Troubleshooting Google Business Profile (GBP) API integration involves addressing common issues like authentication errors, deprecated endpoints, API enablement failures, and permission restrictions. The process requires verifying OAuth credentials, checking API status in Google Cloud Console, and ensuring proper access levels for both the project and individual business profiles. Many developers encounter "Method not found" errors due to using outdated v4 endpoints or face 403/404 errors when APIs aren't properly enabled or lack sufficient permissions.

Key findings from current reports:

• The Google My Business v4 API has been deprecated, requiring migration to new endpoints like accounts/{accountId}/locations for location data ^[1]
• API access approval doesn't guarantee immediate functionality - users report persistent loading errors in Cloud Console even after approval ^[4]
• Common error codes include 403 ("API not enabled"), 404 ("Method not found"), and authentication failures despite valid credentials ^[1][7][10]
• Third-party developers must register for a GBP Organization account and understand OAuth 2.0 implementation specifics ^[3]

Common Google Business Profile API Integration Issues and Solutions

Authentication and Permission Problems

Authentication failures represent the most frequent integration hurdle, often manifesting as 403 "Permission denied" errors despite seemingly correct credentials. The root causes typically involve misconfigured OAuth 2.0 setups or insufficient access levels at either the Google Cloud project or individual business profile level. Developers report successful authentication for basic operations like fetching locations while encountering permission errors for sensitive actions like review management.

Critical verification steps for authentication issues:

• OAuth credential validation: Confirm the client ID and secret match exactly between your application and Google Cloud Console, with the correct redirect URIs configured ^[7]. The OAuth consent screen must include all required scopes, particularly https://www.googleapis.com/auth/business.manage for full management capabilities.
• Service account limitations: Service accounts cannot access GBP APIs directly - all operations require user authentication through OAuth 2.0 ^[3]. Attempts to use service account credentials will consistently fail with permission errors.
• Granular access requirements: API access approval at the Cloud project level doesn't automatically grant access to specific business profiles. Each location requires explicit permission sharing through the Business Profile Manager ^[3].
• Token expiration handling: Access tokens expire after 1 hour, while refresh tokens may become invalid if unused for 6 months. Implement token refresh logic using the refresh_token grant type when receiving invalid_grant errors ^[1].

A Reddit user implementing PHP integration discovered that their initial token request succeeded but subsequent API calls failed until they explicitly requested the business.manage scope during authentication ^[5]. This underscores how scope omissions can cause partial functionality that appears as intermittent errors.

Endpoint and API Version Compatibility

The transition from Google My Business v4 to the current Business Profile API creates significant integration challenges, with many developers unknowingly using deprecated endpoints. The v4 API shutdown affects all review-related operations and certain location management functions, requiring complete endpoint migrations. Error messages like "Method not found" or HTTP 404 responses typically indicate version mismatch issues rather than authentication problems.

Essential endpoint migration guidance:

• Review access changes: The v4 /reviews endpoint no longer functions. Developers must use the new accounts/{accountId}/locations/{locationId}/reviews structure from the current API version ^[1]. Note that review management requires additional verification steps beyond basic location access.
• Location data retrieval: Replace deprecated location endpoints with accounts/{accountId}/locations for single locations or accounts/{accountId}/locations:batchGet for multiple locations ^[2]. The new endpoints support additional filtering parameters.
• Post management updates: The posts API now uses accounts/{accountId}/locations/{locationId}/localPosts instead of the previous v4 structure. All post creation and management must go through this new endpoint ^[10].
• Metric collection: For analytics, use the new accounts/{accountId}/locations:batchGetDailyMetrics method which supports fetching metrics for multiple locations in a single call ^[2].

A GitHub issue reveals that developers using n8n workflow automation encountered 404 errors when accessing posts through what they believed were correct endpoints. The solution required updating to the /localPosts endpoint and ensuring the account ID was properly formatted in the request URL ^[10]. This case demonstrates how endpoint changes can break existing integrations without clear versioning indicators.

The Business Profile API documentation emphasizes that all new development should use the current endpoints, as Google provides no backward compatibility for v4 API calls ^[2]. Developers should audit all API calls in their integration to identify any remaining v4 endpoint references, particularly in:

• Review listing and response operations
• Post creation and management
• Certain location update functions
• Legacy verification workflows