How to generate access token using refresh token through google drive API?

Question

I have completed steps of authorization and obtained access token and refresh token.

What should I do next to generate access token using refresh token that I have s

Answer 1

Just posting my answer in case it helps anyone as I spent an hour to figure it out :)

First of all two very helpful link related to google api and fetching data from any of google services:

https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/config/mgmt/v3/quickstart/web-php

https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/OAuth2WebServer

Furthermore, when using the following method:

$client->setAccessToken($token)

The $token needs to be the full object returned by the google when making authorization request, not the only access_token which you get inside the object so if you get the object lets say:

{"access_token":"xyz","token_type":"Bearer","expires_in":3600,"refresh_token":"mno","created":1532363626}

then you need to give:

$client->setAccessToken('{"access_token":"xyz","token_type":"Bearer","expires_in":3600,"refresh_token":"mno","created":1532363626}')

Not

$client->setAccessToken('xyz')

And then even if your access_token is expired, google will refresh it itself by using the refresh_token in the access_token object.