Google Drive with rclone on Linux (for backups)

Google Drive with rclone on Linux (for backups)

A guide to how to configure rclone with Google Drive to securely store backups.

1. Install rclone

2. Configure rclone

Configure rclone

  1. Create the Google Drive remote Choose: n (New remote) Name: gdrive Storage: choose Google Drive (drive)

  2. Create Google OAuth Client (Google Cloud Console) In Google Cloud Console: Create a Project Enable Google Drive API Create OAuth credentials: OAuth consent screen: External Add your account as Test user (Audience → Test users) Create OAuth Client ID = Desktop app Copy: Client ID Client Secret

  3. Enter OAuth values in rclone When prompted by rclone: client_id → paste Client ID client_secret → paste Client Secret scope → choose 1 (drive) root_folder_id → leave blank (press Enter) Complete browser login and click Allow Confirm remote: y

  4. Quit config At the menu, press: q

3. Test config

(You should see your Drive folders.)

Notes

If you get “Access blocked / not verified”: Google Cloud Console → Google Auth Platform → Audience → Test users → add your Gmail, save, retry auth. scope=drive is needed for uploading + deleting old backups.

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