How to Manage Token Expiration in Your Python Google Auth Configuration

Learn how to manage token expiration settings in your Python project using YAML configuration for Google authentication. Find out why the default expiration cannot be changed and how to handle it with refresh tokens. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70833743/ asked by the user 'TheParrot12345' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/17633316/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70834869/ provided by the user 'Okkie' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4347896/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Change expire time on configuration yaml Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Managing Token Expiration in Your Python Google Auth Configuration When working with Google APIs, authentication is a crucial part of your application. If you're using a Python project and have come across the issue of token expiration, you’re not alone. Many developers face the same conundrum: the default token expiration time is set to one hour, and this can disrupt the flow of your application if not properly managed. In this post, we will explore how to handle token expiration settings using a YAML configuration file and delve into the alternative solutions. The Challenge: Changing Token Expiration In your settings.yaml file, you may have initially encountered configuration similar to the following: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] This configuration works perfectly for establishing Google authentication. However, when it comes to the token expiration—which is limited to an hour—developers often seek ways to extend this period, creating complications in their workflow. Why Token Expiration Cannot Be Changed Unfortunately, it's essential to understand that access tokens have a limited lifetime by design. This limitation is intentional and part of the security model that Google employs to protect users' data. Here’s what you need to know: Access Tokens: These tokens are used to authenticate requests to Google APIs but expire after a short duration (typically one hour). Security Protocol: The reasoning behind a short expiration time is to mitigate risks; in case a token is compromised, it limits access duration. The Solution: Utilizing Refresh Tokens While token expiration cannot be changed, there’s a robust solution at your disposal: the use of refresh tokens. Here's how they work: Refresh Tokens: These tokens are designed to obtain new access tokens without requiring the user to re-authenticate. They can be stored securely and used as needed. Configuration: Ensure your settings.yaml has get_refresh_token: True which you already have set correctly. This indicates that your application should request a refresh token alongside the access token. Steps to Implement Refresh Tokens Make sure that in your OAuth consent screen settings, you enable offline access. This allows your application to request refresh tokens. When your application initially obtains an access token, it should also receive a refresh token. Store the refresh token securely (e.g., in your credentials.json file). Whenever the access token expires, you can use the refresh token to request a new access token without requiring user intervention. Conclusion In summary, while you cannot change the expiration time of Google access tokens, utilizing refresh tokens gives you the flexibility to maintain access to Google APIs in your Python project without frequently prompting users to log in. With the proper configuration and understanding of how tokens operate, you can ensure smooth and secure access to user data. By integrating the right approach, you can mitigate the impact of token expiration and provide a seamless experience for your users. If you have any further questions or face additional challenges in your authentication process, feel free to leave a comment below!