Data Portability API Overview

  • The Data Portability API allows developers to build applications that can access and transfer user data from various Google services, like YouTube, Maps, and Search, with user authorization.

  • This API facilitates creating new services, enhancing existing ones by integrating Google data, and enabling users to easily switch or simultaneously use your service alongside Google products.

  • Before utilizing the API, developers must ensure its availability in their users' location, set up the API through a Google Developer Account, configure OAuth, develop their application, and undergo a verification process.

  • Applications accessing user data via the Data Portability API require verification, including identity confirmation, privacy policy submission, data usage description, and a demo video; restricted scopes necessitate further security assessments.

  • Developers must re-verify their applications annually or after making significant changes to maintain compliance.

This page contains a high-level overview that describes what the Data Portability API is, its use cases with some hypothetical examples, and the process for accessing and creating an app that uses the Data Portability API.

Introduction

The Data Portability API lets you build applications that request authorization from a user to move a copy of their data from Google services into your application. This enables data portability and facilitates switching services.

The Data Portability API supports data from a variety of Google products and services, including user generated content and user activity data from products, such as:

  • Chrome
  • Maps
  • Play
  • Search
  • Shopping
  • YouTube

For a full list of what's available, see Available OAuth scopes.

When to use the Data Portability API

This section covers some ways you can use the Data Portability API.

Build a new service

You can create a new product or service that is meant to export Google user data to facilitate an experience. For example, you could build a restaurant recommendation app that uses Starred places on Maps and Search history to suggest restaurants near the user.

Enhance current service

You can use the Data Portability API to enhance your product's features with Google data. For example, you can enhance the user experience on your fitness app by allowing users to port a copy of their YouTube Music playlists so you can make better music suggestions to go along with a workout plan.

Enable users to onboard to your service

You can use the Data Portability API to facilitate users switching from a Google product or service to your product, or using your product and a Google product simultaneously. For example, porting a copy of Maps data to enable using multiple navigation services.

Process

To use the Data Portability API in your product or service, you'll need to accomplish these tasks:

  1. Check availability: Ensure the Data Portability API is available to your users' population.
    1. Verify the Data Portability API is available in your location.
    2. The Data Portability API does not support access by accounts of users under 18.
  2. Set up the API: To begin using the Data Portability API, follow the steps in Set up the Data Portability API, which are:
    1. Sign up for a Google Developer Account.
    2. Create your project.
    3. Enable billing.
    4. Enable the API.

  3. Configure OAuth for your application:

    1. Set up OAuth.

    2. Choose applicable Data Portability API OAuth scopes.

  4. Develop using the API: Integrate the Data Portability API into your app experience following the steps in Develop apps using the Data Portability API.

  5. Verify your app: Applications that use the Data Portability API have access to Google users' data and therefore are subject to a verification process before they can be published. This process generally includes:

    1. Verifying your identity
    2. Providing a copy of your privacy policy
    3. Describing how you are going to use the data
    4. Creating a demo video

    If you are seeking access to restricted OAuth scopes, the process also includes:

    1. Completing a security assessment.

    For more details, see the instructions for submitting your app for verification and the full verification requirements.

  6. Re-verify your app: You need to re-verify your application annually or if you make changes to the approved app.