API Token

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Use an API token for migrations to Jira Cloud

What is an Atlassian account API token, and why do you need one for migrations with Cloud Migration Tool? 

API tokens in Atlassian’s ecosystem allow you to authenticate against Atlassian cloud apps like Jira Cloud, Confluence, Bitbucket, Fisheye, Crucible, etc. With the token, you:

  • bypass two-step verification and SSO, and,

  • retrieve data from the cloud sites through REST APIs.

Learn more about API token controls

Cloud Migration Tool uses the API token to authenticate and migrate your data to the Jira Cloud site. That’s why you must provide one when you create cloud connections in the Cloud Migration Tool.

Site admin or Organization admin permission required

Remember that you must be a Site or Organization admin in Jira Cloud to create connections to the cloud and migrate projects there. This means that the user email you provide on the New Connection page in the Cloud Migration Tool must be added to the site-admins or org-admins group on the Jira Cloud site.

You can learn more about the different admin roles in Atlassian’s documentation.

The API token allows the Cloud Migration Tool to communicate with the cloud without a need for usernames and passwords. This security approach authorizes our app to utilize all the necessary Jira Cloud services and features without storing any credentials.

You can create, view, and revoke an API token from your Atlassian account. 

Learn more about managing API tokens

Create an API token

  1. Log in to your Atlassian account https://id.atlassian.com/manage/api-tokens.

  2. Click Create API token.

  3. Choose a short and memorable label for your token from the dialog and click Create.

  4. Click Copy to clipboard, then paste the token and save it. The video below shows how to create an API token in your Atlassian account.

Additional resources