Google error: The provided API key is invalid.

Hi @barbarameli,

Please keep in mind that the Place ID is not the Google Places API key, these two different things which are mandatory to working with the plugin.

The Place ID is id of your Google location and you can use it in the shortcode or widget when you connect your Google place.

The Google Places API key is a key from Google API which you need to create and save in the plugin’s settings. You can do it by the following instruction:

1. Go to your Google Console https://console.developers.google.com/apis/dashboard?pli=1?

2. Click ‘Create Project’ or ‘Select Project’ button

3. Create new project or select existing

4. On the project page click ‘ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES’

5. Type ‘Places API’ in the search area

6. Select the first result ‘Places API’ and click ‘ENABLE’ button

7. On the ‘Places API’ page select ‘Credential’ tab and ‘Create credential’ / ‘API key’ option

8. Copy created API key, paste to this setting and save

Also, we have a video tutorial how to create the API key: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf_bkg7WeC0

Then, you need to enable a billing for your API key. Recently, Google has disabled the use of Places API for free and introduced the mandatory enabling a Billing.?Unfortunately, since the plugin uses this Places API to show reviews, you need to enable Billing on your Google account. It’s a limitation of Google, not specifically the plugin.

You can enable a Billing here (after you created the API key)?https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/billing/enable and learn more about it here?https://developers.google.com/maps/gmp-get-started.

Don’t worry, Google is currently giving $200 free credit a month and it should be enough to use the plugin for connecting?several Google places without additional fees except this free $200 credits.

If you have any questions please?let us know.

Thanks!

Hi,

I also noticed that we need to Consent OAuth in Creating Google API. I have been stuck on the screen not sure how to proceed.

Please advice.

Many thanks,
Ching

Hi @chingteoh,

No, you do not need to enable OAuth for the Google Places API key, it’s not needed.

Please see my previous answer above, there’s a detailed instruction and link to youtube video how you can create the API key, there’s no OAuth, the main goal is enable the Google Places API and creating the API (server) key (the point 3,4 and 5).

Thanks!

Oh yes, I manage to get through it already.

Thank you so much for all your help.