This document contains answers to frequently asked questions about the
Places API. If you are unable to find the answer to your question
here, you may find some of the following pages helpful.

- [Google Maps Developer FAQ](https://developers.google.com/maps/faq.md.txt)
- [Google Maps Platform Terms of Service](https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms)
- [Places API Developer Policies](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/policies.md.txt)

The Places API also has a vibrant developer community. If you have
questions about your code, we recommend that you post your question to the
community. More information about asking questions can be found in the
[Support page](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/support.md.txt).

## Search for places

### Why are some places not returned when I filter by type?

It's possible that the place you are looking for has not yet been categorized.
All places are categorized as the generic type "`establishment`" until Google
has enough data about a place to categorize it as one of the [supported place
types](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/supported_types).

As a workaround you can pass the place `type` to the `keyword` parameter. The
`keyword` parameter is matched to: name, type, address, and customer reviews.

If you would like to add the category `type` to a place listing yourself,
[submit a place edit](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/faq.md.txt#how_do_i_add_or_edit_places). Once the edit has been
approved and published it will appear using the correct `type` filtering.

### Why are some nearby places not returned?

By default, the Places API sorts results by `prominence` within the
supplied `radius`. A [Nearby Search](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/search#PlaceSearchRequests) request can return up to 60
results, split across three pages. If a place ranks 22nd in `prominence`, it
will appear on the second page of results which you can access through
[paging](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/search#PlaceSearchPaging).
If a placeranks greater than 60th in `prominence` it won't be included in the
search result, even if it is closer to the center of your search.

You can sort your results by `distance` instead of `prominence` by setting the
`rankby` parameter in your query to `distance` and omitting the `radius`
parameter. Relevance will be ignored and places will be returned in order of
distance from `location`.

If you are filtering your request by type, some results may be filtered out of
the response. For more information, see the FAQ entry: [Why are some places not
returned when I filter by
type?](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/faq#why_are_some_places_not_returned_when_i_filter_by_type).

### Why do I receive at most two results when filtering by some `types`?

The Places API is designed to return a list of nearby
`establishments` (anything from the
[first table](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/supported_types)
in the supported place types) and up to two location (anything from the
[second table](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/supported_types#table2)
of supported place types) results to to help identify the area you are
performing a [Nearby Search](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/search#PlaceSearchRequests) request for.

Filtering your [Nearby Search](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/search#PlaceSearchRequests) request by a location `type`, like
`locality` or `political`, will filter out the `establishment` results.

## Place data

### How can I add or edit places?

If you are the owner of a business, you can add, verify and manage your business
listings on Google Maps using [Business Profile](http://www.google.com/business/).

If you don't own the place, you can still [suggest
changes](https://support.google.com/maps/answer/7084895).

## Troubleshooting

### Why do I keep receiving "status": "REQUEST_DENIED"?

The `"status": "REQUEST_DENIED"` is returned by the Places API
when:

- You have not activated the Places API in the [Google Cloud console](https://console.cloud.google.com).
- The `key` parameter is missing from your request.
- The `key` parameter does not match the your API key in the [Google Cloud console](https://console.cloud.google.com).
- Your API key has not been correctly set up in the [Google Cloud console](https://console.cloud.google.com):
  - If you are using a browser-restricted API key, check that your allowed referer(s) are correct.
  - If you are using a server-restricted API key, check that your allowed IP(s) are correct.
  - API keys with Android or iOS restrictions are not supported. Use a generic (unrestricted) API key, or a key with browser or server restrictions.
- The request was not sent as an `HTTPS` request, `HTTPS` is required for all Places API requests.
- The incorrect `HTTP method` was used to send the request.