Google photos - 401 unauthorized

Help and Support
1

Hi all,

I can't manage google photos to accept pics in the cloud.

rclone v1.68.2
- os/version: raspbian 12.8 (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 6.1.21-v8+ (aarch64)
- os/type: linux
- os/arch: arm64 (ARMv8 compatible)
- go/version: go1.23.3
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: none

I ran the config command twice for 'drive' and 'google photos':


[GDrive]
type = drive
scope = drive
token = XXX
team_drive = 

[GPhotos]
type = google photos
token = XXX

I can upload and sync to 'drive' without problems. Runs fine! But 'google photos' not.

I can see remote:

rclone lsd GPhotos:
          -1 2025-01-04 17:45:42        -1 album
          -1 2025-01-04 17:45:42        -1 feature
          -1 2025-01-04 17:45:42        -1 media
          -1 2025-01-04 17:45:42        -1 shared-album
          -1 2025-01-04 17:45:42        -1 upload

but upload gives me errors:

rclone -vv copy Alpenrssort3.jpg GPhotos:media
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.68.2" starting with parameters ["rclone" "-vv" "copy" "Alpenrssort3.jpg" "GPhotos:media"]
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Using config file from "/home/steneu/.config/rclone/rclone.conf"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : fs cache: adding new entry for parent of "Alpenrssort3.jpg", "/media/tank/home/steneu/pics"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "GPhotos:media"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Attempt 1/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Attempt 2/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 ERROR : Attempt 3/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 17:49:16 INFO  : 
Transferred:   	          0 B / 0 B, -, 0 B/s, ETA -
Errors:                 1 (retrying may help)
Elapsed time:         0.0s

2025/01/04 17:49:16 DEBUG : 7 go routines active
2025/01/04 17:49:16 INFO  : Google Photos path "media": Committing uploads - please wait...
2025/01/04 17:49:16 NOTICE: Failed to copy: can't upload files here

OK, got it. Can't upload there... But:

rclone -vv copy Alpenrssort3.jpg GPhotos:upload
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.68.2" starting with parameters ["rclone" "-vv" "copy" "Alpenrssort3.jpg" "GPhotos:upload"]
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Using config file from "/home/steneu/.config/rclone/rclone.conf"
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : fs cache: adding new entry for parent of "Alpenrssort3.jpg", "/media/tank/home/steneu/pics"
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "GPhotos:upload"
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": List: dir=""
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >List: err=directory not found
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:49:59 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:50:06 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:06 ERROR : Attempt 1/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": List: dir=""
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >List: err=directory not found
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:50:06 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:50:09 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:09 ERROR : Attempt 2/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": List: dir=""
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >List: err=directory not found
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:50:09 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 17:50:11 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:11 DEBUG : Google Photos path "upload": >Put: 
2025/01/04 17:50:11 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:11 ERROR : Attempt 3/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)
2025/01/04 17:50:11 INFO  : 
Transferred:   	    6.170 MiB / 6.170 MiB, 100%, 496.017 KiB/s, ETA 0s
Errors:                 1 (retrying may help)
Elapsed time:        12.3s

2025/01/04 17:50:11 DEBUG : 8 go routines active
2025/01/04 17:50:11 INFO  : Google Photos path "upload": Committing uploads - please wait...
2025/01/04 17:50:11 NOTICE: Failed to copy: couldn't upload file: {
  "code": 16,
  "message": "Authentication session is not defined."
} (401 401 Unauthorized)

What I tried, was, copy the token of 'drive' to 'google photos'. No success. Ran the config again and configured from new. No success.

Alas! Why does the drive perform well, but 'google photos' not?

Thanks for help and cheers.

2

As per docs:

There are two writable parts of the tree, the upload directory and sub directories of the album directory.

and you try:

rclone -vv copy Alpenrssort3.jpg GPhotos:media
3

Hi Kapitainsky,

Yep. The output is in the first box...

4

Try to run:

rclone reconnect GPhotos:

5

Uhm... my rclone got no reconnect option. Does a newer version have it?

6

My typo. It is:

rclone config reconnect GPhoto:
7

That helped! Now I had the opportunity to check the box for granting the rights to put pics into Google photos when calling the Google-site for key-geneation.

Now I can upload pics. Thank you very much for your help!

However: the only remote directory accepting pics is 'upload'. 'album', 'media', 'feature' and all the others, don't accept uploads. But I can live with that :-))

rclone -vv copy Alpenrssort3.jpg GPhotos:media
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.68.2" starting with parameters ["rclone" "-vv" "copy" "Alpenrssort3.jpg" "GPhotos:media"]
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Using config file from "/home/steneu/.config/rclone/rclone.conf"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : fs cache: adding new entry for parent of "Alpenrssort3.jpg", "/media/tank/home/steneu/pics"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "GPhotos:media"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Attempt 1/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Attempt 2/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": NewObject: remote="Alpenrssort3.jpg"
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >NewObject: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Need to transfer - File not found at Destination
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": Put: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Update: src=Alpenrssort3.jpg
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Alpenrssort3.jpg: >Update: err=can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : Google Photos path "media": >Put: 
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Alpenrssort3.jpg: Failed to copy: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 ERROR : Attempt 3/3 failed with 1 errors and: can't upload files here
2025/01/04 18:38:44 INFO  : 
Transferred:   	          0 B / 0 B, -, 0 B/s, ETA -
Errors:                 1 (retrying may help)
Elapsed time:         0.0s

2025/01/04 18:38:44 DEBUG : 7 go routines active
2025/01/04 18:38:44 INFO  : Google Photos path "media": Committing uploads - please wait...
2025/01/04 18:38:44 NOTICE: Failed to copy: can't upload files here

Cheers!

8

Hold it!

I can upload to:

 GPhotos:media/all

Works pefect! Thank you so much!

1 Like