next Steps

Now that you've made your first API request, here's what to learn next:

- [OAuth Authentication](https://appsforstrava.com/developers/authentication): Learn how to authenticate other users to access their data
- [API Reference](https://appsforstrava.com/developers/api-reference): Explore all available endpoints and their parameters
- [Code Examples](https://appsforstrava.com/developers/examples): Ready-to-use code snippets for common tasks
- [Best Practices](https://appsforstrava.com/developers/best-practices): Tips for rate limits, security, and production deployment