# Cannot create topic via API when category is “see & reply only”

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-create-topic-via-api-when-category-is-see-reply-only/374217
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** rest-api
**Created:** [July 15, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-create-topic-via-api-when-category-is-see-reply-only/374217 "2025-07-15T00:42:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![st0rm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/st0rm/32/330379_2.png) [@st0rm](https://meta.discourse.org/u/st0rm)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-create-topic-via-api-when-category-is-see-reply-only/374217/1 "2025-07-15T00:42:34Z")

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Hi all,

I’m running into a permissions issue when trying to create new topics via the API in a category that’s locked down to “see” and “reply” only.

What I’m Trying to Do

1. On an external page, I collect title/body/category from a user.
2. My script sends a POST to /posts.json to impersonate that user.
3. I expect a new topic to be created in the chosen category.

What Actually Happens

- The category’s permissions are set to See & Reply only (no “Create” allowed).
- My script immediately fails with:

```plaintext
{"status":403,"body":"{\"errors\":[\"You are not permitted to view the requested resource.\"],\"error_type\":\"invalid_access\"}"}

```

If I temporarily change the category to allow “Create” for every user, the same API call succeeds and the topic is created.

Is there any way to let user‑level API calls create a new topic in a category that’s otherwise locked without permanently opening up the category?

Thanks in advance!

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![supermathie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/supermathie/32/507518_2.png) [@supermathie](https://meta.discourse.org/u/supermathie)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-create-topic-via-api-when-category-is-see-reply-only/374217/2 "2025-07-15T00:47:18Z")

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This is functioning as intended.

When you act as a user using an API key you’re acting as _that user_, no extra permissions.

Workarounds are to either change topic owner after creation (as admin), or move the topic into the restricted category (as admin).

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/system/32/443519_2.png) [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [August 14, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/cannot-create-topic-via-api-when-category-is-see-reply-only/374217/3 "2025-08-14T00:47:50Z")

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