Hello everyone,
At Zoho Creator, we believe in providing you with the necessary tools to achieve a well connected ecosystem of apps. Our Custom Connectors feature is a testament to this, enabling you to integrate with a wide range of external services beyond those available through built-in connectors.
While our built-in connectors already cover over 500 popular services (with new ones being added regularly), custom connectors take this a step further by allowing you to connect with virtually any third-party service.
To make this powerful feature even more robust and enterprise-ready, we've rolled out a series of enhancements designed to support advanced authentication methods, enable secure cloud integrations, and ensure seamless connectivity with external services. In this post, we'll walk you through the most recent updates:
- OAuth 2.0 - Client authentication modes
- AWS Signature authentication
- Bearer token authentication
Let's explore each in detail:
OAuth 2.0 - Client authentication modes
Different APIs have varying expectations for how client credentials should be presented during OAuth token exchange. Until now, our OAuth authentication type assumed a single client authentication method, and users faced issues when credentials had to be sent in the authorization header. To address this, we've introduced a new Client Authentication option for custom connectors using OAuth 2.0. This allows you to specify how your client credentials (Client ID and Client secret) are transmitted to the authorization server during the token request process. You can choose from two options:
- Include in the form data (Default): This method adds your credentials to the form data submitted within the body of the request.
- Include in the authorization header: This method places your credentials in the request's security header using HTTP basic authentication.
Why this matters
- Improved compatibility with APIs that enforce strict authentication rules
- Smoother integrations with enterprise-grade APIs
- Reduced authentication errors
Example
Assume you want to integrate Zoho Creator with Reddit, a popular social media platform. The Reddit API uses OAuth 2.0 and its documentation explicitly states that client credentials must be sent in the Authorization header using basic authentication.
Now, when configuring your OAuth 2.0 custom connector in Zoho Creator, you can simply select Include in authorization header under the Client Authentication field. This ensures your authentication flow will work as expected, without any custom code or middleware.
AWS Signature authentication
The industry-standard authentication required to securely interact with AWS services is now supported in Zoho Creator. The new AWS Signature 4 authentication type within Custom Connectors enables you to integrate with AWS services without relying on any middleware or authentication workarounds. This unlocks the ability to connect to a wide range of popular AWS services (such as S3, Lambda, DynamoDB, and more) and perform the required actions.
Why this matters
- Enterprise-grade security for applications that deal with critical workloads or sensitive data
- Seamless automation of workflows with your existing AWS infrastructure from within Zoho Creator
- Complies with AWS's Signature Version 4 method, which ensures robust security and maximum compatibility while authenticating requests to AWS services
Example
Consider a setup where your organization generates critical business documents using a Zoho Creator application. You may need to store these documents in their AWS S3 bucket for recordkeeping and auditing purposes.
With the introduction of the new AWS Signature authentication in Custom Connectors, you can easily connect to S3 by providing your AWS credentials and region. Then you can use the invokeURL task to transfer documents from Zoho Creator to your S3 bucket.
This enables seamless and secure integration with AWS, bringing the full power of AWS's cloud capabilities into your Creator apps.
Bearer token authentication
Zoho Creator now supports Bearer token authentication. Many third-party services, like GitHub and Slack, use this authentication type, which is a lightweight method that enables secure API calls without the need for full OAuth. Now you can seamlessly integrate these services into your applications using custom connectors.
Why this matters
- Eliminates the need for complex setups associated with other authentication types, like OAuth, making it ideal for APIs that use token-based access
- Enables faster, hassle-free integrations with internal tools, developer platforms, and microservices
Example
Assume your sales team relies on Slack for internal communication. With Bearer token authentication now supported in Zoho Creator, you can establish a custom connector with Slack. Then you call Slack's API using invokeURL to automatically post updates to a channel whenever a new lead is generated.
In essence, this is a simpler, more secure path to connect Creator with modern APIs from GitHub and Notion to your own internal systems.
Help documentation
We've updated our help resources to reflect the recent enhancements to Custom Connectors. For detailed information, please refer to the
Understand Connectors page.
Bonus: mTLS in Zoho Creator
While we're on the topic of custom connectors, let's wrap things up with a platform-level security upgrade. For the first time in the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho Creator now supports Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) across all integrations. mTLS is available for both built-in and custom connectors.
mTLS provides an added layer of security by enabling certificate-based, two-way authentication and ensures that both the client and server verify each other's identity.
Why this matters
- Particularly valuable for enterprises operating in zero-trust environments
- Helps meet compliance requirements, such as HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR, and other industry standards
Availability
mTLS is currently available only on demand. Please reach out to our support team if your integrations require mTLS-based authentication.
These powerful enhancements reaffirm Zoho Creator's commitment to helping you build deeply integrated, enterprise-grade business applications—and we'll continue enhancing the platform to support your evolving needs. Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!
Till then,
The Zoho Creator Team
Recent Topics
Marking a meeting 'done'.
