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Troubleshooting Access Token Refresh Failure with Google OAuth2.0 Credentials
I am using GA4 API with Google Python Client and Google Analytics Data Python Client. It works fine until my access token expires after an hour. I’ve been trying to refresh it, but I keep getting an “invalid_grant” error. I’ve checked the usual suspects like system clock, user permissions and so on, but haven’t managed to resolve it yet. Plus, I’m not sure if my refresh_token is actually valid for Google Analytics 4. Could you guide me on how to troubleshoot this problem? How can I confirm if my refresh_token is valid for GA4? If it turns out to be invalid, how do I go about refreshing it? Also, do you have other methods to recommend for refreshing the access_token? Thanks!
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2 Replies
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When I was dealing with a similar problem, I found creating a new OAuth client ended up being the best solution. This allowed me to generate a new refresh_token for the account based on the Google Analytics scope. Once I created the new client, I downloaded the client_secrets.json and ran through the entire process, step by step, following the Complete Example by Google. After that, I was able to refresh the token without any problems. It might be worth a shot for you too!
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The issue you’re facing is common when the access token, which is designed to expire after an hour, needs to be refreshed. If you see an “invalid_grant” error, this is usually because the refresh token is either expired or was revoked.
First, ensure that your system’s clock is synchronized with a network time server, as time discrepancies can cause such issues. If the error persists, then obtain a new set of credentials by re-authenticating your application. The refresh token is typically returned the first time your application is authorized, so you’d need to prompt for re-authentication.
To ensure that your refresh token is valid for GA4, you may have to check with the application or system that generated it. The refresh token is specific to the client ID, client secret, and scopes that were included when the original access token was requested, and GA4 should technically be part of the scopes if it was included in your initial request.
There’s no specific call to refresh a refresh token, but you’ll get a new one each time you perform the initial authorization. So, to obtain a new refresh token, you’ll need to run through the OAuth2.0 flow again. Understanding this will help you handle token-related errors proactively in the future.
Lastly, remember that the refresh token can stop working for a number of reasons, including when the user revokes the token, the refresh token is not used for six months, or the user changed passwords.
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