PayPal Live API Setup
We need your PayPal Live API credentials (Client ID and Secret) to enable payments in your app using PayPal's production environment. This guide walks you through every step.
What You'll Need
Business Email
A permanent email for your business account
Business Details
Company name, address & contact info
Bank Account or Card
For account verification & payouts
15–20 Minutes
Estimated time to complete both steps
Create a PayPal Business Account
Sign up for a Business account at paypal.com, verify your email, and link a bank account or card.
Get Live API Credentials
Access the Developer Dashboard, create a Live app, and copy your Client ID and Secret.
Create a PayPal Business Account
Set up your account for accepting online payments
Go to PayPal and Sign Up
Navigate to the PayPal website and begin the registration process.
Choose "Business" as Your Account Type
PayPal will ask you to choose between a Personal and a Business account. You must select Business.
A Business account is required for app integrations and online payments. Personal accounts cannot generate API credentials.
Enter Your Business Details
Fill in all the required information during sign-up:
Verify Your Account
Complete these verification steps to activate your account:
Confirm your email address
PayPal will send a verification email. Click the link to confirm.
Link a bank account or debit/credit card
This is needed for receiving payouts and verifying your identity.
Enable International Payments
After verification, go to your account settings and ensure you are able to accept international payments.
Where to find it: Go to Account Settings → Payment Preferences → Manage International Payments
If your app needs to return users to your site after payment, you can configure the auto return URL in your PayPal business settings under Website Payments Preferences.
Step 1 Complete!
Your PayPal Business account is set up. Proceed to Step 2 to get your API credentials.
Get PayPal Live API Credentials
Obtain your Client ID and Secret from the Developer Dashboard
Sign In to PayPal Developer
Go to the PayPal Developer portal and sign in with the same account you created in Step 1.
Use the same email and password from your PayPal Business account.
Open Apps & Credentials
From the Developer Dashboard, navigate to your app credentials page.
Navigate to:
Also labeled as "Apps and Credentials" in some dashboard versions.
Switch to Live Mode
At the top of the page, you'll see a toggle between Sandbox and Live. Make sure Live is selected.
Toggle should show "Live" highlighted in blue
Sandbox credentials are for testing only. We need Live credentials for real transactions in your app.
Create a New App
Click "Create App" and fill in the required details:
Use a descriptive name so you can identify this app later
Copy Your Client ID and Secret
After the app is created, PayPal will display your Live credentials. You need both values.
Click "Show" on PayPal to reveal the Secret, then copy it
Copy both values and share them with your developer using a secure channel.
Security & Best Practices
Keep your Live API credentials safe
These are LIVE credentials tied to real money
Your Live Client ID and Secret process real financial transactions. Treat them with the same care as your bank login credentials.
Never Share Publicly
Do not post credentials in chat messages, emails, GitHub repos, or any unencrypted channel.
Use Secure Channels
Share via encrypted messaging, a password manager's secure sharing, or a direct secure handoff.
Rotate If Compromised
If you suspect your credentials were exposed, immediately regenerate the Secret from the Developer Dashboard.
Environment Variables
Your developer will store credentials as server-side environment variables, never in app source code.
What You Should Share
| Item | Example Format | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Client ID | AaBb...80 characters | Yes |
| Secret | EPhY...80 characters | Yes |
| Mode | Must be "Live" (not Sandbox) | Yes |
Share Credentials Securely
How to safely send your credentials to the development team
Recommended Secure Methods
Password Manager Sharing
Use 1Password, LastPass, or Bitwarden's secure sharing feature to send credentials directly.
Encrypted Messaging
WhatsApp (end-to-end encrypted), Signal, or Telegram secret chats work well for one-time sharing.
One-Time Secret Links
Use services like onetimesecret.com — paste your credentials, get a link that expires after one view.
Never Use These Methods
Ready to Share?
Once you have both your Client ID and Secret, contact your development team using one of the secure methods above. They will add these credentials to your app's server configuration.
Troubleshooting & Support
Common issues and how to get help
Still Need Help?
If you face any difficulty at any step, contact your developer and they can guide you through account setup, configuration, or sharing the credentials securely.