Using OAuth 2.0 service accounts with the Manufacturer Center API
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Service accounts are special Google accounts that can be used by applications to
access Google APIs programmatically via OAuth 2.0. A service account uses an
OAuth 2.0 flow that does not require additional authorization. Instead, it uses
a key file that only your application can access. This guide discusses how to
access the Manufacturer Center API with service accounts.
Steps to using a service account to access the Manufacturer Center API
Generate service-account credentials or access the public credentials you've
already generated. You will need to create an OAuth 2.0 Client ID and obtain
a *.json private key file:
Select a project in the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you do
not have one yet, create one by clicking Create Project.
If you have not already enabled the Manufacturer Center API for this
project, then search for it in the list of Google APIs and enable it.
In the sidebar on the left, select Credentials.
To set up a service account, select Create credentials, and then
Service account key.
On the next page, select New service account from the drop-down
list.
Name the new service account. This
also serves as the default username for the service account ID. Remember
the service account ID for use later.
Select JSON for the key type, then click Create.
The Create button will change to Creating..., and once the key
generation finishes, it will automatically download the private key as a
*.json file.
You will be returned to the Credentials page, and you should see the
new service account in the list of service account keys for your
account.
Add the new service account as a user to your Manufacturer Center account.
If you are a third party developer, you will need to have your client do
this step for you.
Go to the 'Users' list in the settings of your Manufacturer Center
account.
Click the +User button, and use the service account ID as the email
address for the new user.
Fill in the form with the service account ID,
and select the desired user role(s). At least one must be chosen, and
use of the Accounts service requires the Admin role.
If you did not take note of the service account ID earlier, go to the
Service Accounts
administration page and select the project you created.
Click on the Save button. You will be returned to the list of users,
and the service account ID should be listed with the chosen user role(s).
Repeat the process for all other service accounts you want to add.
View existing service account users by going to the Users tab. These
will be users with an email address ending in 'gserviceaccount.com'.
Now you can access your Manufacturer Center account using the service
account either by using the Google Application Default
Credentials flow or by
using the service account flow
directly. The Manufacturer Center API Samples
show how to use both flows for service account credentials in each supported
programming language. See the code samples to try out your new service
account and to learn what changes you will need to use service accounts in
your own code.
Frequently asked questions
Can I log into the Manufacturer Center web user interface with my service account?
No, service accounts are not regular Google accounts and cannot access the
Manufacturer Center web user interface.
How often do I need to refresh service account access tokens?
Access tokens expire one hour after they are issued by the Google OAuth 2.0
Authorization Server. When an access token expires, the application should use
the client library to fetch another access token.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eService accounts enable applications to programmatically access the Manufacturer Center API using OAuth 2.0 without user intervention.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo use a service account, generate service account credentials in Google Cloud Console, enable the Manufacturer Center API, and download the JSON key file.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAdd the service account as a user to your Manufacturer Center account with the appropriate role for API access.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAccess your Manufacturer Center account programmatically using Google Application Default Credentials or the service account flow, referencing the provided samples.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eService accounts cannot be used to log into the Manufacturer Center web user interface but solely for API interaction.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Using OAuth 2.0 service accounts with the Manufacturer Center API\n\nService accounts are special Google accounts that can be used by applications to\naccess Google APIs programmatically via OAuth 2.0. A service account uses an\nOAuth 2.0 flow that does not require additional authorization. Instead, it uses\na key file that only your application can access. This guide discusses how to\naccess the Manufacturer Center API with service accounts.\n| **Note:** Applications using service accounts for authentication can only access your own Manufacturer Center account. If you are writing a third-party application that needs access to your clients' Manufacturer Center accounts, see the [Authorizing Requests](/manufacturers/how-tos/authorizing) guide instead.\n\nPrerequisites\n-------------\n\n- A [Manufacturer Center](//manufacturers.google.com/) account.\n\nSteps to using a service account to access the Manufacturer Center API\n----------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n1. Generate service-account credentials or access the public credentials you've\n already generated. You will need to create an OAuth 2.0 Client ID and obtain\n a \\*.json private key file:\n\n 1. Go to the [Google API Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library).\n\n 2. Select a project in the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you do\n not have one yet, create one by clicking **Create Project**.\n\n 3. If you have not already enabled the Manufacturer Center API for this\n project, then search for it in the list of Google APIs and enable it.\n\n 4. In the sidebar on the left, select **Credentials**.\n\n 5. To set up a service account, select **Create credentials** , and then\n **Service account key**.\n\n 1. On the next page, select **New service account** from the drop-down\n list.\n\n 2. Name the new service account. This\n also serves as the default username for the service account ID. Remember\n the service account ID for use later.\n\n | **Note:** The choice of role for the service account will not have any effect on what calls can be made to the Manufacturer Center API, as access to Manufacturer Center API methods is determined instead by the role associated with the service account ID in Manufacturer Center. If you are unsure what to pick, just pick Project►Viewer.\n\n 1. Select **JSON** for the key type, then click **Create**.\n\n 2. The **Create** button will change to **Creating...**, and once the key\n generation finishes, it will automatically download the private key as a\n \\*.json file.\n\n | **Important:** Protect the \\*.json key file that allows a service account to access the Google services for which it has been authorized. It is good practice to allow service accounts to only access one Google API each. This is a preventative measure to mitigate the amount of data an attacker can access in the situation that the service account's \\*.json key file is compromised.\n 1. You will be returned to the Credentials page, and you should see the new service account in the list of service account keys for your account.\n2. Add the new service account as a user to your Manufacturer Center account.\n If you are a third party developer, you will need to have your client do\n this step for you.\n\n 1. Go to your [Manufacturer Center account](//manufacturers.google.com/).\n\n 2. Go to the 'Users' list in the settings of your Manufacturer Center\n account.\n\n 3. Click the +User button, and use the service account ID as the email\n address for the new user.\n\n 4. Fill in the form with the [service account ID](#service-account-name),\n and select the desired user role(s). At least one must be chosen, and\n use of the `Accounts` service requires the Admin role.\n\n If you did not take note of the service account ID earlier, go to the\n [Service Accounts](https://console.developers.google.com/iam-admin/serviceaccounts/)\n administration page and select the project you created.\n\n 1. Click on the **Save** button. You will be returned to the list of users,\n and the service account ID should be listed with the chosen user role(s).\n\n 2. Repeat the process for all other service accounts you want to add.\n\n 3. View existing service account users by going to the Users tab. These\n will be users with an email address ending in 'gserviceaccount.com'.\n\n3. Now you can access your Manufacturer Center account using the service\n account either by using the [Google Application Default\n Credentials](/identity/protocols/application-default-credentials) flow or by\n using the [service account flow](/identity/protocols/OAuth2ServiceAccount)\n directly. The Manufacturer Center API [Samples](/manufacturers/libraries)\n show how to use both flows for service account credentials in each supported\n programming language. See the code samples to try out your new service\n account and to learn what changes you will need to use service accounts in\n your own code.\n\nFrequently asked questions\n--------------------------\n\n#### Can I log into the Manufacturer Center web user interface with my service account?\n\nNo, service accounts are not regular Google accounts and cannot access the\nManufacturer Center web user interface.\n\n#### How often do I need to refresh service account access tokens?\n\nAccess tokens expire one hour after they are issued by the Google OAuth 2.0\nAuthorization Server. When an access token expires, the application should use\nthe client library to fetch another access token."]]
