About the Postman Agent

The Postman Agent enables you to send API requests when you’re using the Postman web app. The Postman Agent is required to bypass the cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) limitations of web browsers. Postman has four agents you can select from.

You can use the Desktop Agent to send all types of API requests from the Postman web app without CORS limitations. You can also use the Cloud Agent, the Browser Agent, or the Interceptor Agent to send HTTP requests. The Postman web app can automatically select the best agent for your requests, or you can manually select an agent depending on your needs.

Postman Desktop Agent

The Desktop Agent is an application that runs locally on your computer. It enables API requests to originate in your web browser but get routed through your local machine and network. This enables the Postman web app to bypass the CORS limitations of browsers.

When you select the Desktop Agent, you’ll be prompted to download the agent if it’s not already installed. Click Download Desktop Agent to download the agent, or download it from the Postman Agent page. Run the downloaded file to install the agent.

You can use the Desktop Agent to send all types of API requests supported by Postman, including HTTP, WebSocket, Socket.IO, gRPC, MQTT, and GraphQL requests.

Update the Postman Desktop Agent

Postman recommends using the latest version of the Desktop Agent to receive the latest changes and improvements in the Postman web app. Download and install the latest version from the Postman web app or your computer’s menu bar.

You’ll receive an in-app notification in the Postman web app when a new version of the Desktop Agent is available to download. In the notification, click Update and Restart to download the latest version and restart the Desktop Agent.

You can also click Postman Agent in your computer’s menu bar, and then click Check for Updates to download the latest version, if available. Click Postman Agent > Install update & restart to restart the Desktop Agent.

Postman Cloud Agent

The Cloud Agent enables API requests to originate in your web browser but get routed through Postman’s secure cloud servers. This enables the Postman web app to bypass the CORS limitations of browsers.

You can use the Cloud Agent to send HTTP requests. You can’t use the Cloud Agent to send WebSocket, Socket.IO, gRPC, MQTT, or GraphQL requests. Because the Cloud Agent uses Postman’s cloud servers, it can’t access private or local resources on your network when sending requests.

Postman Interceptor Agent

Postman Interceptor is a browser extension you can use to capture and inspect API traffic in Postman. You can also use Interceptor to send HTTP requests from the Postman web app and avoid the CORS limitations of web browsers. Using the Interceptor Agent is a good option if you want to use Safari, or if you can’t install applications (like the Desktop Agent app) on your system.

When you select the Interceptor Agent, you’ll be prompted to install the agent if it’s not already installed. Click Install Interceptor Agent to install the agent in your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge), or refer to the Postman Interceptor installation instructions.

You can use the Interceptor Agent to send HTTP requests. You can’t use the Interceptor Agent to send WebSocket, Socket.IO, gRPC, MQTT, or GraphQL requests.

The Interceptor Agent doesn’t support using CA, self-signed, or client certificates. If you select the Interceptor Agent, the following request settings aren’t available:

• Enable SSL certificate verification
• Use server cipher suite during handshake
• Protocols disabled during handshake
• Cipher suite selection

Postman Browser Agent

You can use the Browser Agent to send HTTP requests. You can’t use the Browser Agent to send WebSocket, Socket.IO, gRPC, MQTT, or GraphQL requests. You may experience the CORS limitations of browsers when using the Browser Agent.

Compare Postman Agents

To have Postman automatically select the best agent for sending requests, turn on Auto-select. Or use the following table to help you choose the best agent for your needs:

Select a Postman Agent for requests

1. In the Postman web app, click Auto-select, Cloud Agent, Desktop Agent, Browser Agent, or Interceptor Agent from the Postman footer.

2. Select the agent you want to use for sending requests:

   • Turn on Auto-select to have Postman automatically select the best available agent. Postman selects agents in the following order: Desktop, Cloud, Interceptor, and Browser.

     Note

     You must install and launch the Desktop Agent app, or install the Interceptor Agent browser extension, to make these options available for auto-selection.

   • Turn off Auto-select and select the agent you want to use (select Other Agents to see all options):

     • Cloud Agent - Send HTTP requests using Postman’s cloud servers.
     • Desktop Agent - (Recommended) Send requests using the Postman Desktop Agent app.
     • Browser Agent - Send HTTP requests using your browser, with CORS limitations.
     • Interceptor Agent - Send HTTP requests using the Postman Interceptor browser extension.
   

3. Send your request and view the response in the workbench.