Sign in with Google: one-click access for students and staff

How it works

There are two places where Google sign-in works, each with its own credentials:

• Acatudy's academy login (acatudy.com/academia/login) and academy registration: they always use Acatudy's Google account. Only academy owners and admins can sign in here with Google. Teachers sign in here with their password, or with Google from your website.
• Your academy website (sign-in and sign-up pages, Website Builder forms and the default home page): the Continue with Google button only appears once you have saved and turned on your own Google credentials. Without them there is no Google button on your website.

• New student: if registration is open and your plan still has room for students, Google creates a student account in your academy only. The email arrives already verified, and the student is asked once whether they want to receive your news by email.
• Existing student: if a student already has an account with the same Gmail address, Google links it the first time and they sign in straight away. Access to paid content works exactly the same as with a password.
• Teachers and admins: they can sign in with Google only if their account already exists. Acatudy never creates staff accounts from Google. When they sign in on your website, they jump straight to the admin panel.
• Superadmins of the platform always sign in with a password.
• Accounts from another academy are never added to yours automatically.

Turn the button on or off and control registration

1. Open the sign-in settings

   Go to My academy → General → Academy details → Sign-in.

2. Choose your options

   Show “Continue with Google” adds the button to all your sign-in and sign-up pages. Open registration lets anyone create a student account on your website (with email or Google) up to your plan's student limit. Turn it off if you prefer to add students yourself: existing students can still sign in.

3. Save

   Click Save options. Changes apply instantly on your website.

Create your own Google Cloud credentials (all plans)

Available on every plan, and it's the only way for students and teachers to use Google on your website. It works best with a custom domain such as learn.brightpathtutoring.com, because Google only shows your logo once you verify that you own the domain.

1. Create a Google Cloud project

   Open Google Cloud Console with your company's Google account and create a project, e.g. Brightpath website.

2. Set up the consent screen

   In Google Auth Platform (formerly OAuth consent screen) choose External, then enter your academy name, support email and logo. Under Authorized domains add your domain (e.g. brightpathtutoring.com). Request only the basic scopes openid, email and profile: they don't require Google's sensitive-scope review. Publish the app (In production) so any student can use it.

3. Create a Web application client

   In Clients, click Create client and choose Web application.

4. Paste the exact origins and redirect URIs

   Acatudy shows them already calculated for your academy in My academy → General → Academy details → Sign-in. They look like this:

   Authorized JavaScript origins
   https://brightpath.acatudy.com
   https://learn.brightpathtutoring.com
   
   Authorized redirect URIs
   https://brightpath.acatudy.com/auth/google/callback
   https://learn.brightpathtutoring.com/auth/google/callback

   Add one line for every address of your website. If you connect a custom domain later, add its URI too.

5. Paste the Client ID and Client Secret

   Google shows them when the client is created. Paste them in Your Google credentials and save. They're stored encrypted and the secret is never shown again; to change the ID, paste a new one, and leave the secret empty to keep the current one.

6. Test

   Click Test. A new tab opens Google with your credentials and returns to your website with the result. The test doesn't sign anyone in.

Turn off or remove your credentials

Turn off keeps them encrypted but hides the Google button on your website. Delete removes them for good. Either way, students and teachers keep signing in with their email and password.

Troubleshooting

• redirect_uri_mismatch: the redirect URI in Google Cloud doesn't match exactly. Copy it from My academy → General → Academy details → Sign-in, including https:// and /auth/google/callback, with no trailing slash.
• “This app is blocked” or only test users can sign in: publish the app in the consent screen (In production).
• “This email is linked to another Google account”: the account was already linked to a different Google account. Ask the student to use that one, or sign in with email and password.
• “This account doesn't belong to this academy”: the email belongs to a student of another academy. Add them from your student list first.
• “This academy isn't accepting new sign-ups”: registration is closed or your plan's student limit is reached.