Title: Error: The API certificate is not valid. Last modified: September 2, 2017 --- # Error: The API certificate is not valid. * Resolved [derekg1023](https://wordpress.org/support/users/derekg1023/) * (@derekg1023) * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/) * Hi, * I am trying to utilize this plugin but I get several different errors. When putting in the API Username and API Password, and upload the certificate from PayPal I get the error “Error: The API certificate is not valid.” * I then tried to not utilize the certificate, but I do not have an API Signature in my Paypal account. I only have “Fingerprint” as an option in my PayPal account. When I use the Fingerprint in the API Signature area, I get “Error: The API credentials you provided are not valid. Please double-check that you entered them correctly and try again.” * Hope someone can help! Thanks! Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/page/2/?output_format=md) * Plugin Support [dougaitken](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dougaitken/) * (@dougaitken) * Automattic Happiness Engineer * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9467101) * Hey there, * To confirm – do you have a PayPal Business account? If you follow along with the documentation, you should see where it provides an API signature if you’re going the manual route – [https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/paypal-express-checkout/#section-2](https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/paypal-express-checkout/#section-2) * Let me know how you get on! * Thread Starter [derekg1023](https://wordpress.org/support/users/derekg1023/) * (@derekg1023) * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9468019) * Hi there, * Yes, we actually are using the certificate for another product of ours that’s why I don’t understand why this one plugin is not working with it. Unfortunately, PayPal does not allow you to utilize both a Signature and a Certificate, it’s either or, and we are already utilizing a certificate based authentication on this paypal account unfortunately. I’d rather not utilize a second paypal account if I can help it. * Thanks! Derek * Plugin Support [dougaitken](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dougaitken/) * (@dougaitken) * Automattic Happiness Engineer * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9470626) * Hey Derek, * To clarify: * You have access to an API certificate, however, it is in use on another site. * As mentioned in the docs, API Certificate and Signature, and Live API Subject are optional. * My advice would be to reach out to PayPal and confirm with them that you cannot use the certificate on two sites, and what their recommendation would be. * As a slight aside – can you let me know what happens when you go through the blue “Setup or link an existing PayPal account” button? * Thanks, * Thread Starter [derekg1023](https://wordpress.org/support/users/derekg1023/) * (@derekg1023) * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9473545) * Hey there, * PayPal circled back and said it should work fine. I ended up just utilizing a second PayPal account that used the signature based method unfortunately. * When I tried the blue button I believe I would sign into PayPal and everything completed normally but when I was brought back to the plugin page nothing was populated. * Thanks! * Plugin Support [dougaitken](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dougaitken/) * (@dougaitken) * Automattic Happiness Engineer * [8 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9477869) * Hey Derek, * It’s not an ideal situation there, sorry you had to go for the 2nd account. * > When I tried the blue button I believe I would sign into PayPal and everything completed normally but when I was brought back to the plugin page nothing was populated. * Was there any errors given, that is a bit odd * [hickman120](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hickman120/) * (@hickman120) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9534155) * Exactly the same happens for me – when you click on the blue “Setup or link an existing PayPal account” button – you login to PayPal, go through the process of allowing permissions, etc and then return to the WooCommerce page. * But nothing changes – the account isn’t connected and the blue button is still there. * No error messages, just the default notice at the top which says “PayPal Express Checkout is almost ready. To get started, connect your PayPal account.” * Seems I can’t connect my PayPal account to this plugin so it’s a no-go it seems =( * [owenlenegan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/owenlenegan/) * (@owenlenegan) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9555749) * I’m just getting – “Error: The API certificate is not valid.” for every PayPal API certificate even though it’s 100% valid and in the correct format etc. Had it reissued, then a brand new one issued… nothing. Woo says its invalid no matter what. Very weird given I have used Woo PayPal Gateway for years and it has always worked first time. * [seansloan777](https://wordpress.org/support/users/seansloan777/) * (@seansloan777) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9582618) * [@owenlenegan](https://wordpress.org/support/users/owenlenegan/), any luck with this issue? I am experiencing what seems to be the exact same issue. Tried setting it up twice and got the exact same message “Error: The API certificate is not valid.” Anyone out there, including WooCommerce or PayPal themselves, feel free to chime in 😉 * Thread Starter [derekg1023](https://wordpress.org/support/users/derekg1023/) * (@derekg1023) * [8 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9582632) * The only solution we had was to use another PayPal account with a signature based API connection. The certificate never worked. * [hypergolica](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hypergolica/) * (@hypergolica) * [8 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9609170) * Was there ever a solution to this? I am having the same exact problem: when I use the blue button, I log in to PayPal, then see a message that says: * > You’ve successfully authorized WooCommerce Developers > Don’t forget! Check > your setup on PayPal to make sure you’ve done what’s needed to access payments. * I then click the link that says “Go Back to WooCommerce Developers”… and then nothing: I see the same “Setup or Link an Existing PayPal Account”. * Note: I DO have a PayPal Business account. I am NOT using the certificate on any other website. * What is the fix? Please advise. * Thank you. * Tim * [hypergolica](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hypergolica/) * (@hypergolica) * [8 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9618418) * Hello, is anyway at the helm on this? Please see previous post and please advise. * Thank you. * Tim * [michaelbroughton](https://wordpress.org/support/users/michaelbroughton/) * (@michaelbroughton) * [8 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9752159) * Hi, I am suffering from this same problem. Is there any chance of a resolution? * Many thanks! * [Pedro Blom](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pedro-blom/) * (@pedro-blom) * [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9790366) * I also have the exact same problem. Error: The API credentials you provided are not valid. Please double-check that you entered them correctly and try again. - This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by [Pedro Blom](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pedro-blom/). * [ricdam](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ricdam/) * (@ricdam) * [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9833039) * Guys, this error is real, I don’t know what to do anymore. * How did you guys sort this out? * I’m putting my Live API Username and Password but when I upload the certificate generated by PayPal I’m getting the error “Error: The API certificate is not valid.” * How to fix that???? * [ricdam](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ricdam/) * (@ricdam) * [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/#post-9836110) * The solution is to just go with API Signature instead of Certificate, and to generate the Signature you first must delete the certificate in PayPal, and then you will be able to generate the Signature. Cheers Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Error: The API certificate is not valid.’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express- checkout_b298d1.svg) * [WooCommerce PayPal Checkout Payment Gateway](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-express-checkout/reviews/) * 18 replies * 11 participants * Last reply from: [ricdam](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ricdam/) * Last activity: [8 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-the-api-certificate-is-not-valid/page/2/#post-9838459) * Status: resolved