---
title: "Start an authentication request"
method: POST
path: "/auth/start"
tags: ["auth"]
---

# Start an authentication request

`POST /auth/start`

If you want to access the TVmaze API on behalf of a user without querying them for their password, use this endpoint.

To get started, send a POST request containing the user's email address. The response will contain a `token`, which you can use as input to the `poll` endpoint. The user will receive an email prompting them to confirm the authentication request.

Alternatively, if you expect the user to be logged in to TVmaze on the device they are currently interacting with, you can set `email_confirmation` to false and redirect them to the `confirm_url` URL. If they are logged in to TVmaze, they will be able to confirm the authentication request instantly.

## Request body

- object
  - `email` string — The user's email address
  - `email_confirmation` boolean — Whether to email the user a confirmation link

## Response `200`

The authentication request was succesfully started

- object
  - `token` string — Authentication token to use in the `poll` endpoint
  - `confirm_url` string — URL where the user can confirm the authentication request

## Other responses

- `401` — The email address was found, but not confirmed
- `404` — The email address was not found
- `429` — You are starting authentication requests too quickly, please back off

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/tvmaze/apis/tvmaze-user-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/tvmaze/apis/tvmaze-user-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/tvmaze/tvmaze-user-api/revisions/4a251a7b3226/schema)