This page goes through the basic, required steps to start using any of the
[APIs and SDKs on Google Maps Platform](https://developers.google.com/maps/apis-by-platform.md.txt).

## Quickstart

If you have *never* used the Google Cloud console to create a billing account or
a project, click the **Get Started** button that links to an interactive setup
experience in the Cloud console for new users:
[Get Started](https://console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis/start?utm_source=Docs_GS_Button&ref=https://developers.google.com/maps/&utm_content=Docs_Central)

Alternatively, you can complete the following required setup steps:

### Step 1: Set up your project

#### Console

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uINleRduCWM)

1. In the Google Cloud console, on the project selector page, click
   **Create Project** to begin creating a new Cloud
   project.

   [Go to the project selector page](https://console.cloud.google.com/projectselector2/home/dashboard?utm_source=Docs_NewProject&utm_content=Docs_Central)
2. Make sure that billing is enabled for your Cloud project.
   [Confirm that billing is enabled for your project](https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/billing?utm_source=Docs_Billing&utm_content=Docs_Central).

   Google Cloud offers a $0.00 charge trial. The trial expires at the end of 90
   days or after the account has accrued $300 worth of charges, whichever comes first. Cancel
   anytime. For more information, see
   [Billing account credits](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-credits) and [Billing](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/billing).

#### Cloud SDK

```bash
gcloud projects create "PROJECT"
```

Read more about the [Google Cloud SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk), [Cloud SDK installation](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install), and the following commands:

- [`gcloud projects create`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/projects/create)

### Step 2: Enable APIs or SDKs

To use Google Maps Platform, you must enable the APIs or SDKs you plan to use with your project.

Note that some integrations require you to enable multiple APIs/SDKs. If you are not sure which
APIs or SDKs to enable, try using
the [Capabilities Explorer](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/capabilities-explorer.md.txt), or consult the
documentation for the API/SDK you want to use.

To enable one or more APIs or SDKs:

#### Console

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1UorU1PALk)

1. See the Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs that you can enable by going to the Maps API
   Library page in the Cloud console:

   Go to the [Maps API Library
   page](https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/google/maps-apis/api-list?utm_source=Docs_EnableAPIs&utm_content=Docs_Central)
2. Click the API or SDK you want to enable.
   - If the button says **ENABLE**, click the button to enable the API or SDK.
   - If the button says **MANAGE**, the API or SDK is already enabled and you don't need to do anything further.
   - Clicking either button will display the dashboard for the API or SDK. (Click the **DISABLE** button to remove the API or SDK from this project.)

#### Cloud SDK

The following command enables all of the Maps, Routes, and Places APIs:

```bash
gcloud services enable \
    --project "PROJECT" \
    "addressvalidation.googleapis.com" \
    "areainsights.googleapis.com" \
    "tile.googleapis.com" \
    "aerialview.googleapis.com" \
    "elevation-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "routes.googleapis.com" \
    "geocoding-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "geolocation.googleapis.com" \
    "maps-android-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "maps-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "maps-embed-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "maps-ios-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "mapsplatformdatasets.googleapis.com" \
    "places-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "roads.googleapis.com" \
    "routeoptimization.googleapis.com" \
    "static-maps-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "street-view-image-backend.googleapis.com" \
    "timezone-backend.googleapis.com"
```

Read more about the [Google Cloud SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk), [Cloud SDK installation](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install), and the following commands:

- [`gcloud services enable`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/services/enable)
- [`gcloud services disable`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/services/disable)

Use this command to enable the Environment APIs:

```bash
gcloud services enable \
    --project "PROJECT" \
    "airquality.googleapis.com" \
    "solar.googleapis.com" \
    "pollen.googleapis.com" \
    "weather.googleapis.com"
```

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Enabling Places API also enables the Places Library, Maps JavaScript API, Places SDK for Android and Places SDK for iOS.

### Step 3: Get an API key

This step only goes through the API key creation process. If you use your API key in
production, we strongly recommend that you restrict your API key. You can find more
information in the product-specific **Using API Keys** page.

