Google Workspace Integration for Google Single Sign-on (SSO)

Installing the Help Scout app in the Google Workspace Marketplace allows you to connect your Google Workspace account to Help Scout. You can then securely log in to Help Scout automatically with your Google account using Google single sign-on (SSO). 

If you have just created a new Help Scout account, you can install the Help Scout app at Google and seamlessly import Google Workspace users into your new account with a few clicks. This can save you precious set up time when you're getting started. 

If you've already set up your users, you can still install the app and take advantage of Google login for your account and use it to import new users in the future. 

You do not have to install the integration to make use of Google sign in though — if a user's email address is linked to a Google account, as long as they have accepted the invite, they can then also use the Google sign in.

Google SSO is available to any Help Scout account with API access. Access to the API is included in the Standard and higher plans. See our Billing and Plans Guide for more information on the features included with each plan.

Activation instructions 

First things first, make sure all of the following things are true: 

• You are logged in to Google as a Google Workspace user that has Super Admin rights at Google. 
• You are logged in to Help Scout in the same browser session with that same email address. For best results, that User should be the Account Owner at Help Scout for the duration of the install process. (See Transfer Account Ownership for help to make that change; you can switch back after this has been completed.)
• Google Workspace Marketplace Settings are set to allow users to install Google Workspace apps, or the Help Scout app has been added to the allowlist at Google. 

Now let's get started! 

1

Head to the Help Scout app on Google Workspace Marketplace. Click Admin Install. 

2

Review and agree to the account terms, then click on the blue Continue link.

On the next screen, check the checkbox to agree to the terms, then click Finish.

3

You'll see a confirmation window after Help Scout has been installed. On the first screen, click Next. Click the Complete additional setup now link on the second screen. A new tab will open where you can import additional Users from Google Workspace. 

Note: If this window does not appear for you, or you miss this step and want to return to it later, you can head directly to https://secure.helpscout.net/googleapps/users/

4

You will be prompted to import users from Google Workspace. Select the users you wish to import, and click Import.

Now that the app is installed, to import users in the future, you can head over to Manage > Users in Help Scout and import Google Workspace accounts from your primary domain on demand.

5

For enhanced security, you can disable Help Scout logins for all users from Company Settings. Leaning on Google's authentication means one less login that can fall into the wrong hands. If you have two-factor authentication enabled for your Google account, you'll be able to lock down your Help Scout account with the same security.

Note: When Force Google sign-on is toggle on, the Account Owner will still be able to log in with their Help Scout username and password.

6

From the login screen, you and any other Google Workspace users can now click the Sign in with Google link and authenticate that way. 

Alternatively, you can also log in to your Help Scout account straight from Google! From your Gmail account, click on the Google apps icon in the upper right corner, then select Help Scout from the app menu. You'll be automatically signed in to your Help Scout account from there.

Have multiple domains that use Google Workspace? You can only import users from the domain you used to authenticate the Workspace app, but you can still have other domain users use Google SSO! To set up users from other domains, just create the user manually in Help Scout using an email address managed through Google Workspace, then they can choose the Sign in with Google option when they go to log in. 

To disable Google SSO, see Google's help for how to Delete a Google Workspace Marketplace app. Take those steps to remove the Help Scout app.