Create or update a user

Create or update a user

Creates a user, an end user unless you set a role, or updates the one that matches the email or external ID, and returns the full user.

Note: Sends a verification email to a new user unless you add "skip_verify_email": true. Needs an admin, or an agent whose custom role can manage end users or team members.

Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

API (official)

• Base URL: https://{subdomain}.zendesk.com
• Endpoint: POST /api/v2/users/create_or_update
• Auth: send the header Authorization: Bearer $ZENDESK_OAUTH_TOKEN
• Get a key: https://developer.zendesk.com/documentation/authentication/oauth-migration/#getting-your-first-token
• Docs: https://developer.zendesk.com/api-reference/ticketing/introduction/

Note: {subdomain} is your Zendesk subdomain, as in acme.zendesk.com. Tokens from OAuth clients created since April 30, 2026 expire after 30 minutes.

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

Rules

• Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
• Never print API keys.