What is the best way to get security token of a API Only user?

Question

API only users cannot login and choose 'Reset my security token'. Right now, in my company, we select a System Administrator profile for users, log in for the first time, choose 'Reset my security token', then change the profile to a custom profile which has API only enabled.

The other way of doing it is, modifying the profile to not have API only user checked initially and then turn it on once the security token is received.

Is there a recommend way to do this? Is there an option to force the security token to be sent when the user is created with a profile which has API user enabled?

Answer 1

In the UI - change API only user profile to another non-api only user profile. Log in, reset security token. The IP range(s) on the profile assigned to the non-API User must allow your IP or you will not see the 'Reset Security Token' option on the User record.

Answer 2

1. Use the Log In as Another User feature to log as the 'API Only' user

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2. Reset the security token while logged in as the 'API Only' user

Answer 3

You could try changing the users password.

From Security and the API (my emphasis):

Users can obtain their security token by changing their password or resetting their security token via the Salesforce user interface. When a user changes their password or resets their security token, Salesforce sends a new security token to the email address on the user’s Salesforce record. The security token is valid until a user resets their security token, changes their password, or has their password reset.

One way to change the password would be to use the setPassword() Partner API method from another valid API user.

UPDATE: It appears that the setPassword() method is insufficient to trigger sending the security token. Instead, see Dewid's answer.

Additionally, consider voting for the idea: Give the ability to change API Only User security token

Answer 4

We are following the below steps. 1. Created a Custom Profile named 'API only' (API permission is enable). 2. Resetting the password from the UI or you may use Apex script if don't want to send any email to the API only user. 3. Use 'Login As' button from the User created above --> Go to My Settings from the User icon. 4. Reset the Security Token, an email will be sent to the User email ID. 5. log off.