Guide to Setting Up Google API Key for Maps Integration for the Google Maps Elements

Google has recently launched the Google Maps Platform to manage the maps used on your websites.

With this launch, the process to get Google Maps API key has changed.

From June 11, 2018, it is mandatory to enable the billing account with a credit card/bank account details and have a valid API key for all projects.

Here is an article that shows how to enable billing account and get a new API key. Once you generate an API key, make sure to update it in plugin’s Google Map settings.

Do I need to pay anything to use a new API key?
Not initially! After creating a billing account in the Google Maps Platform, you will gain access to your $200 of free monthly usage. After that, the charges will be applied as per the standard rates decided by the Google Maps Platform.

Following are the steps that will help you get an API key to use Google Maps

Step 1 – Follow this link in order to generate your API key. Click the GET STARTED button.
Select Maps from the list and click to CONTINUE.

Step 2 – Create a new project or select one from the existing ones. Click Next.

Step 3 – To CREATE BILLING ACCOUNT, select the country. Click Confirm.

Step 4 – Add Customer info.

Step 5 – Choose the Payment method and add payment details. Click Submit and enable billing.

Step 6 – Select the website from the Account Overview page.

Step 7 – Choose Maps Javascript API

Step 8 – Enable maps for your website.

Step 9 – Choose APIs credentials.

Step 10 – Select API Key option.

Step 11 –  Copy the generated API key.

Step 12 – Select HTTP referrers for your site.

Step 13 – You can see map usage on your account overview page.

How to add Google Map API key in the Ultimate Addons Google Maps Element?

1. From the WordPress dashboard, navigate to Ultimate > Google Maps and paste the API key here.

Note: These steps are also applied to the users who have the google map issue on their site, and getting this error  in console: “Google Maps API error: MissingKeyMapError“