> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.presenton.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# API authentication

> Authenticate Cloud and self-hosted Presenton API requests.

## Cloud

Cloud v3 uses a bearer token created from your Presenton account.

```http theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN
```

Send the token only to the official Cloud API base URL. Store it in a secret manager and rotate it after suspected exposure.

## Self-hosted

Self-hosted v1 uses HTTP Basic authentication when an admin account is configured.

```bash theme={null}
curl --request GET \
  --url http://localhost:5001/api/v1/ppt/presentation/all \
  --user "$PRESENTON_USERNAME:$PRESENTON_PASSWORD"
```

MCP uses a bearer session token obtained from the self-hosted authentication endpoint. Credential rotation invalidates existing sessions and MCP tokens.

<Warning>
  Never place Cloud tokens, self-hosted passwords, or MCP bearer tokens in source control, client-side code, documentation examples, or support requests.
</Warning>