How do I enable Zoho CRM API Access for Focal / Cloven?

Last updated: April 3, 2026

Answer

For Focal to sync with your Zoho CRM, API Access must be enabled for the relevant user profiles in Zoho. This is a one-time setup that requires Zoho CRM admin privileges.

Note: This guide also applies to Cloven configurations. The steps are identical — enabling API access in Zoho is required for both Focal and Cloven integrations.

Prerequisites

  • Admin credentials for your Zoho CRM account

  • Know which user profile(s) need API access (e.g., Administrator, Standard, or a custom profile)

Steps

Step 1: Log in to Zoho CRM

Sign in to your Zoho CRM account at crm.zoho.com using your admin credentials.

Step 2: Open Setup

Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of the page.

Zoho CRM - Click the gear icon in the top-right corner

Step 3: Navigate to Profiles

In the Setup page, under Security Control, click Profiles.

Setup page - Click Profiles under Security Control

Step 4: Select the user profile

Click on the profile you want to enable API access for (e.g., Administrator or Standard).

Profiles list - Select the relevant profile

Step 5: Scroll to Developer Permissions

Scroll down to the bottom of the profile settings until you see the Developer Permissions section.

Step 6: Enable Zoho CRM API Access

Toggle Zoho CRM API Access to ON. The switch will turn green when enabled.

Developer Permissions - Toggle Zoho CRM API Access to ON

Step 7: Save your changes

Click Save to apply the updated permissions.

Developer Permissions saved with API Access enabled

How to verify it worked

  • Confirm the Zoho CRM API Access toggle shows as ON for the correct profile

  • Test user authentication through the Focal or Cloven integration

  • Verify that API calls no longer return permission errors

Troubleshooting

  • API access still blocked: Make sure you enabled it on the correct profile. Check which profile is assigned to the user connecting Focal / Cloven by going to Setup > Users.

  • Session expired errors: Log out and log back in to Zoho CRM, then retry the connection.

  • IP restriction errors: Check if your Zoho org has IP restrictions enabled under Security Control.

  • OAuth scope errors: Ensure the required OAuth scopes are authorized for the Focal / Cloven connection.

Security best practices

  • Only enable API access for profiles that need it for the Focal / Cloven integration.

  • Avoid granting broad API access to all profiles unnecessarily.

  • Conduct regular audits of which profiles have API access enabled.

  • Revoke API access promptly for profiles that no longer need it.

Need help?

If you have any questions, reach out to the Focal support team at support@meetwithfocal.com.

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