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How to Setup Gmail with OAuth2

Email has become an indispensable communication tool, and Gmail, with over a billion users, leads the pack. For developers and businesses looking to integrate Gmail functionalities into their applications, understanding OAuth2 authentication is crucial. OAuth2 is a protocol that allows third-party services to perform operations on behalf of a user without getting their password. This blog delves deep into setting up Gmail integration using OAuth2, ensuring your applications can securely and efficiently manage emails.

Understanding OAuth2

OAuth2 is an authorization framework that enables applications to obtain limited access to user accounts on an HTTP service. It works by allowing the service that holds the user’s information to issue tokens to third-party applications with the user’s approval. These tokens then allow access to the user’s account without compromising their password.

Setting up Gmail with OAuth2 in Google Cloud Platform

1. First, go to Google Cloud Platform and choose “New project” to make a new one.

2. Give your project a name, and if you want, you can also pick a location for it, then click “Create”.

3. Next, find “APIs & Services” on the menu to the left, hover over it, and click on “Enabled APIs & services”.

4. To add Gmail API to your project, click on “+ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES”.

5. Search for Gmail in the search bar and select the Gmail API from the results.

6. Then, click “Enable” on the Gmail API page.

7. After enabling it, you’ll need to create some credentials to use the Gmail API. Click on “Create Credentials” to start this process.

8. In the “Create credentials” window, under “Credential Type”, pick Gmail API in the “Select an API” field, select “User data”, and click “Next”.

9. In the “Scopes” section, click on “Add or Remove Scopes”. In the window that pops up, search for the Gmail API, choose the …/auth/gmail.modify scope, and click “Update”.

10. For the “OAuth Client ID” section, choose “Web application” as the Application type, and give your OAuth2 client a name.

11. Then, in the “Authorized redirect URIs” field, click “Add URI” and enter https://helper.myq.cz/. This step is crucial for the authorization code to work properly.

12. In the “OAuth consent screen” section, click “Add Users” and enter the email addresses of users who will be sending emails or receiving print jobs via email.

13. After completing all sections, click “Create”.

14. Go back to “APIs & Services”, then “Credentials”, to find your Client ID and Client secret, which you’ll need for setting up MyQ.

Gmail setup in MyQ

After you’ve set everything up in Google Cloud Platform, here’s how to link it with MyQ:

1. Log into the MyQ web admin page.

2. Click on “MyQ”, then “Settings”, and finally, “External Systems”.

3. Click the “+Add” button and choose “Gmail” from the list.

4. A window will pop up where you’ll need to fill out a few details and click OK:

  • For “Title”, write a name for this Gmail connection.
  • Enter the “Client ID” you got from Google Cloud Platform.
  • Put in the “Security key”, which is the Client Secret from Google Cloud.

5. After adding the Gmail setup to MyQ, you’ll need to allow MyQ to access your Gmail. Do this by visiting the link they provide, getting a code, and entering this code back in MyQ under “Authorization code”. Then, click “OK”.

Gmail has been successfully linked with MyQ and can now be utilized. You can set it up as an Outgoing SMTP server under the “Network settings” tab. Additionally, for receiving jobs via email, you can configure it as a POP3 or IMAP server in the “Jobs settings” tab, under “Jobs via Email”.

Security Considerations

When integrating Gmail with OAuth2, security is paramount. Ensure to:

  • Store the Client Secret securely and never expose it publicly.
  • Use HTTPS to prevent interception during the authorization process.
  • Regularly review and limit the scope of access granted to tokens.
  • Monitor and log usage of tokens to detect unauthorized access.

Conclusion

Integrating Gmail functionalities into your applications using OAuth2 provides a secure and efficient way to enhance user experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up OAuth2 authentication, ensuring your applications can safely interact with Gmail on behalf of your users. Remember to adhere to best practices in security to protect user data and maintain trust.