Google Cloud: 403 PERMISSION_DENIED — Permission 'storage.objects.get' denied on resource (or it may not exist)
The caller's identity lacks the IAM permission named in the message on that resource.
Permission denied on resource (or it may not exist)PERMISSION_DENIED: Permission 'compute.instances.list' denied403 Forbidden The caller does not have permissionPermission 'x' denied on resource (or it may not exist)Required 'compute.instances.get' permission for Meaning
The message names the missing permission. Find a role that includes it, grant it at the narrowest scope to the right principal (user, service account), and wait a few minutes for propagation. 'Or it may not exist' also covers typos in project/resource names and wrong project selection.
Common causes
- Role containing the permission not granted
- Wrong account/service account in use (check
gcloud auth list) - Wrong project or resource name
- Org policy or VPC-SC blocking
- IAM change not yet propagated
⚡ Quick fix
gcloud projects add-iam-policy-binding PROJECT --member=... --role=ROLE- Use the IAM Policy Troubleshooter to see why access is denied
- Confirm the active identity:
gcloud auth list
Detailed fix by platform
gcloud
gcloud projects get-iam-policy PROJECT --flatten="bindings[].members" --filter="bindings.members:USER_OR_SA" --format="table(bindings.role)"
How to diagnose
- Permission — Named in message?
- Identity — Which principal calls?
- Scope — Project/resource correct?
🔧 Still not fixed?
Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:
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- BigQuery: Access Denied: Project: User does not have bigquery.jobs.create permission BigQuery: Access Denied: Project my-project: User does not have bigquery.jobs.create permission in project my-project
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Other ways to find it
Where this error sits
Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):
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Last updated 4 Nov 2026