How to retrieve shareable public URL from Google Drive API using PHP

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1

I’m working with PHP and the Google Drive API to upload documents to a shared folder. The upload process works fine, but I’m struggling to extract the proper public sharing URL that I can use on my website.

$uploadResponse = Array
(
    ['resourceId'] => 'file_1A2B3C4D5E6F7G8H9I0J1K2L3M4N5O6P7Q8R9S0T1U2V3W4X5Y6Z'
    ['createdDate'] => '2023-10-15T14:22:35.789Z'
    ['modifiedDate'] => '2023-10-15T14:22:35.789Z'
    ['mimeType'] => 'application/pdf'
    ['originalFilename'] => 'report_document.pdf'
    ['downloadUrl'] => 'https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1A2B3C4D5E6F7G8H9I0J1K2L3M4N5O6P7Q8R9S0T1U2V3W4X5Y6Z&export=download'
    ['alternateLink'] => 'https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A2B3C4D5E6F7G8H9I0J1K2L3M4N5O6P7Q8R9S0T1U2V3W4X5Y6Z/view'
)

The response contains various URLs but none of them work as a direct public link for embedding on my site. I need to get a URL that allows public access without requiring authentication. What’s the correct way to obtain this shareable link through the API?

2

Hit this same problem last month. Google changed their API - the upload response doesn’t give you the shareable link anymore. After you set permissions with permissions->create, make another call to grab the updated file metadata. That’ll have the webViewLink field you need. Try $updatedFile = $driveService->files->get($fileId, array('fields' => 'webViewLink')); - that should do it. You want webViewLink for public sharing, not alternateLink or downloadUrl from the upload. Spent hours trying to build URLs manually before I figured this out.

3

you’re missing the permissions step entirely. after uploading, you need to change the sharing settings or the file stays private. use $service->files->update($fileId, $file, ['addParents' => $parentId]) and enable sharing. the alternatelink will work once you set the permissions right.

4

The URLs from your upload response aren’t publicly accessible by default. You need to set file permissions after uploading. Here’s how to grant public read access using the Drive API: $permission = new Google_Service_Drive_Permission(); $permission->setRole(‘reader’); $permission->setType(‘anyone’); $driveService->permissions->create($fileId, $permission); Once that’s done, build your public URL with the file ID: https://drive.google.com/file/d/{FILE_ID}/view?usp=sharing. For embedding or previews, use: https://drive.google.com/file/d/{FILE_ID}/preview. I’ve used this method in several projects - works great. Just keep in mind that public files can be viewed by anyone with the link, so think about your security needs first.