Google OAuth 2.0 setup

Note: This page contains information for site administrators.

OAuth 2.0

Prior to Moodle 2.3, the Google Docs repository and Picasa web album repository and the Google Docs portfolio and Picasa portfolio could be used without any configuration or registration with Google. In April 2012, Google announced to web application developers that they would be deprecating the service which Moodle was using to communicate with Google and strongly advised developers to move away from it. As a response to this change with Google's service, Moodle switched to use a new system for communicating with Google called 'OAuth 2.0'. The OAuth 2.0 system provides a better security system and more friendly experience to Moodle users, though it requires some additional configuration in Moodle.

Registering with Google

Each Moodle site now needs to be registered with Google in order to use the Google Docs or Picasa plugins. The following will guide you through the process of registering with Google.

1. Visit the Google APIs Console and sign into your google account. You will be asked to create a project if this is your first time using this form.
2. Click the button 'Create an OAuth 2.0 client ID'
3. Enter the branding information 'Product name' (i.e. the name of your Moodle site) and 'Product logo' (i.e. your site logo). By providing a descriptive name and link to distinct image then your users will know they are signing into the correct place.
4. Click the Next button
5. In 'Client ID Settings' select 'Web application' as application type.
6. Click the '(more options)' link next to 'Your site or hostname' then in 'Authorized Redirect URIs' enter the URL which was provided in your Moodle settings page (usually http://yourmoodle/admin/oauth2callback.php) and leave the 'Authorized JavaScript Origins' field blank
7. Click the button 'Create client ID'

Your site will then be registered with Google and you will be presented with your details.

8. Enter the 'Client ID' and 'Client secret' provided into your Moodle settings page

Once configured, Google will present Moodle users with a nice authorisation screen with your Moodle site name and logo for your users to authorise.

• Registering with Google - click on each to enlarge
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  1. Create project

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  2. Creating an OAuth 2.0 Client ID

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  3. Branding information

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  6. Client ID settings

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  Registered details

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  Authorisation screen