Creating a Google Maps API account is essential to access Google Maps services in your applications. Here’s how you can set it up in the Google Cloud Console:
1. Set Up a Google Cloud Project
- Go to the Google Cloud Console.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Click on the Select a Project dropdown at the top, then choose New Project.
- Give your project a name, set an organization if applicable, and click Create.
2. Enable Google Maps Platform APIs
- In the left navigation menu, go to API & Services > Library.
- Search for Maps JavaScript API (or any other Maps-related API, like Geocoding, Places, etc.).
- Click on the desired API, then click Enable.
- Repeat this process for any additional Google Maps APIs you want to use.
3. Set Up Billing for Your Project
- Go to Billing in the left sidebar.
- Select or create a new billing account if you haven’t already.
- Link your billing account to your project. Google Maps API offers a monthly free tier, but you’ll need a billing account in case you exceed the free usage limit.
4. Generate API Keys
- In the Google Cloud Console, go to API & Services > Credentials.
- Click + Create Credentials and select API Key.
- Copy the generated API key.
- (Optional but recommended) Click on Restrict Key to set up application restrictions (e.g., restrict by HTTP referrer or IP address) and API restrictions to protect your key from unauthorized use.
5. Integrate API Key in Your Application
- Use the API key in your application code to make requests to Google Maps services.
6. Monitor Usage (Optional)
- Use the Metrics section in API & Services to monitor the usage of your APIs and ensure you stay within the free tier.
Your Google Maps API account is now ready to use, and your project should have access to the enabled APIs!