Hi all,
Summary: The API Portal wiki[1] is shutting down. API keys created on the
API Portal will continue to work (rate limits apply). api.wikimedia.org
endpoints will be deprecated gradually starting in July 2026. Documentation
on the API Portal is moving to mediawiki.org[2].
== Context ==
Started in 2020, the API Portal is an experimental wiki available at
api.wikimedia.org. It was designed by the Wikimedia Foundation as a home
for Wikimedia API docs and related functionality. The Wikimedia Foundation
has decided to shut down the API Portal as part of a new strategy for
Wikimedia APIs[3] and to focus on new ways to make API docs easy to find,
use, and create.
== Changes ==
Endpoints:
api.wikimedia.org endpoints will continue to work as currently documented
until at least June 2026. Starting in the second half of 2026, these
endpoints will be migrated to new routes, and the old routes will be
deprecated gradually. Deprecation information will be communicated through
the mediawiki-api-announce mailing list[4], Wikimedia API changelog[5], and
on the project talk page[6].
Rate limits:
Starting in late March or early April 2026, api.wikimedia.org endpoints
will have the same rate limits[7] as other Wikimedia APIs. The new rate
limits are higher than the current rate limits[8], so this change should
not create any issues. The Lift Wing API will continue to have the same
custom rate limits[9] with only minor clarifications.
API keys:
We expect API keys created through the API Portal to continue to work
normally within the API rate limits[7]. You can manage your API keys
through Meta-Wiki[10]. If you encounter any issues, please reach out using
the contact information below.
Documentation:
Documentation from the API Portal is currently being consolidated and moved
to other technical documentation wikis. Starting in June 2026, the API
Portal will be inaccessible. To learn about Wikimedia APIs and find links
to docs, visit the new landing page (work in progress) on mediawiki.org[2].
== Contact ==
If you have any questions, want to share your feedback, or have any issues
with functionality related to the API Portal:
- Post to the project talk page[6]
- Email techdocs(a)wikimedia.org
== Learn more ==
For a timeline, background behind the decision, and the latest project
information, see the project page[11].
Best,
- Alex Paskulin on behalf of the Wikimedia Tech Docs Team and MediaWiki
Interfaces Team
[1]: https://api.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
[2]: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_APIs
[3]:
https://techblog.wikimedia.org/2025/06/12/apis-as-a-product-investing-in-th…
[4]:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/postorius/lists/mediawiki-api-announce.lists.wi…
[5]: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_APIs/Changelog
[6]: https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:API_Portal/Deprecation
[7]: https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_APIs/Rate_limits
[8]:
https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/API_Portal/Deprecation#API_Portal_histo…
[9]: https://api.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lift_Wing_API/Rate_limits
[10]: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:OAuthConsumerRegistration/list
[11]: https://wikitech.wikimedia.org/wiki/API_Portal/Deprecation
--
Alexandra Paskulin
Technical Writer
Wikimedia Foundation
Hi all
As previously announced
<https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org/…>,
we have started rolling out new global API rate limits across our APIs to
help ensure fair and sustainable access
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_Product_Insights/Content_Reuse>
to Wikimedia resources.
We have just enabled the first set of limits, which apply to anonymous
requests from bots and unauthenticated requests from web browsers. See the
documentation on mediawiki.org
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_APIs/Rate_limits> for more
information. This has now been updated with actual limits for anonymous
requests and authenticated bot requests that do not come from WMCS. We are
still finalizing the initial limits for User-Agent only (e.g.
InstantCommons) and authenticated browser requests.
As a next step, rate limits for logged in users will follow in early April
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki_Product_Insights/Responsible_Reuse…>.
The concrete limits will be communicated beforehand. Access for clients
running in WMCS and accounts that have a bot flag will not be affected by
this change. However, all developers are advised to familiarize themselves
with the new limits and follow the best practices outlined in the
documentation.
If you see any unexpected issues that might be the result of the limits
rolled out this week, we are actively monitoring relevant mailing lists,
Talk pages and bot-traffic(a)wikimedia.org.
Best
Jonathan
--
*Jonathan Tweed* (he/him)
Senior Product Manager, Core Platform
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>