# API returning user ID of -1 when uploading avatar

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/api-returning-user-id-of-1-when-uploading-avatar/71784>\
**Category:** Development\
**Created:** [10 Ottobre 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/api-returning-user-id-of-1-when-uploading-avatar/71784 "2017-10-10T20:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![DeanMarkTaylor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/deanmarktaylor/32/102462_2.png) [@DeanMarkTaylor](https://meta.discourse.org/u/DeanMarkTaylor)\
**Post date:** [10 Ottobre 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/api-returning-user-id-of-1-when-uploading-avatar/71784/2 "2017-10-10T22:07:15Z")

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> [@Frank\_Bailey](#):
>
> The response shows a user ID of -1, which would seem to indicate that something is going wrong in the background.

The parameter `api_username` specifies the user you are executing the API action as…  
… in this case you are likely using `system` where the default ID for this user is `-1`.

Negative value user ID’s I believe are used to identify bots.

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