Obtaining an access token for the Google API is an essential step in connecting your WordPress site with Google services using UpdraftPlus. This article will walk you through the process of getting an access token in UpdraftPlus, and also provide some personal insights and commentary.
Introduction
Google provides a wide range of APIs that allow developers to access and interact with various Google services, such as Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Calendar. UpdraftPlus, a popular backup plugin for WordPress, offers integration with Google Drive for easy and secure backup storage.
To establish a connection between UpdraftPlus and your Google Drive account, you will need to obtain an access token from the Google API Console. This access token allows UpdraftPlus to authenticate and interact securely with your Google Drive account.
Step 1: Creating a Google API Project
The first step in obtaining an access token is to create a Google API project. Head over to the Google API Console and sign in with your Google account. Once you’re in, click on the “Create Project” button to create a new project.
Give your project a name that is meaningful to you, such as “UpdraftPlus Backup”. Once you’ve named your project, click on the “Create” button to proceed.
Step 2: Enabling the Google Drive API
The next step is to enable the Google Drive API for your project. In the API Library, search for “Google Drive API” and click on it. On the API overview page, click on the “Enable” button to enable the API for your project.
Enabling the Google Drive API will allow UpdraftPlus to access your Google Drive account for storing backups and other related operations.
Step 3: Creating OAuth Credentials
Now that the Google Drive API is enabled, we need to create OAuth credentials. Click on the “Credentials” tab in the left sidebar, and then click on the “Create Credentials” button. From the dropdown menu, select “OAuth client ID”.
On the next page, you’ll be prompted to set up the OAuth consent screen. Choose a user type that best suits your needs, and enter a name for your application. You can also add your logo and provide a support email.
Once you’ve filled in the required information, click on the “Save” button to configure the OAuth consent screen.
Step 4: Configuring OAuth Consent Screen
In this step, we need to configure the OAuth consent screen, which will be displayed to the user when they grant access to their Google Drive account. Provide a meaningful and concise application name that will be shown to users.
Under the “Scopes for Google APIs” section, add the necessary scopes for the Google Drive API. For UpdraftPlus, the required scope is https://www.googleapis.com/auth/drive.file.
Once you’ve added the necessary scopes, click on the “Save” button to save your changes.
Step 5: Creating OAuth Client Credentials
After saving your OAuth consent screen configuration, you’ll be redirected back to the Credentials page. Now, click on the “Create Credentials” button and select “OAuth client ID” from the dropdown menu.
Choose “Web application” as the application type. Enter a name for your OAuth client ID and provide the authorized JavaScript origins and redirect URIs. For UpdraftPlus, the redirect URIs should be set to https://your-website.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=updraftplus&tab=googledrive.
Click on the “Create” button to generate your OAuth client ID and client secret. Make sure to save these credentials as you will need them later.
Step 6: Obtaining the Access Token in UpdraftPlus
Now that you have your OAuth client ID and client secret, you can proceed to obtain the access token in UpdraftPlus.
In your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to “Settings” > “UpdraftPlus Backups” and click on the “Settings” tab. Scroll down to find the “Google Drive” section and click on the “Authenticate (Get Token)” button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize UpdraftPlus to access your Google Drive account. Enter your OAuth client ID and client secret when prompted, and click on the “Save Changes” button.
UpdraftPlus will now use the provided credentials to obtain the access token from the Google API. Once the token is successfully obtained, you will be able to use Google Drive for backup storage in UpdraftPlus.
Conclusion
Obtaining an access token for the Google API in UpdraftPlus is a straightforward process that requires creating a Google API project, enabling the Google Drive API, and configuring OAuth credentials. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily integrate UpdraftPlus with your Google Drive account and enjoy seamless backup functionality.
Remember to keep your OAuth client ID and client secret secure, as they grant access to your Google Drive account. If at any point you suspect unauthorized access, you can revoke the access token in your Google API Console.