Hey everyone,
I’m working on a Next.js project and I’ve got Google OAuth set up for user login using Auth.js. It’s working great, but now I need to access the user’s Gmail inbox. The problem is, when I try to follow the Gmail API docs, it makes the user log in again. That’s not ideal for the user experience.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to avoid this second login? Maybe some kind of token sharing or permission extension?
I’ve been searching for tutorials on this specific setup but haven’t found anything super helpful. If you know of any resources or have experience with this, I’d really appreciate your input!
Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer!
I’ve implemented something similar recently. The trick is to use incremental authorization. Start with basic scopes for login, then when you need Gmail access, prompt the user to grant additional permissions.
In your Google OAuth configuration, add a consent prompt for Gmail scopes. When you need to access Gmail, check if the token includes the required scope. If not, redirect the user to grant additional permissions.
This approach maintains a smooth user experience while ensuring proper authorization. Remember to handle token refresh properly to avoid unexpected logouts.
One caveat: some users might be wary of granting email access. Consider explaining why your app needs it and how you’ll use the data responsibly.
yo, i had a similar issue. what worked for me was using the google people API instead of gmail. it’s less invasive and users are more likely to approve it. you can still get basic contact info without needing full inbox access. might be worth checking out if it fits ur usecase
I’ve actually dealt with a similar situation in one of my projects. The key is to request the right scopes during the initial OAuth flow.
When you set up your Auth.js Google provider, you can specify additional scopes beyond just the basic profile info. You’ll want to include the Gmail API scopes you need, like ‘https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.readonly’ for read-only access.
Once you’ve got the right scopes, you can use the access token from the Auth.js session to make Gmail API requests. No need for a second login.
One gotcha to watch out for: make sure your Google Cloud Console project has the Gmail API enabled. I spent hours debugging before I realized I’d forgotten that step!
Hope this helps point you in the right direction. Let me know if you run into any other snags along the way.