I would like to somehow mark a meeting 'done' and placed under the contact's page rather than deleting it and having no record of it. Am I missing a button that does this?
Feature Request: Render Markdown (.md) files in Zoho Cliq
Hi, We regularly share Markdown (.md) files in Zoho Cliq. However, when we open these files in Cliq, the content does not render as Markdown—it displays as plain text. This forces us to copy/paste the content into an external Markdown viewer to read it
CRM Percent custom fields: When will it show the % symbol and behave like %?
1. Actually Percent custom fields fail to show the % symbol. 2. When in formulas Percent fields work like number: 100 x 5% = 5 ideal world 100 x 5% = 500 what happens actually 3. When importing Percent fields the % symbol has to be removed and the data
Subforms and automation
If a user updates a field how do we create an automation etc. We have a field for returned parts and i want to get an email when that field is ticked. How please as Zoho tells me no automation on subforms. The Reason- Why having waited for ever for FSM
Xero Billing Data (22 instances) - Zoho (CRM) - Single Source of Truth For Client Data & Notes
Hi - I’m trying to build out a CRM for a Single Source of Truth Currently I have 22 Instances of Xero (for legal entity purposes - can’t consolidate to one) How would I be best placed to do this? Is it possible to have all the Xero instances (22) → Consolidated
Select CRM Custom Module in Zoho Creator
I have a custom module added in Zoho CRM that I would like to link in Zoho creator. When I add the Zoho CRM field it does not show the new module. Is this possible? Do i need to change something in CRM to make it accesible in Creator?
New 2026 Application Themes
Love the new themes - shame you can't get a little more granular with the colours, ie 3 different colours so one for the dropdown menu background. Also, I did have our logo above the application name but it appears you can't change logo placement position
Zoho Expense - Bi-Weekly Report Automation
Hi Zoho Expense Team, My feature request is to please include an option to automate creation of reports bi-weekly (every 2 weeks)
PDF Generator Upgrade
Hi Team, What will happen if I don't make any changes for existing template. Zoho just ask us upgrade but haven't tell the benefit. Zoho Corporation
500 internal server error on opening an iframe through a deluge script
Hi Team I am trying to open an external url in an iframe through my deluge script which is associated to a custom button . By doing this i am getting an "Internal Server Error" . Please can you help me with this.
Zoho CRM Quotes – Subform and PDF/Writer Limitations
Hello, I am encountering the following limitations in Zoho CRM Quotes: Custom product images cannot be uploaded in the subform – the image upload field cannot be added; only the file upload field is available. File upload placeholders cannot be used in
Strange behavior in CRM Number Field – Characters allowed but not "e"?
Hi everyone, Has anyone faced this strange issue in Zoho CRM? In a Number field, it is possible to type some characters, but the character "e" cannot be entered. This was really surprising to me. Normally, a number field should restrict all characters
No background for video recordings, no playback speed, can't even playback longer recordings - have to download…
Hi. We utilize heavily video messages on Slack, but wanted to migrate to Cliq with Zoho One, however very basic yet very frequently used feature is missing: backgrounds for video recordings and playback speed. We were not happy with Slack's 5 minute limits
Support inefficiency
We have been asking for support for a minor adjustment for 12 days now and we haven't got a single viable resolution from support team despite there are 19 emails going between our HR team and various support emails from Zoho. 1. they do not understand
Can I export to PDF in Zoho Learn
I have seen help pages where export to pdf options are available but I do not see that option available from the application. I see that exprt is available in my free trial version but that is only to html pages. I need to be able to export my manuals
Zia capabilities now available in the Professional edition announcement
Hello all! The Professional edition now supports a broader set of Zia capabilities, enabling teams to bring AI into more of their everyday CRM work. From writing assistance and summaries to setup support, predictions, and recommendations, Zia can now
Where Do I set 24h time format in Cliq?
Where Do I set 24h time format? Thanks
This will be long, Please bear with me - Next Gen Layout - Search
In general, I think that Zoho are going in the right direction with the Next Gen UI. The latest update brings some nice improvements and all-in-all from a user's perspective I think the improvements are generally very good. However, there are some areas
Selecting all notes in a notebook
In Windows11, I select a notebook and I get a list of notes, but only 30 notes. If I scroll down to the end, I get an additional 30 notes (and at the top it now shows 60 notes). I can keep doing this to eventually see all my notes but this is a real pain.
Update latitude & longitude address field API
How do I update the coordinates of an address field from a widget? I can't modify the latitude and longitude of the address field. I think the problem is how I'm writing formdata variable. zoho_init.then(function (data) { var queryParams = ZOHO.CREATOR.UTIL.getQueryParams();
Filter Records in CRM API
Hi Team, I’m currently working on a task to retrieve expired deals from the CRM. By “expired deals,” I mean deals where the closing date has already passed and the stage is not “Closed Won” or “Closed Lost” (i.e., all other stages). I tried using both
User Name in Zoho Cliq Not Updating Across Apps?
