# Categories.json API not returning Lounge and Staff categories
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [October 12, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391 "2018-10-12T17:13:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@alldritt](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alldritt)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 5:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/1 "2018-10-12T17:13:12Z")
I’m trying to use the categories.json API end point to obtain the categories in my forum. I returns all the top level categories except for Lounge and Staff. My account has access to these categories.
I’m GETing `https://discourse.example.com/categories.json?api_key=myAPIKEY&api_username=myusername`
Is this just how it works, or do I need to specify additional information to get all the categories my Discourse account has access to?
I’m running: v2.2.0.beta2 +115
---
### Author:  [@simon](https://meta.discourse.org/u/simon)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/2 "2018-10-12T17:34:58Z")
You should be able to get the Staff and Lounge categories from `/categories.json`. Make sure the user whose API key you are using has permission to view the Staff and Lounge categories.
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### Author:  [@alldritt](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alldritt)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 5:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/3 "2018-10-12T17:46:54Z")
Thanks for the response. I’m using my username for the API calls and I’m the site admin. I have access to these categories when I use my site interactively.
---
### Author:  [@blake](https://meta.discourse.org/u/blake)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/4 "2018-10-12T19:37:51Z")
Without using the api can you just browse to this page as a logged in user
`https://discourse.example.com/categories`
and see Staff and Lounge? I assume so since
> [@alldritt](#):
>
> I have access to these categories when I use my site interactively.
Do they still show up if you visit the .json version from a web browser?
`https://discourse.example.com/categories.json`
So far I’m unable to replicate your behaviour.
If you do:
```
curl -I https://discourse.example.com/c/staff.json
```
do you get a `404` response?
Try the same call with your api key/username
```
curl -I https://discourse.example.com/c/staff.json?api_key=myAPIKEY&api_username=myusername
```
Do you get still get a 404?
---
### Author:  [@blake](https://meta.discourse.org/u/blake)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/5 "2018-10-12T20:20:54Z")
Ohh I see you are trying to do this from iOS Shortcuts:
> [@Posting to a Discourse forum from iOS Shortcuts](https://meta.discourse.org/t/posting-to-a-discourse-forum-from-ios-shortcuts/99394):
>
> This post describes how to post new topics to a Discourse forum using the new iOS Shortcuts app.
I think the problem might be that you have put the api\_key and api\_username in the Headers field.
We don’t read normal api\_keys and api\_username out of the headers field, so I think your request is showing up as a non-authenticated user.
Are you able to put the api\_key and api\_username in the URL field?
---
### Author:  [@alldritt](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alldritt)
#### Post date: [October 12, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/6 "2018-10-12T21:18:55Z")
> [@blake](#):
>
> I think the problem might be that you have put the api\_key and api\_username in the Headers field
Thanks, good spotting. I have some AppleScript code that generates the GET URL correctly and that returns all the categories.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-json-api-not-returning-lounge-and-staff-categories/99391/7 "2018-11-11T21:22:13Z")
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