# How to request a Google Maps API Key
This key is required in order to be able to publish your Android app.
1. Navigate to and login with the Google Play Developer account on which you're planning to publish your app. Read here [how to create a Google Developer account.](/share-your-app/google-play/create-a-google-developer-account.md)
2. After logging in, navigate to and **create a new project**. (If you're an experienced Cloud Console user you can also opt to use an existing project.)
3. After the project has been created, open the API Library page via **APIs & Services > Library**
4. Search for the **Maps SDK for Android API** and use the **Enable** button to enable it.
5. When you've enabled the API, navigate to the **APIs & Services > Credentials** page to create your API key.
6. On the credentials page, use the **Create Credentials** button at the top of the screen to create a new API key.
7. Use the **Edit API Key** link to restrict the key for use in your Android app only.
### To enter the API key at AppMachine
1. Open **AppMachine**
2. Open your app
3. Click on the **Publish** button in the top right corner
4. Click on **Edit Store Info** in the Google Play Store tile
5. Enter the key in the **Google Maps API Key** field
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**HIGHLY RECOMMENDED : Optional steps to secure your API key to be only used in this app**\
All the next steps are optional if you want to restrict the API key for being reused by other developers in other apps:
1. Publish your app to Google Play Store
2. Upload your app at Google Play\
3. Copy **SHA1**
4. Go back to **Google Cloud**
5. Select the **Android apps** option from the Application restriction options, and use the **Add an item** button to add your app's technical specifications to this API key.\
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\&#xNAN;***\* Note:** You can obtain your app's package name and SHA1 hash via .*
6. Enter your app's **package name** and **SHA1 hash**, and use the **Done** button to complete the process.\
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\&#xNAN;***\* Note:** The package name and SHA1 hash below are examples. You can obtain your app's package name and SHA1 hash via .*\
7. Use the **Save** button at the bottom of the page to save the changes you've made to your API key.
8. On the credentials overview page, use the copy button to copy the newly created and **restricted API key**.
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**Congratulations! You've just successfully created a Google Maps API key for your app.**
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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.appmachine.com/share-your-app/google-play/how-to-request-a-google-maps-api-key.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
