TutorialGravity Forms LeadConnector Integration with OAuth 2.0

A Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration can help you connect form submissions with contact data stored in HighLevel, also known by many users as GoHighLevel.

For example, you may want someone to enter an email address in Gravity Forms, search LeadConnector/HighLevel for a matching contact, then store returned details such as First Name, Last Name, Phone, Contact ID, and Raw JSON inside the Gravity Forms entry.

In this tutorial, we’ll explain how this kind of workflow can be planned using GravityWP API Connector and OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code.

This is a documentation-based setup guide. It uses the official HighLevel API documentation, HighLevel OAuth 2.0 documentation, Search Contacts endpoint documentation, and GravityWP API Connector documentation as the source of truth.

We did not use a live HighLevel account for this article because HighLevel account access may require billing details. Because of that, this guide does not include live account screenshots or tested account-specific response paths. Before using this setup in production, confirm the OAuth app settings, scopes, endpoint requirements, request body, and response fields inside your own HighLevel account.

Last updated: May 2026. HighLevel, LeadConnector, and GravityWP API Connector features can change, so verify the current OAuth settings, API endpoint requirements, scopes, and response fields before publishing a live workflow.

Can Gravity Forms Connect to LeadConnector or GoHighLevel?

Yes. Gravity Forms can connect to LeadConnector/HighLevel through API-based workflows, middleware tools, custom code, or dedicated plugins.

This tutorial focuses on the GravityWP – API Connector with OAuth 2.0 approach. That means Gravity Forms sends data to an external API through the GravityWP – API Connector Addon, and the API response can be mapped back into Gravity Forms fields.

This approach is useful when you want more than a simple “send this lead somewhere” workflow. It can help when Gravity Forms needs to request data from LeadConnector/HighLevel and use the returned CRM data inside the form or entry.

In this example workflow:

1. A user enters an email address in Gravity Forms.
2. API Connector sends that email to LeadConnector/HighLevel.
3. LeadConnector searches for a matching contact.
4. The returned contact data can be mapped back into Gravity Forms fields.

Users may search for this as a Gravity Forms GoHighLevel integration, a Gravity Forms HighLevel integration, or a Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration. In practice, the setup depends on the HighLevel/LeadConnector API and the OAuth app you create in the HighLevel Marketplace.

What Will This Gravity Forms LeadConnector Integration Do?

This tutorial explains a contact lookup workflow.

The goal is not only to send a new Gravity Forms submission into a CRM. The goal is to search existing contact data and bring useful values back into Gravity Forms.

A practical example looks like this:

This kind of setup can be useful for:

• checking whether a contact already exists
• auto-filling known contact details
• storing a CRM contact ID inside a Gravity Forms entry
• building a cleaner CRM lookup workflow
• reviewing the API response before mapping final fields

For a similar API lookup pattern, you can review the GravityWP tutorial on the Gravity Forms HubSpot integration, which uses an email value to search CRM data and map the response back into Gravity Forms.

What Do LeadConnector, HighLevel, and GoHighLevel Mean?

The naming can be confusing because people use different terms depending on where they are in the platform or API setup.

HighLevel is the CRM and marketing platform many users know as GoHighLevel. LeadConnector is commonly used around the API, marketplace, and integration layer connected to HighLevel.

That is why you may see different terms when researching the same workflow:

• LeadConnector API
• HighLevel API
• GoHighLevel API
• LeadConnector OAuth 2.0
• HighLevel Marketplace
• Gravity Forms GoHighLevel integration

For this tutorial, we’ll use LeadConnector/HighLevel when talking about the API setup. We’ll also mention GoHighLevel because that is how many users search for the platform.

The important point is this:

If you are building a Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration, follow the current HighLevel/LeadConnector API documentation and confirm the correct app, scopes, endpoint version, and contact access requirements inside your own account.

What Do You Need Before Setting Up the Integration?

Before building this Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration, make sure you have the right access and tools.

You will need:

HighLevel’s OAuth documentation says HighLevel supports the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Grant flow with v2 APIs.

In simple terms, OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code is a secure approval flow. HighLevel asks the user to approve access, then sends API Connector back to your site through a redirect URL. API Connector uses the returned authorization code to complete the connection and request an access token.

Also note that HighLevel API access may depend on account plan, app setup, scopes, and permissions. Check the current HighLevel API documentation before building a production workflow.

How Do You Create the OAuth 2.0 Connection in API Connector?

The OAuth connection is the first major part of the setup.

