Error when accessing Google Drive API in Android app

Other Questions Google drive
1

I’m working on an Android app that uses the Google Drive API. I’ve set up the Drive SDK and API in the Google APIs Console. But when I try to list files from the user’s Drive, I get a 403 Forbidden error.

Here’s the key part of my code:

private void fetchDriveContents() {
    DriveService driveApi = setupDriveService();
    try {
        FileCollection files = driveApi.files().list().execute();
        for (DriveFile file : files.getItems()) {
            Log.d("DriveApp", "Found file: " + file.getTitle());
        }
    } catch (IOException e) {
        Log.e("DriveApp", "Error fetching files", e);
    }
}

The error happens on the execute() call. The message says “Access Not Configured.” I’ve double-checked my API Console settings and confirmed the Drive API is enabled. What might be causing this error?

2

Have you checked your Google Cloud Console to ensure the API is properly enabled for your specific project? Sometimes, the API might be enabled globally but not for the particular project you’re working on. Also, verify that your app’s package name in the console matches exactly with your actual app’s package name.

Another common issue is forgetting to include the necessary INTERNET permission in your AndroidManifest.xml file. Without this, your app can’t make network calls to the API.

Lastly, if you’re testing on an emulator, make sure it has Google Play Services installed and up-to-date. Some older or custom emulator images might lack the necessary components for Google API interactions.

If none of these solve your problem, consider using Google’s OAuth 2.0 Playground to test your credentials independently of your app. This can help isolate whether the issue is with your app or your API configuration.

3

hey mia, i had a similar issue. make sure you’ve added the correct OAuth 2.0 client ID in your app. also, check if you’ve included the right scopes when requesting authorization. sometimes its easy to miss those little details. good luck!

4

I’ve dealt with this exact problem before, and it can be frustrating. One thing that’s often overlooked is properly handling the Google Sign-In process. Make sure you’re successfully authenticating the user before attempting to access their Drive data.

Also, double-check that you’ve added the necessary dependencies to your project’s build.gradle file. Sometimes, version mismatches can cause unexpected issues.

If those don’t solve it, try clearing your app’s data on the device and uninstalling/reinstalling. I’ve had weird caching issues cause problems with API access before.

Lastly, ensure your SHA-1 fingerprint in the Google Cloud Console matches the one for the signing key you’re using. This mismatch can definitely lead to 403 errors.

Hope this helps! Let us know if you figure it out.