# How to get the raw response from downstream APIs

Add `raw=true` to a Unified API operation that supports the raw query parameter and Apideck returns the connector's original, unmodified response
in a `_raw` property alongside its normalized data, useful for debugging, reaching fields the normalized
model doesn't expose, and getting the full context of what the downstream API actually returned.

>
> Need a consistent response key across connectors? See [custom field mappings](/guides/field-mapping). Raw mode exposes provider-specific data; it does not make those fields portable.

## What is Raw Mode?

Raw mode adds the connector's original response in `_raw` **alongside** the normalized `data`. It does not bypass normalization or replace the Unified API's response model.

Use it to investigate a missing value or compare provider data with the unified model. Raw payloads can be large and contain additional customer data, so request and retain only what your application needs.

## How to Enable Raw Mode

Include `raw=true` as a query parameter on an operation that documents this parameter, and Apideck returns the connector's full,
unprocessed response alongside the normalized data. For example:

```
https://unify.apideck.com/crm/leads?raw=true
```

The request to the Unified API will have a `_raw` property in the response body that contains the raw response from the underlying API. If multiple pages of data are returned, the `_raw` property will contain an array of pages with the raw response for each page.

```
{
  "status_code": 200,
  "status": "OK",
  "service": "hubspot",
  "resource": "leads",
  "operation": "all",
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "551",
      "name": "Emilia Earhart",
      "first_name": "Emilia",
      "last_name": "Earhart",
      "updated_at": "2024-04-05T07:51:00.266Z",
      "created_at": "2020-10-02T14:48:17.728Z"
    }
  ],
  "_raw": {
    "pages": [
      {
        "results": [
          {
            "id": "551",
            "properties": {
              "address": "B221, Bakers Street",
              "assigned_csm": "Kristof W.",
              "associatedcompanyid": "4562962674",
              "city": "Antwerp",
              "company": "Apideck",
              "country": "Belgium",
              "createdate": "2020-10-02T14:48:17.728Z",
              "custom_field": "",
              "email": "e.earhart@noemail.com",
              "firstname": "Emilia",
              "hs_object_id": "551"
            },
            "createdAt": "2020-10-02T14:48:17.728Z",
            "updatedAt": "2024-04-05T07:51:00.266Z",
            "archived": false
          }
        ],
        "paging": {
          "next": {
            "after": "7202",
            "link": "https://api.hubapi.com/crm/v3/objects/contacts?properties=company%2Cassociatedcompanyid%2Cfirstname%2Clastname%2Cemail%2Cphone%2Cjobtitle%2Cwebsite%2Chubspot_owner_id%2Clifecyclestage%2Ccity%2Ccountry%2Caddress%2Czip%2Cstate%2Cassigned_csm%2Ccustom_field%2Cknown_via%2Ct_shirt_size&limit=20&after=7202"
          }
        },
        "_headers": {},
        "_status": 200,
        "_namedParameters": {
          "raw": "true",
          "properties": "company,associatedcompanyid,firstname,lastname,email,phone,jobtitle,website,hubspot_owner_id,lifecyclestage,city,country,address,zip,state,assigned_csm,custom_field,known_via,t_shirt_size",
          "limit": 20
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

## Access the raw response from the logs

Open the request in [Apideck Logs](https://platform.apideck.com/logs), then inspect its child requests to compare the downstream response with the normalized result. Availability depends on your log retention and the data recorded for that request. You do not need to replay a write to investigate it.

Follow the [request-debugging walkthrough](/logs) to identify the consumer, connector, response status, and failing field.

## Troubleshooting

If raw mode doesn't return the fields you expect, check the connection's OAuth scopes and auth method first:
some connectors restrict which data a token can see independently of what raw mode itself returns.

## How is this different from the Proxy API

Raw mode still calls a Unified API endpoint and adds the connector's raw response alongside the normalized
one; the [Proxy API](/apis/proxy/reference) is for calling a downstream endpoint that has no Unified API
equivalent at all. Use raw mode when you need more than the normalized model returns from an endpoint
Apideck already supports, and the Proxy API when the endpoint itself sits outside the Unified Data Model.
[Read more about using the Proxy here](https://help.apideck.com/en/articles/4230978).