GravityWP’s OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code documentation explains the general API Connector flow:

1. Create an OAuth app in the provider’s developer area.
2. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret.
3. Create an OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code connection in API Connector.
4. Register the API Connector redirect URL inside the provider app settings.
5. Authorize the connection and confirm it shows as Authorized.

For LeadConnector/HighLevel, this means you will work inside the HighLevel Marketplace app settings and the API Connector settings in WordPress.

Step 1: Create or Open Your HighLevel Marketplace App

Go to the HighLevel Marketplace app dashboard and create an app, or open the app you want to use for this integration.

Inside the app settings, configure the OAuth-related details, including your redirect URL and client keys.

Step 2: Add the Redirect URL

In OAuth, the redirect URL is where HighLevel sends the user after they approve the app.

API Connector needs this URL to complete the authorization process. In GravityWP’s OAuth documentation, the redirect URL is also called the callback URL.

Because the exact redirect URL comes from your WordPress/API Connector setup, copy it from API Connector and paste it into the HighLevel Marketplace app settings.

Important: Redirect URLs usually need to match exactly. Even a small difference, such as a missing slash or different domain, can cause the authorization flow to fail.

Step 3: Copy the Client ID and Client Secret

HighLevel’s OAuth documentation explains that the app uses client keys, including a Client ID and Client Secret.

The Client ID identifies your app. The Client Secret works like a private app credential, so it should never be shown in public screenshots, frontend fields, or tutorial images.

Copy these values carefully and store them securely.

Step 4: Create the Connection in API Connector

In WordPress, go to the API Connector settings area and create a new API connection.

Use settings like:

HighLevel’s current OAuth documentation shows this token endpoint:

Always verify the current OAuth URLs in the live HighLevel documentation and your own Marketplace app settings before using them.

Step 5: Authorize the Connection

After saving the connection, start the authorization flow from API Connector.

The browser should open the HighLevel authorization or installation flow. After approval, HighLevel redirects back to your site, and API Connector should complete the connection.

If successful, the connection should show as authorized.

If it fails, check:

• the redirect URL
• Client ID and Client Secret
• selected scopes
• OAuth URL values
• app installation status
• location or sub-account access

Which LeadConnector Endpoint Should You Use to Search Contacts?

For a new contact lookup workflow, use the current Search Contacts endpoint from HighLevel’s documentation.

The Search Contacts endpoint is listed as:

POST /contacts/search

The full request is shown in the HighLevel API documentation under Search Contacts.

An endpoint is the specific API path API Connector calls. In this case, the endpoint is used to search contacts instead of manually browsing contacts inside HighLevel.

This matters because the older Get Contacts endpoint is marked as deprecated in the HighLevel documentation. The deprecated page says to use Search Contacts instead.

So for this tutorial, avoid building a new workflow around the deprecated endpoint.

Use this documentation-backed direction:

Before finalizing the request, confirm these details in the current HighLevel documentation:

• endpoint path
• API version
• required headers
• required scopes
• accepted request body format
• response structure
• location or sub-account token requirements

How Do You Build the Gravity Forms Lookup Form?

Now build the form that will send the email value to LeadConnector/HighLevel.

Create a new Gravity Form with these fields:

During testing, it may be easier to keep the mapped fields visible. Once you confirm the setup in your own account, you can hide fields like Contact ID or Raw JSON if they are only for internal use.

Raw JSON is useful during testing because it shows the API response before you map individual values. Once you confirm the response structure, you can map only the fields you need.

How Do You Send the Email Value to LeadConnector?

After the OAuth connection is authorized and the form fields are ready, create an API Connector feed for the form.

In Gravity Forms, open the form settings and go to the API Connector feed settings. GravityWP’s API Connector Feed Settings documentation explains that this is where you configure how data is sent to and received from external APIs.

For this workflow, the feed should use the submitted Email field as the lookup value.

A basic setup will include:

In this feed, the request body is the data API Connector sends to LeadConnector. The Email field from Gravity Forms becomes the lookup value, while the OAuth connection handles authorization in the background.

The exact request body should follow the current HighLevel Search Contacts documentation. Do not guess the payload format if the docs or your API response preview show something different.

How Do You Map LeadConnector Contact Data Back to Gravity Forms?

After API Connector receives the response, you need to map returned values into your Gravity Forms fields.

Response mapping means choosing which values from the LeadConnector API response should be saved into specific Gravity Forms fields.

A practical mapping plan looks like this:

Do not finalize the response paths until you inspect the actual API response.

GravityWP’s API Connector documentation includes a tool for parsing JSON responses and identifying possible paths for target field mapping. Use the response preview or JSON path helper to avoid guessing.

