1. Google Cloud Setup

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Which Google account?

Use the account that owns or can edit the sheet.

• Personal Gmail: always works.
• School / work account: may work. Some admins block project or OAuth client creation. If you see an "organization policy" error at any step, switch to a personal Gmail and share the sheet with it.

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1Create a project

1. Open https://console.cloud.google.com
2. Click the project picker at the top → New Project
3. Name: sheets-mcp → Create
4. Wait ~30 seconds, then select the new project in the picker

✅ The top bar shows sheets-mcp.

2Enable two APIs

1. Search bar → Google Sheets API → Enable
2. Search bar → Google Drive API → Enable

✅ Both show "API enabled".

3Configure the OAuth consent screen

Newer consoles call this Google Auth Platform.

1. Menu → APIs & Services → OAuth consent screen (or Google Auth Platform → Get started)
2. App name: Sheets MCP · Support email: your email → Next
3. Audience: - Internal if available (Workspace accounts). Simplest. - External otherwise (personal Gmail).
4. Contact email: your email → Next → accept the policy → Create

If you chose External, add yourself as a test user: - Audience → Test users → + Add users → your email → Save

4Create the OAuth client

1. APIs & Services → Credentials (or Google Auth Platform → Clients)
2. + Create → OAuth client ID
3. Application type: Desktop app ⚠️ (not Web application)
4. Name: sheets-mcp-client → Create
5. Download JSON

The file downloads as client_secret_XXXX.apps.googleusercontent.com.json. Guide 2 moves and renames it.

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What you have now

Treat the JSON as a secret. Never commit it. See Security.

➡️ Next: 2. Local MCP server