diff --git a/google/colab/auth.py b/google/colab/auth.py
index 4e307ded..b8b17d27 100644
--- a/google/colab/auth.py
+++ b/google/colab/auth.py
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@
 from google.colab import files as _files
 from google.colab import output as _output
 
-__all__ = ['authenticate_service_account', 'authenticate_user']
+__all__ = [
+    'authenticate_service_account',
+    'authenticate_user',
+    'authenticate_desktop_application',
+]
 
 _LOGGER = _logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -353,3 +357,24 @@ def authenticate_service_account(clear_output=True):
     print('Successfully saved credentials for', creds.service_account_email)
     return
   raise _errors.AuthorizationError('Failed to fetch user credentials')
+
+
+def authenticate_desktop_application(client_secrets_path, scopes):
+  """Authenticates the user for a desktop application.
+
+  This method uses the OAuth 2.0 flow for installed applications to obtain user
+  credentials. It will use the console strategy to handle the authorization
+  flow.
+
+  Args:
+    client_secrets_path: The path to the client secrets JSON file.
+    scopes: A list of scopes to request during the authorization flow.
+
+  Returns:
+    The user's credentials.
+  """
+  from google_auth_oauthlib.flow import InstalledAppFlow  # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+
+  flow = InstalledAppFlow.from_client_secrets_file(client_secrets_path, scopes)
+  creds = flow.run_console()
+  return creds
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f2236a73..b81a10c8 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
     'portpicker==1.5.2',
     'requests==2.32.4',
     'tornado==6.4.2',
+    'google-auth-oauthlib==1.2.2',
+    'google-api-python-client==2.179.0',
 )
 
 setup(
diff --git a/tests/client_secrets.json b/tests/client_secrets.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9b6f9c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/client_secrets.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "installed": {
+    "client_id": "dummy_client_id",
+    "project_id": "dummy_project_id",
+    "auth_uri": "https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/auth",
+    "token_uri": "https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token",
+    "auth_provider_x509_cert_url": "https://www.googleapis.com/oauth2/v1/certs",
+    "client_secret": "dummy_client_secret",
+    "redirect_uris": [
+      "http://localhost"
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/temp_auth_test.py b/tests/temp_auth_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b483cebb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/temp_auth_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import unittest
+from unittest import mock
+
+from google.colab import auth
+
+
+class AuthTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+  @mock.patch('google_auth_oauthlib.flow.InstalledAppFlow')
+  def test_authenticate_desktop_application(self, mock_flow):
+    """Test that authenticate_desktop_application calls run_console."""
+    mock_flow.from_client_secrets_file.return_value = mock_flow
+    auth.authenticate_desktop_application(
+        'tests/client_secrets.json', ['scope1', 'scope2']
+    )
+    mock_flow.from_client_secrets_file.assert_called_once_with(
+        'tests/client_secrets.json', ['scope1', 'scope2']
+    )
+    mock_flow.run_console.assert_called_once()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  unittest.main()