What is the problem you are having with rclone?
- My goal: To use
rclone mkdir
with a Google Photos remote. - The error:
403 PERMISSION_DENIED: couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes.
- I am using my own Client ID, and I have confirmed the GCP project has the
photoslibrary
andphotoslibrary.sharing
scopes enabled on the consent screen, the app is in "Testing" mode, and I am a "Test User." - I have tried both
rclone v1.69.3
andv1.66.0
. - I even manually edited
rclone.conf
to includescope = photoslibrary photoslibrary.sharing
and deleted the token, but the Google consent screen I am shown never asks for the album creation/sharing permission.
Run the command 'rclone version' and share the full output of the command.
PS C:\Users\Eric> rclone version
rclone v1.69.3
- os/version: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 24H2 24H2 (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 10.0.26100.4061 (x86_64)
- os/type: windows
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.24.3
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: cmount
and I also attempted from a downgrade:
PS C:\Users\Eric> rclone version
rclone v1.66.0
- os/version: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (64 bit)
- os/kernel: 10.0.26100.4061 (x86_64)
- os/type: windows
- os/arch: amd64
- go/version: go1.22.1
- go/linking: static
- go/tags: cmount
Which cloud storage system are you using? (eg Google Drive)
Google Photos (21)
The command you were trying to run (eg rclone copy /tmp remote:tmp
)
rclone mkdir GPhotosNew:album/Holidays
Please run 'rclone config redacted' and share the full output. If you get command not found, please make sure to update rclone.
'''
[GPhotosNew]
type = google photos
client_id = XXX
client_secret = XXX
scope = photoslibrary photoslibrary.sharing
token = XXX
'''
A log from the command that you were trying to run with the -vv
flag
'''
PS C:\Users\Eric> rclone mkdir GPhotosNew:album/Holidays -vv
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : rclone: Version "v1.66.0" starting with parameters ["C:\Users\Eric\AppData\bin\rclone.exe" "mkdir" "GPhotosNew:album/Holidays" "-vv"]
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Creating backend with remote "GPhotosNew:album/Holidays"
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Using config file from "C:\Users\Eric\AppData\Roaming\rclone\rclone.conf"
2025/06/05 22:17:42 NOTICE: Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Warning: running mkdir on a remote which can't have empty directories does nothing
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Making directory
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Mkdir: dir=""
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": >Mkdir: err=couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 ERROR : Attempt 1/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Making directory
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Mkdir: dir=""
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": >Mkdir: err=couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 ERROR : Attempt 2/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Making directory
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Mkdir: dir=""
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": >Mkdir: err=couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 ERROR : Attempt 3/3 failed with 1 errors and: couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
2025/06/05 22:17:42 DEBUG : 6 go routines active
2025/06/05 22:17:42 INFO : Google Photos path "album/Holidays": Committing uploads - please wait...
2025/06/05 22:17:42 Failed to mkdir: couldn't list albums: Request had insufficient authentication scopes. (403 PERMISSION_DENIED)
PS C:\Users\Eric>
'''