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Add Google Drive to External Rclone on AWS EC2 (Without Web Browser)

This guide explains how to add a Google Drive remote to an external Rclone instance running on a system where a web browser is not available, such as an AWS EC2 Ubuntu server.

In such environments, completing the standard OAuth login flow via browser is not possible. Instead, you can use a local RcloneView installation to obtain the required OAuth token, and then reuse it on the external Rclone running on EC2.

Run Rclone Daemon on EC2

For instructions on how to install and run Rclone on an EC2 instance,

see: 👉 How to Run Rclone Engine on AWS EC2

The process: generate a Google Drive OAuth token on a machine with a browser, then paste that token into the external Rclone running on EC2 via RcloneView.

✅ Step 1: Generate a Google Drive token (pick one method)​

Method A: rclone authorize "drive" (fastest)

  1. On a machine with a browser and the same rclone version, run: 
    rclone authorize "drive"
  2. Complete Google login/consent in the browser.
  3. Copy the printed JSON token block (keep the whole JSON). You will paste this into EC2 in Step 3.

Method B: Use RcloneView embedded remote and copy its token

  1. On your local PC, add Google Drive using the embedded Rclone (normal browser OAuth).
    👉 Quick Guide: Add Google Drive Remote
  2. Open Remote Manager, edit the Google Drive remote, click Show advanced options, and copy the Token field (JSON).
copy google oauth token from embedded rclone

👉 More about editing remotes: Edit Remote Settings

✅ Step 2: Connect to the External Rclone (EC2)​

Open a new window or use your current session in RcloneView to connect to your EC2-hosted Rclone:

  • Open Settings -> Connection Manager to either create a new connection to your EC2-hosted Rclone or connect to an existing one if already configured.

👉 Learn more: Connect External Rclone
👉 Learn more: New Window Feature

✅ Step 3: Add Google Drive remote to the external Rclone (paste your token)​

  1. In the EC2-connected window, go to the Remote menu and select + New Remote.
  2. Choose Google Drive as the provider.
  3. Input Remote Name and click Show advanced options.
  4. Paste the previously copied OAuth Token into the Token field.
  5. Click Add Remote button to complete the setup as usual.
copy google oauth token to external rclone
Ignore This Error Pop-up

If RcloneView shows an error message like the one below, you can safely ignore it. In most cases, the token configuration is completed successfully despite this message. After closing the dialog, you should be able to access Google Drive normally.
This is a known UI issue, and we will improve the user experience in the next release.

token input error message

Once configured, your EC2-based Rclone can now access Google Drive even without browser support. You can manage, sync, and transfer files using RcloneView as usual.

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