Minimal Steps: Google Search Console API - Get a credentials.json File

Five Google Cloud console steps to the OAuth client file for a Desktop app.

By Franz Enzenhofer Published 2025-01-29 Updated 2026-10-02 1 min read

Create or select a project:
- Go to https://console.cloud.google.com/projectcreate (new project) or https://console.cloud.google.com (existing one).
Enable the Search Console API:
- Go to https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/searchconsole.googleapis.com.
- Click Enable.
Set up OAuth consent screen:
- Visit https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials/consent.
- Choose External, fill required fields, and save.
Create OAuth credentials (Desktop):
- Go to https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials.
- Click Create Credentials > OAuth client ID.
- Select Desktop app, then click Create.
Download credentials.json:
- On the same https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials page, locate your new OAuth 2.0 Client ID.
- Click the download icon next to it. Keep the saved credentials.json safe.