---
stage: Software Supply Chain Security
group: Authentication
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
title: User follow and unfollow API
---

{{< details >}}

- Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate
- Offering: GitLab.com, GitLab Self-Managed, GitLab Dedicated

{{< /details >}}

Use this API to perform follower actions for user accounts. For more information, see [Follow users](../user/profile/_index.md#follow-users).

## Follow a user

Follow a given user account.

```plaintext
POST /users/:id/follow
```

Supported attributes:

| Attribute | Type    | Required | Description |
|:----------|:--------|:---------|:------------|
| `id`      | integer | yes      | ID of user account |

Example request:

```shell
curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/users/3/follow"
```

Example response:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "username": "john_smith",
  "name": "John Smith",
  "state": "active",
  "locked": false,
  "avatar_url": "http://localhost:3000/uploads/user/avatar/1/cd8.jpeg",
  "web_url": "http://localhost:3000/john_smith"
}
```

## Unfollow a user

Unfollow a given user account.

```plaintext
POST /users/:id/unfollow
```

Supported attributes:

| Attribute | Type    | Required | Description |
|:----------|:--------|:---------|:------------|
| `id`      | integer | yes      | ID of user account |

Example request:

```shell
curl --request POST --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>" "https://gitlab.example.com/users/3/unfollow"
```

## List all accounts that follow a user

Lists all users accounts that follow a given user.

```plaintext
GET /users/:id/followers
```

Supported attributes:

| Attribute | Type    | Required | Description |
|:----------|:--------|:---------|:------------|
| `id`      | integer | yes      | ID of user account |

Example request:

```shell
curl --request GET --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>"  "https://gitlab.example.com/users/3/followers"
```

Example response:

```json
[
  {
    "id": 2,
    "name": "Lennie Donnelly",
    "username": "evette.kilback",
    "state": "active",
    "locked": false,
    "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7955171a55ac4997ed81e5976287890a?s=80&d=identicon",
    "web_url": "http://127.0.0.1:3000/evette.kilback"
  },
  {
    "id": 4,
    "name": "Serena Bradtke",
    "username": "cammy",
    "state": "active",
    "locked": false,
    "avatar_url": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a2daad869a7b60d3090b7b9bef4baf57?s=80&d=identicon",
    "web_url": "http://127.0.0.1:3000/cammy"
  }
]
```

## List all accounts followed by a user

Lists all users accounts being followed by a given user.

```plaintext
GET /users/:id/following
```

Supported attributes:

| Attribute | Type    | Required | Description |
|:----------|:--------|:---------|:------------|
| `id`      | integer | yes      | ID of user account |

Example request:

```shell
curl --request GET --header "PRIVATE-TOKEN: <your_access_token>"  "https://gitlab.example.com/users/3/following"
```