Hey everyone! I’m working on an app that needs to interact with my personal Google Drive. I want it to create files, share them, and do other cool stuff. I’ve been reading about service accounts, but I’m a bit confused.
From what I understand, I need to get an access token and a refresh token. I can get the access token easily enough, but it only lasts for an hour. That’s where the refresh token comes in handy.
Here’s what I’m stuck on:
- How do I get my hands on a refresh token?
- Once I have the refresh token, how do I use it to get a new access token?
I’m trying to do this without using Google’s official .NET library (it’s not my favorite). Any help would be awesome! Thanks in advance!
I’ve been working with Google Drive API for a while now, and I can tell you it can be a bit of a pain without their official library!
For the refresh token, you need to use the OAuth 2.0 authorization flow. Make sure to include the ‘access_type=offline’ and ‘prompt=consent’ parameters in your authorization request. This will ensure you get a refresh token along with the access token.
Once you have the refresh token, store it securely. When your access token expires, send a POST request to Google’s token endpoint (https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token) with your client ID, client secret, refresh token, and grant_type=refresh_token.
The response will give you a new access token. Just remember to handle any errors that might occur during this process. It’s not always smooth sailing, but once you get it set up, it works like a charm!
yo, i’ve been there! getting the refresh token is a bit tricky. u gotta set up OAuth2 flow with the ‘access_type=offline’ parameter. then use that refresh token to get new access tokens when needed.
for refreshing, just POST to Google’s token endpoint with ur client creds and refresh token. they’ll hook u up with a fresh access token. good luck!
I’ve dealt with this exact issue in a recent project. To obtain a refresh token, you need to use the OAuth 2.0 flow with the ‘offline’ access type. This involves redirecting the user to a Google authorization page, where they grant your app permission. Once authorized, you’ll receive both an access token and a refresh token.
As for using the refresh token, you’ll need to make a POST request to Google’s token endpoint with your client ID, client secret, and the refresh token. The response will contain a new access token.
If you’re avoiding Google’s library, you can implement this using standard HTTP requests. Just remember to securely store your refresh token, as it doesn’t expire unless revoked. Also, be aware that Google’s documentation is your best friend for the exact endpoints and parameters needed.