The API key is a unique identifier that authenticates requests associated with your project for
usage and billing purposes. You must have at least one API key associated with your project.
To create a new key or add an API or SDK to an existing key, follow these instructions.

#### Console

1. Go to the **Google Maps Platform \> Keys \& Credentials**
   page.

   [Go to the Keys \&
   Credentials page](https://console.cloud.google.com/projectselector/google/maps-apis/credentials?utm_source=Docs_CreateAPIKey&utm_content=Docs_Central)
2. If prompted, select your project.
3. Do one of the following:

   - **Create a new key**:

     1. Click **Create credentials \> API key**.
     2. In the **Create API key** panel, open the **Select API restrictions** list.
     3. Clear any APIs that this key doesn't need, and make sure the APIs that you plan to use stay selected.
     4. Click **Create**. The panel displays your new API key.
   - **Use an existing key**:

     1. Click the name of the key.
     2. In the **Select API restrictions** list, select the APIs that you plan to use.
     3. Click **Save**.

   Selecting an API here doesn't enable it. Make sure
   each API
   that you select is enabled in the
   [API Library](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library).
4. To see the key string later, go to the **Keys \& Credentials** page and click **Show key** for the key.

If the console looks different from these steps, see
[Create an API key](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keys#create) and
[Add API restrictions](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/api-keys#adding-api-restrictions) in the Google Cloud documentation.

#### Cloud SDK

Replace <var translate="no">PROJECT_ID</var> with your project ID in the following
commands.

- **Create a new key** : Run the following command, and
  replace <var translate="no">DISPLAY_NAME</var> with a name for the key.
  Replace <var translate="no">SERVICE_NAME</var> with the service
  name of an API that you plan to use, such as
  `places.googleapis.com`. To allow more APIs, repeat the
  `--api-target` flag.

  ```bash
  gcloud services api-keys create \
      --project="PROJECT_ID" \
      --display-name="DISPLAY_NAME" \
      --api-target=service=SERVICE_NAME
  ```

  Read more about the [Google Cloud SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk), [Cloud SDK installation](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install), and the following commands:
  - [`gcloud services api-keys create`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/services/api-keys/create)
- **Use an existing key** : Run the following command, and
  replace <var translate="no">KEY_ID</var> with the ID of the key.
  Replace <var translate="no">SERVICE_NAME</var> with the service
  name of the API to add. The `--append` flag keeps
  the APIs that the key already allows. Without it, the command replaces
  them.

  ```bash
  gcloud services api-keys update KEY_ID \
      --project="PROJECT_ID" \
      --append \
      --api-target=service=SERVICE_NAME
  ```

  Read more about the [Google Cloud SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk), [Cloud SDK installation](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install), and the following commands:
  - [`gcloud services api-keys update`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/services/api-keys/update)
  - [`gcloud services api-keys list`](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/services/api-keys/list)

  The key ID isn't the key string or display name. To find it, run
  `gcloud services api-keys list --project="PROJECT_ID"`.
  The ID is the last part of
  the `name` field:
  `projects/PROJECT_NUMBER/locations/global/keys/KEY_ID`.

To see the key string, run
`gcloud services api-keys get-key-string KEY_ID
--project="PROJECT_ID"`.

## Billing Account Credits

- If you've never been a paying customer of Google Cloud, Google Maps Platform, or Firebase, and you've never signed up for the Google Cloud Free Trial before, you're eligible for the [Free Trial
  and $300 Welcome credit](https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features), which you can spend on Google Maps Platform services.
- Each Google Maps Platform SKU provides a specific amount of free monthly usage, shown in the [pricing list](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/pricing.md.txt) and described in [Google Maps Platform billing](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/billing).
- Google also provides credits for [public programs](https://developers.google.com/maps/billing-and-pricing/public-programs.md.txt) such as nonprofits, startups, crisis response, news media, education, and transit agencies.

## Next steps


Once you are set up, you can begin using the Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs. To learn more,
see the Overview, Developer, and Get Started guides for the API or SDK you are
interested in. The APIs and SDKs are listed at [Google Maps Platform Documentation (by product)](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation) and [Google Maps Platform APIs (by platform)](https://developers.google.com/maps/apis-by-platform.md.txt).