For an external Google OAuth app in Testing, refresh tokens generally expire after seven days when the app requests scopes beyond basic identity information. If scheduled work depends on a token lasting longer, publish the consent screen to the appropriate production state first—and check verification requirements for the scopes you use. Production tokens are not permanent: Google may revoke them, and prolonged inactivity can also cause expiration.
What the seven-day limit applies to
Google documents the seven-day refresh-token limit for an OAuth project configured for an external user type with its publishing status set to Testing. The exception is an app requesting only basic identity scopes for a user’s name, email address, and profile; the seven-day rule should not be applied unconditionally to that setup. Google’s OAuth documentation describes the token-expiration conditions.
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A refresh token is used to obtain new access tokens without asking a user to authorize again. If it expires, an integration that depends on it may need the user to authorize the app again. This makes Testing a poor state for unattended, recurring work when the app needs scopes beyond basic identity.
Testing, production, and user type are different settings
Testing and In production are publishing statuses. External and Internal are user types. For an external app in Testing, access is generally limited to Google Accounts listed as test users, with a cap of 100 test users. Google documents an exception to those Testing restrictions for apps requesting only basic identity scopes. Google’s OAuth consent screen publishing guidance explains the statuses and testing limits.
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Internal is intended for users in the relevant Google Workspace or Cloud Identity organization; it is not simply another name for production. Organization administrator policies may also restrict access. Confirm the project’s user type rather than assuming that publishing status alone determines who can authorize.
Publish before relying on recurring authorization
Google recommends publishing an app before relying on its refresh tokens for ongoing production work. In production, refresh tokens generally do not expire just because a short Testing window has elapsed, but they can still be revoked or expire after prolonged inactivity—typically six months, according to Google’s documentation. Review Google’s stated expiration and revocation conditions before designing recovery behavior.
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- Use separate OAuth projects for testing and production. This keeps development configuration distinct from the credentials and consent screen used by the live app. Google recommends separate projects for testing and production.
- Inventory the scopes the live app actually needs. Keep the requested permissions limited to the necessary functionality, and determine whether any are sensitive or restricted.
- Configure the production OAuth client. Set the client and authorized redirect origins for the actual live application, rather than relying on development values.
- Review the consent screen and verification requirements. Confirm the user type, branding, and scopes, then publish to the appropriate production state. Publishing does not by itself complete every review.
- Authorize and test the production flow. Confirm that the deployed app can obtain and refresh tokens, and provide a way to reconnect if a token is revoked or expires.
Publishing does not mean verification is complete
Moving an external app to production and completing verification are related but distinct steps. Whether Google requires brand review or scope verification depends on factors including user type, branding, and requested scopes. An unverified published app may display warnings and face user limitations; do not assume that selecting In production removes them. Check the requirements for the precise scopes in the project. Google’s verification guidance covers app and scope verification.
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Production is the appropriate publishing state for recurring work, not a guarantee of a token’s lifetime. Handle refresh failures by stopping dependent work safely and prompting an authorized user to reconnect when needed. Avoid treating a token created during Testing as a durable production credential; use the production project’s own client and authorization flow.
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