I’m facing a frustrating issue and I’m hoping someone can assist me.
Here’s the scenario:
I have integrated Google documents into my website using iframes as per Google’s instructions. In the beginning, everything runs smoothly. A user logs into their Google account in one tab, visits my website, and can view and edit the document without any problems.
However, here’s where the trouble begins:
The user logs out of their Google account.
They then log in using a different Google account.
They attempt to access the document again WITHOUT refreshing the page (since my site uses AJAX).
Suddenly, the iframe goes totally blank.
Error observed in the console:
Blocked from displaying https://docs.google.com/DocumentURL in a frame due to 'X-Frame-Options' set to 'SAMEORIGIN'
My understanding of the situation:
When the user changes their authentication, their cookies get updated. Google attempts to redirect the iframe to the login page on accounts.google.com. This redirection fails because it crosses over to a different domain than docs.google.com, which leads to the iframe displaying nothing.
My query is:
Is there a workaround for handling this authentication redirection effectively? Perhaps a way to detect this situation and refresh the iframe’s source?
I’ve looked around extensively but haven’t come across any feasible solutions yet. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
Window focus detection worked for me. I hit this exact issue embedding Google Sheets in a dashboard. The auth switching creates a nightmare with iframe security policies, but I found a workaround. I skipped monitoring auth state directly and just attached listeners to window focus/blur events. When users switch Google accounts, they leave your page to authenticate. The focus event fires when they come back - perfect time to refresh the iframe source. Here’s the key: Google’s session cookies are already updated when the user returns. Just refresh the iframe source and it loads the document with the right auth context. No more cross-origin redirect mess. Minimal code changes and doesn’t fight browser security. Add a timestamp parameter when refreshing the iframe source to avoid caching issues.
This authentication switching problem catches way more developers off guard than it should. SAMEORIGIN restrictions exist to stop session fixation attacks, so browsers don’t mess around with enforcement.
Hit this exact issue while building a document collaboration platform. What saved me was a session state checker that pings Google’s auth status every few seconds with a hidden test request to their API. When it spots the auth change, you can reload the iframe before users see that dreaded blank screen.
Catch the auth switch before the iframe crashes - that’s the whole game. Set up an interval checking gapi.auth2.getAuthInstance().currentUser.get() if you’re using Google’s JavaScript API with your iframe. User ID changes? Update your iframe source immediately.
This kills the blank screen problem because you’re beating the browser’s security restrictions instead of scrambling to fix things after they’ve already fired.
Been dealing with similar iframe headaches for years. The root issue is you’re fighting browser security features designed to prevent exactly what you’re trying to do.
The X-Frame-Options SAMEORIGIN error is Google saying “nope” when there’s an auth mismatch. Refreshing the iframe source won’t fix this because the session state is already confused.
What works is stepping back from embedding Google Docs directly and building a proper integration layer. I’ve automated this workflow using Latenode:
Monitor authentication state changes
Use Google APIs to fetch document content when auth switches
Render content in a controlled environment instead of fighting iframes
Handle auth redirects programmatically rather than letting the browser deal with cross-origin issues
This eliminates iframe drama because you’re working with APIs directly instead of trying to embed their UI. Plus you get better control over the user experience.
The automation handles user session changes seamlessly and rebuilds the document view without blank screens or console errors.
Had this exact problem last month. Try listening for postMessage events from the iframe - it’ll catch when auth changes happen. Google Docs sends messages when authentication fails.
Once you catch those events, update the iframe src with a timestamp parameter to force a reload. Something like iframe.src = originalUrl + '?t=' + Date.now()
Not pretty but it bypasses the cross-origin mess without rebuilding everything.