Google Platform Integration

Connecting your Google account to Propel enables access to multiple Google services through a single OAuth connection. This guide walks you through connecting your Google account, which provides access to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive.

Overview

When you connect your Google account to Propel, you're using OAuth (Open Authorization), a secure authentication method that doesn't require sharing your password. This single connection enables Propel to access:

• Gmail: Read and send emails from your Gmail account
• Google Calendar: Access your calendar for booking tours and showings
• Google Drive: Browse and access files for connecting property data sources

Propel only accesses the data you explicitly connect and never stores your password. This is a platform-level integration that enables multiple services through one connection.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A Propel account with access to an organization
• A Gmail account (personal or Google Workspace)
• Admin or member access to the organization in Propel

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Navigate to Integrations

1. Log in to your Propel account
2. Select your organization from the dashboard
3. Go to Settings > Integrations

You'll see integration cards for both Google and Microsoft. The Google card shows your current connection status.

Step 2: Connect Your Google Account

1. On the Integrations page, locate the Google integration card
2. Click the "Connect to Google" button

This will redirect you to Google's OAuth consent screen.

Step 3: Sign In to Google

1. You'll be redirected to Google's sign-in page
2. Sign in with the Gmail account you want to connect
3. If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you select the correct one

Step 4: Review Permissions

Google will show you a consent screen listing the permissions Propel is requesting. These include:

• Gmail: Read, compose, and send emails from your Gmail account
• Calendar: See, edit, share, and permanently delete all the calendars you can access
• Google Drive: See and download all your Google Drive files (for connecting data sources)
• Google Sheets: See all your Google Sheets spreadsheets (for property listings)

Important: Propel only uses these permissions for the features you enable. For example:

• Gmail access is used to monitor your mailbox and send responses
• Calendar access is used to check availability and book tours
• Drive and Sheets access is only used when you explicitly connect a data source

Step 5: Grant Permissions

1. Review the permissions carefully
2. Click "Allow" or "Continue" to grant access

If you see a warning about "unverified app," this is normal for apps in development. Propel uses secure OAuth authentication and only accesses data you explicitly connect.

Step 6: Return to Propel

After granting permissions, you'll be automatically redirected back to Propel's Integrations page. You should see:

• A green "Connected" badge on the Google integration card
• Your account email address displayed
• The date when the connection was established

Verifying Your Connection

After connecting, verify everything is working:

1. Check the Google integration card shows "Connected" status
2. Confirm your email address is displayed correctly
3. Note the connection date for reference

If you see any errors or the connection doesn't appear, see the Troubleshooting section below.

What Happens Next

Once your Google account is connected, you can:

1. Set up a mailbox: Go to Settings > Mailboxes to create a mailbox that Propel will monitor for incoming emails
2. Use Google Calendar: Propel automatically has access to your Google Calendar for booking tours and showings. See Google Calendar Integration for details
3. Connect Google Drive data sources: If you have property listings in Google Sheets, you can connect them at Settings > Data Sources

Managing Your Connection

Viewing Connection Details

On the Integrations page, you can see:

• Your connected email address
• Account type (Google Account)
• Connection date
• Connection status

Refreshing Your Connection

If your connection expires or you need to refresh permissions:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Click "Re-authenticate" on the Google integration card
3. Follow the OAuth flow again to refresh your tokens

Disconnecting Your Account

To disconnect your Gmail account:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Click "Disconnect" on the Google integration card
3. Confirm the disconnection

Note: Disconnecting will stop Propel from accessing your Gmail account and may affect any mailboxes or data sources connected to this account.

Troubleshooting

Connection Fails or Redirects to Error Page

Possible causes:

• Network connectivity issues
• Browser blocking redirects
• Organization access issues

Solutions:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Try a different browser or clear your browser cache
3. Make sure you're logged into Propel and have access to the organization
4. Contact support if the issue persists

"Not a member of organization" Error

This error means your user account isn't associated with the organization you're trying to connect to.

Solutions:

1. Verify you're logged into the correct Propel account
2. Check that you have access to the organization
3. Ask an organization admin to add you as a member
4. Try connecting from a different organization if you have access to multiple

"Authentication failed" Error

This can happen if the OAuth flow is interrupted or if there's an issue with token exchange.

Solutions:

1. Try the connection process again
2. Make sure you complete the entire OAuth flow (don't close the Google consent screen early)
3. Check that you're using a supported browser
4. If the error includes an error ID, note it and contact support

Connection Shows as Expired

If your connection shows as "Expired" after some time:

1. Click "Re-authenticate" on the Google integration card
2. Follow the OAuth flow to refresh your tokens
3. This is normal and may happen periodically for security

Can't See the Connect Button

Possible causes:

• You don't have permission to manage integrations
• The page hasn't loaded correctly

Solutions:

1. Refresh the page
2. Verify you have admin or member role in the organization
3. Check with your organization admin about permissions

Google Shows "Unverified App" Warning

This is normal for apps that haven't completed Google's verification process. Propel uses secure OAuth authentication and only accesses data you explicitly connect.

What this means:

• Propel is a legitimate application
• Your data is secure
• You can safely proceed with the connection

Security and Privacy

How OAuth Works

OAuth is an industry-standard authentication method that:

• Never requires your password
• Uses secure tokens that can be revoked at any time
• Only grants the specific permissions you approve
• Allows you to see and manage access in your Google account settings

What Propel Accesses

Propel only accesses:

• Emails from mailboxes you explicitly configure
• Calendar events for calendars you select
• Google Sheets files you connect as data sources
• Your basic profile information (name, email) for account identification

Revoking Access

You can revoke Propel's access at any time:

1. From Propel: Disconnect the account in Settings > Integrations
2. From Google: Go to your Google Account settings > Security > Third-party apps with account access, then remove Propel

Token Security

• OAuth tokens are stored securely on Propel's servers
• Tokens are encrypted in transit and at rest
• Tokens automatically refresh when they expire
• Tokens are deleted immediately when you disconnect

Related Documentation

Service-Specific Guides

• Google Calendar Integration - How Propel uses your Google Calendar for bookings
• Google Drive Data Source - Connecting property listings from Google Sheets

Getting Started

• Getting Started - Complete setup guide including mailbox configuration
• Setting Up Your First Mailbox - Next step after connecting your platform

Other Platforms

• Microsoft Platform Integration - If you use Microsoft instead of Google

Need Help?

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:

• Support Email: partners@propelhq.io
• Documentation: Browse our complete documentation for more guides
• Error Messages: If you see an error with an error ID, include it when contacting support