4 September 2025

How to Set the Correct Redirect URI for Google Sign-In [USA Guide]

So, you want to use Google Sign-In on your website or app? Great choice! It’s fast, reliable, and users love it. But wait—Google says you need to set a redirect URI… what’s that about?

Don’t worry! We’ll walk you through how to set the correct redirect URI for Google Sign-In. This guide is for folks in the USA, but most steps work worldwide. Buckle up—we’re gonna make redirect URIs fun (well, almost)!

🚀 What is a Redirect URI?

A Redirect URI is a web address that Google uses to send users back to your site after they log in. It’s part of keeping things safe and smooth.

When someone signs in with Google, they go to Google’s login screen. Once done, Google needs to know where to send them back. That’s where the redirect URI comes in. Think of it like giving a GPS the address of your front door!

🎯 Why It Matters

If your redirect URI is wrong, Google won’t let you in! You might get an error like:

Error 400: redirect_uri_mismatch

Bummer, right? That’s why setting the correct one matters BIG time.

🔧 Step 1: Decide Where You Want Users to Land

This depends on your app. Usually, people send users to a special route like:

• https://yourdomain.com/auth/callback
• https://yourapp.com/google-signin

This needs to be a secure URL (https only) and it should actually exist in your app’s code. If your app is still under construction, pick the route you plan to use.

Tip: It has to match exactly—even a tiny difference will cause issues.

🧠 Step 2: Add It to Google Developer Console

Now let’s tell Google where to redirect!

1. Go to Google Cloud Console.
2. Log in with your Google account.
3. Select your project or create a new one.
4. Click on OAuth consent screen (under APIs & Services) and set that up if you haven’t already.
5. Now click Credentials.
6. Find your OAuth 2.0 Client ID under “OAuth 2.0 Client IDs”.
7. Click on the pencil icon ✏️ (Edit icon).
8. Scroll to Authorized redirect URIs.
9. Paste your exact redirect URI into the field.

For example, you might add:

https://mycoolapp.com/auth/google/callback

Click Save and boom—you’ve told Google where to go after login.

🧪 Step 3: Add Redirect URI to Your Code

Depending on the software you use, this might vary. But usually, somewhere in your login flow, you’ll need to tell your app what the redirect URI is.

For example, if you’re using a library like passport-google-oauth in Node.js:

new GoogleStrategy({
  clientID: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
  clientSecret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
  callbackURL: 'https://mycoolapp.com/auth/google/callback'
},
function(token, tokenSecret, profile, done) {
  // Your user logic here
});

Notice the callbackURL. That’s your redirect URI! It must be the same one you added in Google Console.

😅 Common Mistakes (Avoid These!)

Redirect URIs can be sneaky little things. Here are the most common traps:

• Using http instead of https: Google requires secure URLs.
• Trailing slashes: /auth/callback is not the same as /auth/callback/.
• Typos: Double-check spelling. A wrong letter can break everything!
• Wrong environment: Are you adding the URI for development but testing production?

🌍 Local vs Production: Use Environment Variables

Here’s a slick trick! Use environment variables to manage different redirect URIs for development and production:

# .env (Development)
GOOGLE_REDIRECT_URI=https://localhost:3000/auth/google/callback

# .env (Production)
GOOGLE_REDIRECT_URI=https://mycoolapp.com/auth/google/callback

Then in your code:

callbackURL: process.env.GOOGLE_REDIRECT_URI

This way, you never have to change the code when switching environments!

🏆 Pro Tips

• Multiple Redirect URIs: You can add more than one in Google Console!
• URL Encoding Matters: Don’t add special characters (&, ?, =) unless you know how URL encoding works.
• Testing: Always test your redirect URI by completing a full Google Sign-In flow.

🛠 What If You’re Using Firebase?

Great question. Firebase handles Google Sign-In a bit differently, but you still want to be aware of the redirect:

1. Go to your Firebase Console.
2. Click on Authentication > Sign-in method.
3. Enable Google provider.
4. No need to manually set a redirect URI—Firebase does it for you!

But make sure your domain is whitelisted under Authorized domains.

🤓 Extra Geeky Details (Optional!)

If you’re curious, here’s what happens under the hood:

1. User clicks on “Sign in with Google.”
2. They’re redirected to Google’s OAuth endpoint.
3. After login, Google sends them back to the redirect URI with a code in the URL.
4. Your backend takes that code and fetches an access_token.
5. Then it fetches user info!

All of this hinges on that little redirect URI being correct. Magic, huh?

🎉 That’s It! You’re Officially a URI Hero

See? Redirect URIs aren’t so scary when you break them down. Just remember:

• Use HTTPS
• Match the URI exactly
• Set it in both your Google Console and your code

When in doubt, copy-paste and double-check everything. Google is super picky—but that’s a good thing. It keeps your users safe! 🛡️

🏁 Final Recap

Let’s wrap it up with a quick checklist:

• ✅ Pick your redirect URI
• ✅ Add it to Google Cloud Console
• ✅ Add it to your app config
• ✅ Test the full flow
• ✅ Celebrate 🎊

Now go forth and let your users sign in with ease. You’ve got this!