> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lobstr.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Link Account to Squid

> Attach a platform account to a squid so account-based scrapers can authenticate

Some scrapers require a connected platform account to run (LinkedIn, Facebook, Sales Navigator, etc.). Link one or more accounts to a squid by passing their hash IDs in the `accounts` array when updating the squid.

<Note>
  Only scrapers that require authentication have an `accounts` field. For public scrapers (Google Maps, Trustpilot, etc.) this field is ignored.
</Note>

## Headers

<ParamField header="Authorization" type="string" required>
  Your API authentication token. Value: `Token YOUR_API_KEY`
</ParamField>

<ParamField header="Content-Type" type="string" required>
  Request body format. Value: `application/json`
</ParamField>

## Path Parameters

<ParamField path="squid_hash" type="string" required>
  The hash of the squid to update
</ParamField>

## Body Parameters

<ParamField body="accounts" type="array" required>
  Array of account hash strings to link to the squid. Pass an empty array `[]` or `null` to remove all linked accounts. Each hash must correspond to an account of the correct type for the scraper.
</ParamField>

## How to find your account hash

Use [List Accounts](/docs/list-accounts) to retrieve your connected accounts and their `id` (hash) values:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET "https://api.lobstr.io/v1/accounts" \
  -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY"
```

The `id` field in each account object is the hash you pass in the `accounts` array.

## Code Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST "https://api.lobstr.io/v1/squids/YOUR_SQUID_HASH" \
    -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "accounts": ["YOUR_ACCOUNT_HASH"]
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
  BASE_URL = "https://api.lobstr.io/v1"
  headers = {"Authorization": f"Token {API_KEY}"}

  # Step 1: get your account hashes
  accounts_response = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/accounts", headers=headers)
  accounts = accounts_response.json()["data"]

  # Find the account you want to link
  linkedin_account = next(a for a in accounts if a["type"] == "linkedin-sync")
  account_hash = linkedin_account["id"]

  # Step 2: link the account to your squid
  squid_hash = "YOUR_SQUID_HASH"
  response = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/squids/{squid_hash}",
      headers=headers,
      json={"accounts": [account_hash]}
  )

  print(response.json())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Response

```json 200 theme={null}
{
  "name": "LinkedIn Leads Scraper (1)",
  "concurrency": 1,
  "accounts": ["YOUR_ACCOUNT_HASH"]
}
```

## Removing linked accounts

Pass an empty array to unlink all accounts from a squid:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://api.lobstr.io/v1/squids/YOUR_SQUID_HASH" \
  -H "Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"accounts": []}'
```

## Errors

| Error                 | Cause                                                            |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `AccountDoesNotExist` | One of the account hashes was not found or doesn't belong to you |
| `InvalidParamType`    | `accounts` is not an array, or contains non-string values        |