Important: StartingMay 1, 2024, ApplerequiresPrivacy Manifests and signatures for iOS applications that use commonly-used SDKs, including GoogleSignIn-iOS. Upgrade to GoogleSignIn-iOS v7.1.0+ before May 1, 2024. Followour upgrade guide.
On theAccess Google APIs in an iOS apppage, your app authenticates the user on the client side only; in that case,
your app is able to access Google APIs only while the user is actively using
your app.
With the procedure described on this page, your servers can make Google API
calls on behalf of users while they are offline. For example, a photo app could
enhance a photo in a user's Google Photos album by processing it on a backend
server and uploading the result to another album. To do this, your server
requires an access token and a refresh token.
To obtain an access token and refresh token for your server, you can
request a one-time authorization code
that your server exchanges for
these two tokens. After a successful sign-in, you will find the one-time code as
theserverAuthCodeproperty ofGIDSignInResult.
Securely pass theserverAuthCodestring to your server using HTTPS POST.
On your app's backend server, exchange the auth code for access and refresh
tokens. Use the access token to call Google APIs on behalf of the user and,
optionally, store the refresh token to acquire a new access token when the
access token expires.
For example:
Java
// (Receive authCode via HTTPS POST)if(request.getHeader("X-Requested-With")==null){// Without the `X-Requested-With` header, this request could be forged. Aborts.}// Set path to the Web application client_secret_*.json file you downloaded from the// Google API Console: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials// You can also find your Web application client ID and client secret from the// console and specify them directly when you create the GoogleAuthorizationCodeTokenRequest// object.StringCLIENT_SECRET_FILE="/path/to/client_secret.json";// Exchange auth code for access tokenGoogleClientSecretsclientSecrets=GoogleClientSecrets.load(JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(),newFileReader(CLIENT_SECRET_FILE));GoogleTokenResponsetokenResponse=newGoogleAuthorizationCodeTokenRequest(newNetHttpTransport(),JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(),"https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token",clientSecrets.getDetails().getClientId(),clientSecrets.getDetails().getClientSecret(),authCode,REDIRECT_URI)// Specify the same redirect URI that you use with your web// app. If you don't have a web version of your app, you can// specify an empty string..execute();StringaccessToken=tokenResponse.getAccessToken();// Use access token to call APIGoogleCredentialcredential=newGoogleCredential().setAccessToken(accessToken);Drivedrive=newDrive.Builder(newNetHttpTransport(),JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(),credential).setApplicationName("Auth Code Exchange Demo").build();Filefile=drive.files().get("appfolder").execute();// Get profile info from ID tokenGoogleIdTokenidToken=tokenResponse.parseIdToken();GoogleIdToken.Payloadpayload=idToken.getPayload();StringuserId=payload.getSubject();// Use this value as a key to identify a user.Stringemail=payload.getEmail();booleanemailVerified=Boolean.valueOf(payload.getEmailVerified());Stringname=(String)payload.get("name");StringpictureUrl=(String)payload.get("picture");Stringlocale=(String)payload.get("locale");StringfamilyName=(String)payload.get("family_name");StringgivenName=(String)payload.get("given_name");
Python
fromapiclientimportdiscoveryimporthttplib2fromoauth2clientimportclient# (Receive auth_code by HTTPS POST)# If this request does not have `X-Requested-With` header, this could be a CSRFifnotrequest.headers.get('X-Requested-With'):abort(403)# Set path to the Web application client_secret_*.json file you downloaded from the# Google API Console: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentialsCLIENT_SECRET_FILE='/path/to/client_secret.json'# Exchange auth code for access token, refresh token, and ID tokencredentials=client.credentials_from_clientsecrets_and_code(CLIENT_SECRET_FILE,['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.appdata','profile','email'],auth_code)# Call Google APIhttp_auth=credentials.authorize(httplib2.Http())drive_service=discovery.build('drive','v3',http=http_auth)appfolder=drive_service.files().get(fileId='appfolder').execute()# Get profile info from ID tokenuserid=credentials.id_token['sub']email=credentials.id_token['email']
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis guide enables your servers to make Google API calls on behalf of users, even when they're offline.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo achieve this, your server needs an access token and a refresh token, obtained by exchanging a one-time authorization code.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eYou need to integrate basic Google Sign-In and configure a server client ID in your app's \u003ccode\u003eInfo.plist\u003c/code\u003e file.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe process involves retrieving the authorization code on the client-side, sending it to your server, and exchanging it for tokens on the server.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eYour server can then use the access token to make API calls and optionally store the refresh token for future use.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Access Google APIs from your app backend\n\nFollow this procedure if you want your servers to be able to make\nGoogle API calls on behalf of users or while they are offline.\n\nBefore you begin\n----------------\n\nYou must complete the [basic Google Sign-In integration](/identity/sign-in/ios/sign-in).