We updated the name of a user in Zoho. (From Sue to Taylor) Her name has not been updated in Cliq on all apps. When in Zoho One, if I go to Cliq directly, it is correct, but if I am in another app, and the Cliq bar pops up on the bottom, it will be the
Ability to Use Both AND and OR When Creating Rules (Advanced Conditions)
I'd like to be able to use more complicated logic when setting up rules. E.g. in Zoho Mail, I can choose "Advanced conditions (AND/OR) to create a rule that can be applied to multiple subject lines from the same sender. But in Zoho TeamInbox, I will have
Attaching files to emails within CRM Deals.
Hello, We have recently started using the extension "Workdrive for CRM" (Related List) to view/store our documents for each Deal, instead of using Attachments. Overall it feels like a better way to go but the user experience is not so great when it comes
Why I can't map Account Name from lead module to Account module?
When I qualify a lead in the bluerprint, I use automated conversion in Blueprint to automatically create Contact, Account and Deal. the Deal record and contact record has been successfully created automatically as I expect, but I can't see any account
Pause(1);
I'm using scheduler to invoke an interaction via http post with an external service. The schedule code uses a for-each loop that runs so fast my external application's log files get messed-up (they are named by date-time stamp). What I'm suggesting is
Release Notes | February 2026
We have rolled out another set of enhancements in Vertical Studio during February 2026, bringing improvements to Canvas customization, reporting capabilities, and data access controls. Here is a summary of what was released during February 2026: Canvas
Agentic Engineering with Zoho: The Next Evolution of Intelligent Systems
The concept of Agentic Engineering is reshaping how modern systems are designed. It introduces a new layer to the way we think about artificial intelligence and system architecture. For years, most software systems have operated in a reactive way — responding
Engenharia Agêntica e as soluções da Zoho
O conceito de engenharia agêntica impacta diretamente como os sistemas são projetos. Este tema inseri mais uma camada a nossa idéia de inteligência artificial. Antes o desenvolvimento de sistemas operavam de forma reativa e dependente de comandos diretos,
Effective project and task customization with CodeX
Dear users, Beyond Task Lists is a series of articles aimed at showcasing the various customization capabilities of Zoho Projects. We'll discuss real life project management scenarios, use cases, and requirements that needs combining multiple features.
Set expiration date on document and send reminder
We have many company documents( for example business registration), work VISA documents. It will be nice if we can set a expiry date and set reminders ( for example 90 days, 60 days, 30 days etc.,) Does Zoho workdrive provide that option?
Debit opening balances of vendors
Dear colleagues: I am looking at the trial balance as on 31st March 2024, and punching opening balances (1st April 2024) in Zoho Books. Vendors have credit balances, by its nature, but some of our vendors have debit balances as well (e.g., we have paid
Zoho Books emails suddenly going to Spam since 11 Nov 2025 (Gmail + now Outlook) — anyone else?
Hi everyone, We migrated to Zoho Books in July 2025 and everything worked fine until 11 Nov 2025. Since then, Zoho Books system emails are landing in customers’ Spam (first Gmail, and now we’re seeing Outlook/Office 365 also starting to spam them). Impacted
Client Portal ZOHO ONE
Dear Zoho one is fantastic option for companies but it seems to me that it is still an aggregation of aps let me explain I have zoho books with client portal so client access their invoice then I have zoho project with client portal so they can access their project but not their invoice without another URL another LOGIN Are you planning in creating a beautiful UI portal for client so we can control access to client in one location to multiple aps at least unify project and invoice aps that would
The Social Wall: February 2026
Hello everyone, This month, we’re bringing you a mix of exciting toolkit enhancements and a few improvements across the web and iOS app, all designed to make your social media management simpler and smoother. File converter Images come in different formats,
Zoho Mail and SalesInbox doesn't link to CRM record using Reply-To
Hi, I've just set up SalesInbox, with the intention of using it for sales enquiries (instead of Desk, which I have been using until now). I've noticed that, unlike Desk, SalesInbox only uses the 'From' email address to attempt to link to a CRM contact
Service line items
Hello Latha, Could you please let me know the maximum number of service line items that can be added to a single work order? Thanks, Chethiya.
Poor Search Results on Zoho CRM
The search on Zoho CRM is quite poor. Salesforce has now published a new search, when will get this on Zoho? https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_hybridsearch_index.htm&type=5
How to use filters on all products page? Or even a category page?
Hello, I am trying to create some filters so users can use filters to find products they are looking for. So what i am trying is to create a filter according to price lets say. So if i define it this way i am expecting to see this filter option on category
Capture Last check-in date & days since
I have two custom fields on my Account form, these are "Date of Last Check-In" and "Days Since Last Contact" Using a custom function how can I pull the date from the last check-in and display it in the field "Date of Last Check-In"? and then also display the number of days since last check-in in the "Days SInce Last Contact" field? I tried following a couple of examples but got myself into a bit of a muddle!
Next Page