Overview

Account linking securely connects a user's Google Account to their account on your platform using the OAuth 2.0 protocol, allowing Google apps and services to access data and services you host with user consent.

Google Account Linking can be used for various purposes, including sharing user data with Google apps, enabling features like Google TV and Smart Home integration, creating custom Google Assistant experiences, and streamlining account creation during sign-up.

There are three primary OAuth-based flows for Google Account Linking: Web OAuth (redirects to your website), App Flip (switches to your mobile app), and Streamlined Linking (completes the process within the Google surface).

Implementing the Web OAuth flow is required as a fallback for all account linking integrations.

Google Account Linking utilizes standard OAuth 2.0 token types (authorization code, access token, and refresh token) for secure communication and data sharing between systems.