N8N Series - Properly Configure Google OAuth2 Credentials in N8N – Best Practices

Google offers a wide range of services used globally, making Google integration one of the most common tasks when working with N8N—especially in self-hosted environments. But are you sure you’ve set it up correctly? Do you run into issues signing in after a few days, or struggle to complete the configuration on your own? If any of this sounds familiar, this guide is for you.

Google Console Setup

First of all, you need to access the Google Console in order to effectively manage and configure your Google service settings.

Create your project

Create your new project for setting up N8N credentials

Create a new project to set up your credentials

Google needs some time to set up your new project, so wait for a little bit. Once it's ready, you can choose it from the notification at the top-right corner.

Create a new project successfully

Setup the Auth Consent screen

Access the API & Service > OAuth consent screen

OAuth consent screen path

Create new branding

Click Get Started in the Overview screen, enter the some information for creating new branding

General view of Google Auth

App information

In Audience information, choose External

Audience - choose External

Finish creating branding

Branding Configuation

Provide your reference information for branding. You can only save the branding information once the details of the Authorized domains have been accurately verified and confirmed.

Branding information

Clients Configuation

Access the Clients, then click on Create Client

Create new client

Client declaration settings:

Application type: Web application

Name: Choose your own

Authorized redirect URLs: Use OAuth redirect URL from N8N credentials connection setup

Define correct Authorized redirect URLs

After finishing the above, Google Console will give you a Client ID and Client Secret. Keep them for the next step.

Get and save the Client ID and Client secret

Publish your app

This is the main point of this tutorial. Besides the usual guidelines about adding the right scope for access in Google Console, here you only need to go to Audience and click on Publish app. That's it.

Publish your app in Audience

Enable your API

Based on your specific needs and preferences, you can easily search for the services you require and enable them promptly without any delay with the path: Access API & Services > Enable APIs & service

Enable your required API service

Ex: search Gmail api for enalble

Enable your api / services

If you’ve reached this point, all the Google Console setup is done. Now, go to N8N and finish the simple last steps to complete the your google credentails

Configure your Google credentials in N8N

Provide connection information

Use the Client ID (1) and Client Secret (2) from Google Console – Clients Configuration we work through above. Enter them in the N8N credential setup, then click "Sign in with Google." A login window will appear to choose your account.

Credential configuation

Click on Advanced and then on Go to your domain (unsafe)

Grant Access to your N8N domain

Access right for your N8N domain

Successful Configuation

At this stage, you've successfully completed the initial setup for your Google credentials in N8N, and you're ready to move forward with building your workflow just the way you want.

Thanks to this setup, you won't need to log in to your Google account repeatedly—your credentials will remain active as long as your N8N instance continues running smoothly without interruptions.