Creating A Google Drive API Client ID For Rclone

Introduction

This tutorial is meant for setting up and getting your Google Drive API Client ID for use with the Rclone tool. It is not limited to that, but it is all I have used it for. You may find it helpful for other things also.

Creating Client Id

To start, you will need to setup your Google Cloud account. Basically all you need is a Google Account. Next, you will need to create a new project.

It doesn’t matter what you name it. Here you can see I have named mine Digital Coffee Cup. You need not do anything with the organization. Just simply Create. Next make sure you are in the Enabled APIs & Services Tab. Click on ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES.

Search for Google Drive and select Google Drive API. Enable it.

Next, navigate to the Credentials tab on the left. You will need to enter some information about your app. At the top, click on the configure consent screen. Select External, then click create. For an app name, you can use anything you want. I have used rclone. For user support email address, add your own. For the developer contact information. You can just use the same one. That is all that is required on this page. You can change some other things like the logo if you would like to do so. Save and Continue.

The next page is where you will need to enable the scopes. The scopes are basically the permissions that your app needs from the user. The following are the ones you will need. The last one is not required but recommended. You can add them manually at the bottom, or by using the interface at the top.

https://www.googleapis.com/auth/docs
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive
https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.metadata.readonly

Once you are done, you should see a page like this. Continue to the next page where you will need to add a test user. Just add yourself.

Finish up by just checking through the Summary making sure everything is correct. Next navigate to the Credentials tab on the left side. At the top, click on CREATE CREDENTIALS. Then click OAth Client Id. Select app type. Desktop is fine. It doesn’t really matter. And also name it which is also not particular.

After you click create, you will be given the Client ID, and Client Secret. Save these. You are done! If you are creating this for Rclone (which is what I meant this tutorial for) view my tutorial on Rclone too!