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'"For development purposes only" error in Google Maps'

Fix the watermark covering your Google Map that says 'For development purposes only'.

Updated over 3 weeks ago

If your map has a gray watermark saying "For development purposes only" and the map is darkened, it means there's an issue with your Google Maps API key setup.

Most common cause: billing not enabled

Google requires an active billing account linked to your Google Cloud project, even if you stay within the free tier (10,000 free map loads per month).

  1. Make sure a billing account is linked to your project

  2. Add a payment method if prompted

The watermark should disappear within a few minutes of enabling billing. You won't be charged unless you exceed the free tier.

Other causes

APIs not enabled

Make sure all four required APIs are turned on in your Google Cloud Console:

  1. Maps JavaScript API

  2. Geocoding API

  3. Geolocation API

  4. Places API

API key restrictions too strict

If your key is restricted to specific domains, make sure your website domain is listed. Go to Credentials, click your key, and check the HTTP referrer list.

Don't forget to add both:

  • *yourdomain.com/*

  • *storerocket.io/*

Using the wrong API key

Double check that the key in your Map Provider settings matches the key in Google Cloud Console.

Still seeing the watermark?

Clear your browser cache or try incognito. Sometimes old cached map tiles show the watermark even after fixing the issue. For the full setup guide, see How to add a Google Maps API key.

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