I’m developing a C# application where I need to upload a file to Google Drive. Specifically, I want to use a designated email address for the upload, but I’m unsure about the correct steps to follow to achieve this.
I’ve explored using the Google Drive API, but the various methods available have left me feeling confused. I’ve read about service accounts as well as OAuth2 methods, and it’s not clear which one is appropriate for my needs.
Can someone explain the best method for authenticating with a specific email address to upload files? I am looking for a simple and reliable solution. Any sample code or detailed instructions would be greatly appreciated.
Has anyone here tackled this successfully? What libraries or NuGet packages do you recommend?
oauth2’s pretty simple once you figure it out. i use GoogleWebAuthorizationBroker.AuthorizeAsync() - it does most of the work for you. just make sure your credentials.json file is set up right in google cloud console first. works great for my app.
Service accounts are your best bet here. I’ve found that when apps need to upload files under a specific identity, creating a service account through Google Cloud Console works great. Just download the JSON credentials file and grab the Google.Apis.Drive.v3 NuGet package for your project. The big win with service accounts? They authenticate automatically - no user interaction needed. One gotcha though: make sure you share the target Drive folder with the service account email, or your uploads will end up in the service account’s own Drive instead.
Both methods can be effective, but your choice depends on your specific requirements. If you need individual users to access their own Google Drive, OAuth2 is the way to go. However, for automated uploads to a Destination you control, the service account approach is preferable, as noted by JumpingMountain. I’ve utilized this setup in a production environment for over two years without issues. One challenge I encountered was ensuring the correct scopes; be sure to include https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file when initializing DriveService. Additionally, keep in mind that service accounts come with upload limitations, so if you’re planning large operations, implement retry logic with exponential backoff.