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Connecting Pardot

Updated

Connect your Pardot (Account Engagement) instance to Avid through Salesforce so Avid can read your email engagement data and power benchmarks, pathways, and playbooks.

Use this guide to install and configure the Avid AI Connected App in Salesforce, update OAuth policies, and complete the Pardot connection in Avid without running into OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED errors.

Use this article when

  • You want to connect Pardot (Account Engagement) to Avid.
  • You already connected Salesforce CRM to Avid and now need Pardot too.
  • You see OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED when trying to connect Pardot.
  • You want to verify that the Avid AI Connected App is installed correctly.

Applies to and prerequisites

Applies to Avid customers using Salesforce and Pardot (Account Engagement).
Email Engagement Pardot (Account Engagement)
Avid areas Settings → Connections (Email Marketing)
Recommended roles
  • A dedicated Salesforce user with a Full User license to own the connection (recommended).
  • Salesforce users with permission to install and manage Connected Apps.
Estimated time 10–20 minutes to authenticate; up to 4 hours for first data sync

If you skip installing and configuring the Avid Connected App, Salesforce can block the OAuth flow and show OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED, even for admins.

Steps

1. Attempt to authenticate from Settings → Connections in Avid

Start from Avid so Salesforce can register the attempted OAuth connection.

  1. Log in to Avid.
  2. Go to Settings in the left navigation.
  3. Click Connections.
  4. Find the Pardot (Account Engagement) tile.
  5. Click Connect or Authenticate.
  6. When Salesforce opens:
    • Log in with the Pardot Salesforce user you are wanting to use for the integration (Full User license recommended).
    • If you are already logged in, choose the correct account when prompted.
  7. If you see an error such as OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED or a permissions error, you can close the tab. You will fix the configuration in Salesforce in the next step.

2. Check Connected Apps OAuth Usage and complete Avid connected app install

Next, confirm that Salesforce recognizes the Avid AI app and complete installation if needed.

  1. In Salesforce, click the Setup gear and choose Setup.
  2. In the Quick Find box, search for Connected Apps OAuth Usage and open it.
  3. Look for Avid AI in the list:
    • If you see Avid AI, click install next to the app. 
  4. When the install completes, return to Connected Apps OAuth Usage and confirm that Avid AI now appears.

Once Avid AI appears in Connected Apps OAuth Usage, you are ready to configure OAuth policies.

3. Update OAuth policies for the Avid AI Connected App

Configure OAuth policies so your chosen Salesforce user can authorize the connection from Avid.

  1. In Salesforce Setup, search for Manage Connected Apps and open it.
  2. Find Avid AI in the list and click the app name (the label), not Edit.
  3. On the Avid AI Connected App detail page, click Edit Policies.
  4. Under OAuth Policies, locate Permitted Users and choose:
    • All users may self-authorize – easiest for most teams; any user can authorize Avid.
    • Admin approved users are pre-authorized – more secure, but you must add Profiles or Permission Sets for the connecting user.
  5. If you keep Admin approved users are pre-authorized:
    • Scroll to the Profiles or Permission Sets related lists.
    • Add the Profile or Permission Set used by your Avid integration user.
  6. Click Save.

You can now authorize the Avid AI Connected App for the selected users.

LockStep insight
Use a dedicated “Avid AI Pardot” user with a Full User license. This keeps audit trails clean and makes ownership clear for your team.

4. Retry the Pardot connection in Avid

After installing the Connected App and updating OAuth policies, try the connection again from Avid.

  1. Return to Avid, or open a new tab and log in.
  2. Go to Settings > Connections.
  3. Find the Pardot tile and click Connect or Authenticate again.
  4. When Salesforce opens:
    • Log in with the dedicated Avid/Pardot Salesforce user, if prompted.
    • Review the requested permissions.
  5. Click Allow or Approve to authorize Avid.

Salesforce redirects back to Avid, and the Pardot tile should now show as connected.

What you'll see after connecting

  • The Avid Connected App is installed and configured in Salesforce.
  • Your Pardot (Account Engagement) org is connected to Avid via OAuth.
  • Avid can begin backfilling email metrics. Check back in about 24 hours for data in insights and pathways.

Next steps

  • Review and customize any column mappings and default settings in Avid when the initial sync completes.
  • Use your email metrics in Pathways segments and playbooks once data has synced.
  • If you also use other email tools, see the related integrations section in the Help Center for how they work with Avid.

Troubleshooting

If you still see OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED
  1. Confirm the Avid AI Connected App is installed:
    • Go to Setup > Connected Apps OAuth Usage in Salesforce/Pardot.
    • Verify that Avid AI appears in the list and shows your user in usage.
  2. Re-check OAuth Policies:
    • Open Manage Connected Apps in Salesforce Setup.
    • Open the Avid AI app and click Edit Policies.
    • Set Permitted Users to All users may self-authorize, or ensure your user’s Profile/Permission Set is added.
  3. Confirm the user license:
    • Use a Salesforce Full User license for the Avid integration user. The “Salesforce Integration” license may not have enough access.
  4. Try the connection again from Avid using the dedicated user’s credentials from Settings > Connections.

If the error persists, capture a screenshot of the full error message and the Avid AI Connected App settings page before contacting support.

Get help or use file uploads instead

If you are still struggling to connect Pardot, open the Support form from the navigation and include:

  • A brief description of what you tried.
  • The exact error message (including OAUTH_APP_ACCESS_DENIED, if shown).
  • Screenshots of the Avid AI Connected App OAuth Policies page.

If you decide not to connect Pardot directly, you can still power Avid with files: When should I use file uploads?

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