\n\nEnable server-side API access for your app\n------------------------------------------\n\nOn the [Access Google APIs in an iOS app](/identity/sign-in/ios/api-access)\npage, your app authenticates the user on the client side only; in that case,\nyour app is able to access Google APIs only while the user is actively using\nyour app.\n\nWith the procedure described on this page, your servers can make Google API\ncalls on behalf of users while they are offline. For example, a photo app could\nenhance a photo in a user's Google Photos album by processing it on a backend\nserver and uploading the result to another album. To do this, your server\nrequires an access token and a refresh token.\n\nTo obtain an access token and refresh token for your server, you can\nrequest a one-time authorization code that your server exchanges for\nthese two tokens. After a successful sign-in, you will find the one-time code as\nthe `serverAuthCode` property of `GIDSignInResult`.\n\n1. If you haven't already, [get a server client ID](/identity/sign-in/ios/start-integrating#server_client_id)\n and specify it in your app's `Info.plist` file, [below your OAuth client ID](/identity/sign-in/ios/start-integrating#add_client_id).\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\n ```scdoc\n \u003ckey\u003eGIDServerClientID\u003c/key\u003e\n \u003cstring\u003eYOUR_SERVER_CLIENT_ID\u003c/string\u003e\n ```\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e\n\n2. In your sign-in callback, retrieve the one-time authorization code:\n\n ### Swift\n\n GIDSignIn.sharedInstance.signIn(withPresenting: self) { signInResult, error in\n guard error == nil else { return }\n guard let signInResult = signInResult else { return }\n\n let authCode = signInResult.serverAuthCode\n }\n\n ### Objective-C\n\n [GIDSignIn.sharedInstance\n signInWithPresentingViewController:self\n completion:^(GIDSignInResult * _Nullable signInResult,\n NSError * _Nullable error) {\n if (error) { return; }\n if (signInResult == nil) { return; }\n\n NSString *authCode = signInResult.serverAuthCode;\n }];\n\n3. Securely pass the `serverAuthCode` string to your server using HTTPS POST.\n\n4. On your app's backend server, exchange the auth code for access and refresh\n tokens. Use the access token to call Google APIs on behalf of the user and,\n optionally, store the refresh token to acquire a new access token when the\n access token expires.\n\n For example: \n\n ##### Java\n\n ```java\n // (Receive authCode via HTTPS POST)\n\n\n if (request.getHeader(\"X-Requested-With\") == null) {\n // Without the `X-Requested-With` header, this request could be forged. Aborts.\n }\n\n // Set path to the Web application client_secret_*.json file you downloaded from the\n // Google API Console: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials\n // You can also find your Web application client ID and client secret from the\n // console and specify them directly when you create the GoogleAuthorizationCodeTokenRequest\n // object.\n String CLIENT_SECRET_FILE = \"/path/to/client_secret.json\";\n\n // Exchange auth code for access token\n GoogleClientSecrets clientSecrets =\n GoogleClientSecrets.load(\n JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(), new FileReader(CLIENT_SECRET_FILE));\n GoogleTokenResponse tokenResponse =\n new GoogleAuthorizationCodeTokenRequest(\n new NetHttpTransport(),\n JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(),\n \"https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token\",\n clientSecrets.getDetails().getClientId(),\n clientSecrets.getDetails().getClientSecret(),\n authCode,\n REDIRECT_URI) // Specify the same redirect URI that you use with your web\n // app. If you don't have a web version of your app, you can\n // specify an empty string.\n .execute();\n\n String accessToken = tokenResponse.getAccessToken();\n\n // Use access token to call API\n GoogleCredential credential = new GoogleCredential().setAccessToken(accessToken);\n Drive drive =\n new Drive.Builder(new NetHttpTransport(), JacksonFactory.getDefaultInstance(), credential)\n .setApplicationName(\"Auth Code Exchange Demo\")\n .build();\n File file = drive.files().get(\"appfolder\").execute();\n\n // Get profile info from ID token\n GoogleIdToken idToken = tokenResponse.parseIdToken();\n GoogleIdToken.Payload payload = idToken.getPayload();\n String userId = payload.getSubject(); // Use this value as a key to identify a user.\n String email = payload.getEmail();\n boolean emailVerified = Boolean.valueOf(payload.getEmailVerified());\n String name = (String) payload.get(\"name\");\n String pictureUrl = (String) payload.get(\"picture\");\n String locale = (String) payload.get(\"locale\");\n String familyName = (String) payload.get(\"family_name\");\n String givenName = (String) payload.get(\"given_name\");\n ```\n\n ##### Python\n\n ```python\n from apiclient import discovery\n import httplib2\n from oauth2client import client\n\n # (Receive auth_code by HTTPS POST)\n\n\n # If this request does not have `X-Requested-With` header, this could be a CSRF\n if not request.headers.get('X-Requested-With'):\n abort(403)\n\n # Set path to the Web application client_secret_*.json file you downloaded from the\n # Google API Console: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials\n CLIENT_SECRET_FILE = '/path/to/client_secret.json'\n\n # Exchange auth code for access token, refresh token, and ID token\n credentials = client.credentials_from_clientsecrets_and_code(\n CLIENT_SECRET_FILE,\n ['https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.appdata', 'profile', 'email'],\n auth_code)\n\n # Call Google API\n http_auth = credentials.authorize(httplib2.Http())\n drive_service = discovery.build('drive', 'v3', http=http_auth)\n appfolder = drive_service.files().get(fileId='appfolder').execute()\n\n # Get profile info from ID token\n userid = credentials.id_token['sub']\n email = credentials.id_token['email']\n ```\n\n \u003cbr /\u003e"]]
