Google Authentication

Enabling Google Authentication allows users to sign up and log in to your Mentor LMS using their Google accounts. This provides a convenient login option and can increase user registrations.

Accessing Google Auth Settings

1. Log in to your admin dashboard
2. Navigate to Settings in the sidebar menu
3. Select Social Login Settings from the dropdown options

Setting Up Google OAuth

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Project

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console
2. Click on the project dropdown at the top left corner and select New Project
3. Enter a name for your project and click Create
4. Select your newly created project from the project dropdown

Step 2: Configure the OAuth Consent Screen

1. In the Google Cloud Console, navigate to APIs & Services > OAuth consent screen
2. Select External user type (unless you're using Google Workspace)
3. Fill in the required application information:
   • App name: Your LMS name
   • User support email: Your support email
   • Developer contact information: Your email address
4. Click Save and Continue
5. Add scopes (at minimum, select email and profile)
6. Click Save and Continue
7. Add test users if you're in testing mode
8. Click Save and Continue

Step 3: Create OAuth Credentials

1. In the Google Cloud Console, navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials
2. Click Create Credentials and select OAuth client ID
3. For Application type, select Web application
4. Provide a name for your OAuth client
5. Add authorized JavaScript origins (the domain where your LMS is hosted):

   https://your-domain.com

6. Add authorized redirect URIs (the URL Google will redirect to after authentication):

   https://your-domain.com/auth/google/callback

7. Click Create
8. A popup will appear showing your Client ID and Client Secret - save these values (You can always view them later by clicking the edit icon next to your OAuth client ID)

Step 4: Configure Your LMS

1. Return to the Mentor LMS admin dashboard
2. In Social Login Settings, toggle Enable Google Login to Yes
3. Enter your Google OAuth credentials:
   • Client ID: Your Google OAuth client ID
   • Client Secret: Your Google OAuth client secret
   • Callback URL: This should be pre-filled with the correct URL
4. Click Save Changes

Testing Google Authentication

After configuring Google Auth:

1. Log out of your admin account
2. Go to the login page of your LMS
3. You should see a "Login with Google" button
4. Click the button and attempt to log in with a Google account
5. Verify that the authentication process completes successfully

Troubleshooting Google Auth

If you encounter issues with Google Authentication:

1. Verify Credentials: Double-check your Client ID and Client Secret
2. Check Redirect URI: Ensure the callback URL in Google Console exactly matches your LMS configuration
3. OAuth Consent Screen: Make sure you've completed the OAuth consent screen setup
4. API Enabled: Ensure the Google+ API or Google People API is enabled in your Google Cloud project
5. Https Required: Google OAuth requires HTTPS for production applications
6. Verify Domain: If using domain verification, ensure your domain is properly verified
7. Published Status: If your app is in "Testing" status, only authorized test users can log in

Security Considerations

When implementing Google Authentication:

1. Store Credentials Securely: Never expose your Client Secret in client-side code
2. Request Minimal Scopes: Only request the user data you actually need
3. Privacy Policy: Update your privacy policy to reflect data collected via Google Auth
4. Regular Audits: Periodically review who has access to your Google Cloud project
5. Monitor Usage: Check for any unusual authentication patterns