The lightweight Postman API Client is a space where you can work if you’re using the Postman desktop app and not connected to Postman servers. When you aren’t signed in to Postman, you can still use the lightweight API Client to build and send HTTP, WebSocket, gRPC, and GraphQL requests. To use the lightweight Postman API Client, install the Postman desktop app.
All of your work in the lightweight API Client is stored locally and isn’t synced online with Postman. After you sign in to Postman, you can move your open requests and request history into a workspace where you can collaborate with others.
Note
What happened to the Scratch Pad? New Postman users who download the Postman desktop app use the lightweight Postman API Client when not signed in to Postman. The Scratch Pad is deprecated and no longer supported. Learn more about using the Scratch Pad.
Accessing the lightweight API Client
When you open the Postman desktop app for the first time, you can create a free Postman account or sign in to your Postman account. Alternatively, you can continue with the lightweight API Client. You’ll have the same option if you sign out of Postman.
Lightweight API Client features
While using the lightweight API Client, you can create new requests, send requests and receive responses, and view the history of your sent requests.
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To create a new request, click New in the sidebar and then click the type of request you want to create. You can create HTTP, WebSocket, Socket.IO, GraphQL, gRPC, and MQTT requests. Click Switch request type next to the request’s name to change its type. Each request you create opens in a new tab. Learn more about building requests.
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Click Send to send a request and view the response. Learn more about receiving responses.
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The sidebar shows a history of the requests you’ve sent. Click a request in the history to open it in a new tab. Learn more about viewing your request history.
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Use the lightweight API Client to write and run post-response scripts and to visualize response data.
Moving from the lightweight API Client to a workspace
Workspaces enable you to organize your Postman work and collaborate with teammates. When you’re in a workspace, you can save requests to collections, use environments and variables, and more.
To switch to a workspace, you need to sign up for a Postman account or sign in to your existing Postman account. You can move all of your open requests and history from the lightweight API Client to your workspace, so you can pick up right where you left off.
Signing up for Postman from the lightweight API Client
If you don’t have a Postman account, or want to use a new account, click Create Account in the header. Follow the onscreen instructions, or learn more about signing up for a Postman account.
After you create your account, your open requests and request history are automatically copied from the lightweight API Client to your default workspace. Learn more about using workspaces.
Signing in to Postman from the lightweight API Client
To sign in to your Postman account, click Sign In in the header. Follow the onscreen instructions, or learn more about signing in to Postman.
After signing in, you can move your open requests and request history from the lightweight API Client to a workspace. Select the workspace where you want to migrate your data and click Move Data. You can also create a new workspace for your data.
Your open requests and request history are copied from the lightweight API Client to the workspace you selected. Learn more about using workspaces.