This is important because the exact response structure can depend on:

• the endpoint version
• the filters used in the request body
• whether one or multiple contacts are returned
• whether optional contact fields exist
• the location or sub-account data
• changes in HighLevel’s API response format

Start by mapping the Raw JSON field first. Once you can see the returned response, map the specific values like first name, last name, phone, and contact ID.

How Do You Test the LeadConnector Lookup?

Once you have access to a HighLevel account or location, test the lookup with a real test contact before using the integration in production.

The contact should have at least:

• email
• first name
• last name
• phone number

Then submit the Gravity Form using the same email address and review the API response inside API Connector or the stored Raw JSON field.

Check these results:

If the mapped fields stay empty, check the Raw JSON field first. It can show whether the API returned no contact, returned an error, or returned data in a different path than expected.

Also test what happens when:

• the OAuth connection is not authorized
• the contact does not exist
• the email format is invalid
• the API returns an error
• the response path is wrong

Do not expose access tokens, refresh tokens, Client Secrets, or private contact data in public screenshots or public examples.

What Should You Troubleshoot If the Integration Fails?

If the Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration does not work, check the most common failure points first.

Is the Redirect URL an Exact Match?

OAuth providers often require the redirect URL to match exactly.

Check the domain, protocol, path, slash, and query values. A redirect URL mismatch is one of the most common OAuth setup problems.

Is the OAuth Connection Authorized?

In API Connector, confirm that the OAuth connection shows as authorized.

If not, re-check the Client ID, Client Secret, authorization URL, token URL, redirect URL, and scopes.

Did You Select the Right Contact Scope?

For a contact lookup workflow, the app needs permission to read or search contacts.

Use the minimum contact-related scope required by the current Search Contacts documentation. Do not request write permissions unless your workflow needs them.

Are You Using the Correct Location or Sub-Account?

HighLevel data often depends on the selected location or sub-account.

If the API request is authorized for the wrong location, the search may return no matching contact even if the contact exists somewhere else in the account.

Are You Using a Deprecated Endpoint?

HighLevel marks the older Get Contacts endpoint as deprecated and points users to Search Contacts instead.

For a new workflow, build around the current Search Contacts endpoint.

Is the Request Body Correct?

A wrong request body can lead to empty results or errors.

Confirm the body format in the official Search Contacts documentation and compare it with what API Connector sends.

Is the API Version Correct?

HighLevel supports versioned API documentation. Use the version required by the endpoint and confirm any required version headers in the current docs.

Did the API Return a Contact?

If the request succeeds but no fields populate, check the Raw JSON response.

The request may have worked, but the API may not have found a matching contact.

Are the Response Paths Correct?

If Raw JSON shows the right data but the Gravity Forms fields stay empty, the response paths may be wrong.

Use the API Connector response parser or response preview to select the correct paths.

When Should You Use API Connector Instead of Zapier or a Dedicated GoHighLevel Plugin?

There are several ways to build a Gravity Forms GoHighLevel integration.

The right option depends on what your workflow needs.

Zapier can be useful for simple automation, such as sending a new form entry to another app. A dedicated plugin can also work if it supports your exact workflow.

API Connector makes more sense when Gravity Forms needs to send a request to an API and use the returned data inside the form or entry.

Use API Connector when you need to:

• search contacts by email
• map returned CRM data into fields
• store a contact ID in the entry
• keep API requests server-side
• use OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code
• build a flexible API lookup workflow

This is why API Connector fits the tutorial use case. The goal is not just to pass a lead to a CRM. The goal is to search LeadConnector/HighLevel and bring the returned data back into Gravity Forms.

Final Recommendation

A Gravity Forms LeadConnector integration is possible through several methods, but the best method depends on what you want the form to do.

Use GravityWP API Connector when your goal is to connect Gravity Forms to LeadConnector/HighLevel through an API lookup, search contacts by email, and map the returned CRM data back into Gravity Forms fields.

Use HighLevel’s current OAuth 2.0 documentation to create and authorize the app. And use the current Search Contacts documentation to confirm the endpoint, request body, scopes, and response structure. Then use API Connector to send the request and map the response into fields such as First Name, Last Name, Phone, Contact ID, and Raw JSON.

For the safest setup, start with a test contact, map the Raw JSON response first, confirm the response structure, then map the exact fields you need.

If your workflow needs other API-based form integrations, review the API Connector for Gravity Forms product page or browse the full API Connector documentation.

Documentation Sources to Verify Before Setup

Use these documentation pages as your source of truth before building the integration:

Because API screens, required scopes, and response structures can change, check the live documentation and your own account settings before publishing a production workflow.

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