Private ESPN leagues, unlocked

How to Find Your ESPN espn_s2 and SWID Cookies

Private ESPN leagues need two cookies your browser already has, espn_s2 and SWID, because ESPN has no public API for them.

You copy both from your own signed-in browser session in about a minute, and public ESPN leagues need neither.

ElementsConsoleNetworkApplication
Cookies set by espn.com, with the two values you need highlighted.
NameValue
countryus
devicedesktop
editionespn-en-us
espn_s2this oneAEBqM3kR7vXn2pLd9wZs4tYcJ8hG6bWf...
regionccpa
s_ecidMCMID|10293847561029384756
SWIDthis one{A1B2C3D4-5E6F-7A8B-9C0D-1E2F3A4B5C6D}
The two you need sit several rows apart in the same list. Copy each value in full, and keep the curly braces on SWID.

2 minutes

How to connect

1

Sign in to ESPN on a desktop browser

Go to fantasy.espn.com and sign in as you normally would. The cookies only exist in a signed-in session, so this step has to happen on the same browser you copy from. A phone browser will not show you the cookie list, so use a desktop or laptop.

2

Open the cookie list in your browser

Press F12 to open your browser's built-in developer tools, then go to Application, then Cookies, then espn.com. That panel lists every cookie ESPN has set for you. Never opened it before? The next section has the exact menu path for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.

3

Copy espn_s2 and SWID into setup

Copy the full espn_s2 value, which is long and usually starts with AEB, and the full SWID value, keeping its curly braces. Paste both into the ESPN section of League Loom setup and finish connecting. If ESPN later returns an authorization error, the pair expired: repeat these steps and reconnect.

https://leagueloom.com/mcp

Your tool asks for a name and this URL. Then a quick wizard picks your teams.

Never opened this before?

Opening the cookie list in your browser

Developer tools sound more technical than they are. Every browser has them built in, and you only need one screen. Pick yours.

ChromeF12
  1. Open fantasy.espn.com and make sure you are signed in.
  2. Click the three vertical dots at the top right of Chrome, just past the address bar.
  3. Choose More tools, then Developer tools. A panel opens at the side or bottom of the window. Pressing F12 does exactly the same thing.
  4. Along the top of that panel, click Application. If you cannot see it, click the double arrow at the end of the tab row to reveal the tabs that did not fit.
  5. In the panel's left column, under Storage, click the arrow beside Cookies, then click espn.com.
  6. The list that appears is your cookies. Find espn_s2 and SWID, then copy the Value beside each one.
EdgeF12
  1. Open fantasy.espn.com and make sure you are signed in.
  2. Click the three horizontal dots at the top right of Edge.
  3. Choose More tools, then Developer tools. Pressing F12 does the same thing.
  4. Click Application along the top of the panel, using the double arrow at the end of the tab row if it is hidden.
  5. In the left column, under Storage, expand Cookies and click espn.com.
  6. Find espn_s2 and SWID in the list, then copy the Value beside each one.
SafariOption + Cmd + I
  1. Open the Safari menu, then Settings, then the Advanced tab.
  2. Tick "Show features for web developers". Older versions of Safari call this "Show Develop menu in menu bar".
  3. Open fantasy.espn.com and make sure you are signed in.
  4. In the Develop menu that has now appeared, choose Show Web Inspector.
  5. Click Storage along the top of the inspector. Safari calls this tab Storage rather than Application.
  6. Choose Cookies in the left column, click espn.com, then copy the value beside espn_s2 and beside SWID.

Safari hides these tools until you turn them on, so the keyboard shortcut does nothing at all until you have ticked that box. This is the step people miss.

FirefoxF12
  1. Open fantasy.espn.com and make sure you are signed in.
  2. Click the three stacked lines at the top right of Firefox.
  3. Choose More tools, then Web Developer Tools. Pressing F12 does the same thing.
  4. Click Storage along the top of the panel. Firefox calls this tab Storage rather than Application.
  5. In the left column, expand Cookies and click espn.com.
  6. Find espn_s2 and SWID, then copy the value beside each one.

Why League Loom

Private ESPN leagues, unlocked

ESPN never shipped a public fantasy API, so a private league can only be read with the same session cookies your own browser uses to keep you signed in. League Loom asks for espn_s2 and SWID for exactly that reason, and nothing else.

They are sealed into your own encrypted connection rather than written to a shared database, they are used only to read the leagues you picked, and no write tools are registered today, so they cannot be used to change your team. A public ESPN league needs neither value.

FAQ

Questions

What are espn_s2 and SWID?

They are two cookies ESPN sets in your browser when you sign in. espn_s2 is a long session value and SWID is your ESPN account identifier in curly braces. Together they prove a request is yours, which is how a private league can be read on your behalf.

Do I need them for a public ESPN league?

No. Public ESPN leagues can be read without any credentials at all. You only need espn_s2 and SWID when the league is private.

Is it safe to share espn_s2 and SWID?

Treat them like a password, because anyone holding both can read your ESPN account as you. In League Loom they are sealed into your own encrypted connector token rather than stored in a shared database, they are used only to read the leagues you selected, and no write tools are registered, so they cannot change your team.

Why did my ESPN league stop working?

ESPN rotates these cookies every few weeks, and signing out invalidates them immediately. When ESPN returns an authorization error, copy a fresh espn_s2 and SWID from your browser and reconnect at setup. It is expected maintenance, not a fault in the connector.

Can I find these on my phone?

Not easily, because mobile browsers do not expose a cookie inspector. Copy the values once on a desktop or laptop and finish setup there. After that your connection works from any device, including your phone.

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