How to query Confluence restricted page content using API?

Question

We were trying to retrieve a Confluence page content programmatically using API.

For example, using python's atlassian library.

from atlassian import Confluence

confluence.cql("(title='Test Private Page')", start=0, limit=None, expand=None, include_archived_spaces=None, excerpt=None)

It would return empty results. API call would work for non-restricted contents.

Is there a way to do that?

Dom_7svwpy · Answer

Hello Ziad,

Yes, I can confirm that I have sufficient access since I am an admin.

Ziad Bakhiet · Answer

Hello Dom,

If the cql() call is returning empty results for a restricted page, it's likely because the API user doesn't have permission to view it.

Make sure you're authenticated as a user who can actually see the page in the Confluence UI—if you can't see it there, the API won't return it either.

Regards,

Ziad