1 files changed, 20 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/docs/admin_api/README.rst b/docs/admin_api/README.rst
index d4f564cfae..9587bee0ce 100644
--- a/docs/admin_api/README.rst
+++ b/docs/admin_api/README.rst
@@ -4,9 +4,25 @@ Admin APIs
 This directory includes documentation for the various synapse specific admin
 APIs available.
 
-Only users that are server admins can use these APIs. A user can be marked as a
-server admin by updating the database directly, e.g.:
+Authenticating as a server admin
+--------------------------------
 
-``UPDATE users SET admin = 1 WHERE name = '@foo:bar.com'``
+Many of the API calls in the admin api will require an `access_token` for a
+server admin. (Note that a server admin is distinct from a room admin.)
 
-Restarting may be required for the changes to register.
+A user can be marked as a server admin by updating the database directly, e.g.:
+
+.. code-block:: sql
+
+    UPDATE users SET admin = 1 WHERE name = '@foo:bar.com';
+
+A new server admin user can also be created using the
+``register_new_matrix_user`` script.
+
+Finding your user's `access_token` is client-dependent, but will usually be shown in the client's settings.
+
+Once you have your `access_token`, to include it in a request, the best option is to add the token to a request header:
+
+``curl --header "Authorization: Bearer <access_token>" <the_rest_of_your_API_request>``
+
+Fore more details, please refer to the complete `matrix spec documentation <https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/r0.5.0#using-access-tokens>`_.