Skills Development Configure Fireflies API Authentication

Configure Fireflies API Authentication

v20260423
fireflies-install-auth
This guide details the comprehensive setup process for authenticating with the Fireflies.ai GraphQL API. It covers retrieving the API key, configuring environment variables, and verifying connectivity using code examples for Node.js, Python, and cURL. Essential for securely integrating Fireflies data into external applications and automating transcript access.
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Overview

Fireflies.ai Install & Auth

Overview

Set up Fireflies.ai GraphQL API authentication. Fireflies uses a single GraphQL endpoint at https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql with Bearer token auth. No SDK needed -- all interaction is via HTTP POST with GraphQL queries.

Prerequisites

  • Fireflies.ai account (Pro or higher for API access)
  • API key from app.fireflies.ai > Integrations > Fireflies API
  • Node.js 18+ or Python 3.10+
  • A GraphQL client library (optional but recommended)

Instructions

Step 1: Get Your API Key

  1. Log in at app.fireflies.ai
  2. Navigate to Integrations > Fireflies API
  3. Copy your API key (starts with a long alphanumeric string)
  4. Store it securely -- this key grants access to all your meeting data

Step 2: Configure Environment

set -euo pipefail
# Create .env file (NEVER commit to git)
echo 'FIREFLIES_API_KEY=your-api-key-here' >> .env

# Add to .gitignore
echo '.env' >> .gitignore
echo '.env.local' >> .gitignore

Step 3: Install GraphQL Client (Optional)

set -euo pipefail
# Node.js -- graphql-request is lightweight and typed
npm install graphql-request graphql

# Or use plain fetch -- no library needed
# Python -- use requests
pip install requests

Step 4: Verify Connection

// verify-fireflies.ts
const FIREFLIES_API = "https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql";

async function verifyConnection() {
  const query = `{ user { name email is_admin } }`;

  const response = await fetch(FIREFLIES_API, {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
      Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FIREFLIES_API_KEY}`,
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ query }),
  });

  const result = await response.json();

  if (result.errors) {
    throw new Error(`Auth failed: ${result.errors[0].message}`);
  }

  const user = result.data.user;
  console.log(`Connected as: ${user.name} (${user.email})`);
  console.log(`Admin: ${user.is_admin}`);
  return user;
}

verifyConnection().catch(console.error);

Step 5: Verify with cURL

set -euo pipefail
curl -s -X POST https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FIREFLIES_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"query": "{ user { name email } }"}' | jq .

Python Verification

import os, requests

FIREFLIES_API = "https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql"

def verify_connection():
    headers = {
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['FIREFLIES_API_KEY']}",
    }
    query = '{ user { name email is_admin } }'
    resp = requests.post(FIREFLIES_API, json={"query": query}, headers=headers)
    data = resp.json()

    if "errors" in data:
        raise Exception(f"Auth failed: {data['errors'][0]['message']}")

    user = data["data"]["user"]
    print(f"Connected as: {user['name']} ({user['email']})")
    return user

verify_connection()

Rate Limits by Plan

Plan Limit Notes
Free / Pro 50 requests/day Cannot upload audio on Free
Business 60 requests/min Full API access
Enterprise 60 requests/min Super Admin webhooks

Error Handling

Error Code Solution
auth_failed 401 Check API key is valid and not expired
too_many_requests 429 Rate limit hit -- back off and retry
account_cancelled 403 Subscription inactive -- renew plan
Network timeout - Verify outbound HTTPS to api.fireflies.ai

Output

  • Environment variable configured with API key
  • GraphQL client verified against https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql
  • User identity confirmed via user query

Resources

Next Steps

After successful auth, proceed to fireflies-hello-world for your first transcript query.

Info
Category Development
Name fireflies-install-auth
Version v20260423
Size 4.57KB
Updated At 2026-04-28
Language