April 5, 2019

As of July 16, 2018, Google updated their Geocoding API model. In order for Google Maps not to show a “For Development Purposes” message on your site, you must register for an API key.

Click here to learn more about their changes.

Let’s Get Started

  • Go to Google Cloud Platform.
  • Sign in to the Google account that will be responsible for managing the Google Maps API key.
  • You will see a list of Maps services. Ultimately we will be choosing three services to enable:
    • Maps JavaScript API
    • Geocoding API
    • Places API for web
  • Go ahead and select the Maps JavaScript API option. Once we establish the parameters for this, the remaining two options will follow suit.
  • If this is your very first Google Maps project, simply click on Create. If not, then click on Select a project.
  • Project
    • Project Name: Give your project a name.
    • Organization: Leave it alone.
    • Location: Select what parent folder this project will be under.
    • Click Create.
  • Make sure your newly-created project is chosen.
  • Click Enable.
  • Make sure you are within your account.
  • Click on the Credentials tab.
  • Click on Create credentials.
  • Click on API key.
  • A pop up will appear with the title, API key created. Copy the string of text within the Your API key field.
  • Click on Restrict Key to set some restrictions on what your key is
  • Key restrictions
    • Application restrictions
      • Select the HTTP referrers(web sites) options.
      • Another option labeled Accept requests from these HTTP referrers(web sites) will appear.
      • Type into the field the general http or https URL of your website.
      • Example:
        • http://www.example.com/*
        • https://www.example.com/*
    • API restrictions
      • Select the Maps JavaScript API dropdown option.
      • ( Once you’ve enabled the remaining two APIs, simply add them to this restrictions list )
  • Click Save

Repeat for the Geocoding and Places API

Now that everything is set up for the Maps JavaScript API, we can go ahead and enable the Geocoding API and the Places API for Web.

  • Click APIs in the left-hand sidebar
  • Locate and click on the API
  • Click on the blue ENABLE button

You will be taken to the Metrics screen for that API. Simply click on APIs in the left-hand sidebar and repeat this process for the next API.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1559235420728{padding-bottom: 2em !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Key Credentials

Now that you’ve enabled the necessary APIs, it is time to retrieve the key item that brought us here in the first place.

  • Once more, click APIs in the left-hand sidebar
  • Click on any of the enabled APIs under the Enabled APIs section
  • Click on the Credentials tab at the top next to Quotas and Metrics

On this screen you will see a list of the API key(s) you have created. Copy the string of text under the Key column and paste the API key into the settings field of whichever system you are utilizing.

What do you do now?

Unsure of where to go from here? Second guessing yourself on the steps you made along the way? Contact Us and we’ll squash those worries away.

by Jonathan Watson

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