Title: Problem with API key Last modified: September 1, 2016 --- # Problem with API key * Resolved [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/) * Hi, * I’ve been struggling to get this plugin working. * I have created a fresh wordpress installation. Installed the Google Places Reviews plugin, activated it, entered my Google API “Server” key, allowed the ip address of my server in Google’s API manager and then tried to enter a “Location Lookup” and when the page renders I always get the error “INVALID REQUEST: Please check that this widget has a Google Place ID set.” * The page is: [http://thearchers.id.au/wp2/sample-page/](http://thearchers.id.au/wp2/sample-page/) * When I open the Developer Console in Chrome I can see errors: Google Maps API warning: NoApiKeys Google Maps API warning: SensorNotRequired Google Maps API error: MissingKeyMapError * I then wrote some code myself inside a html file (not in the wordpress environment) and I was able to use my API key to get access to my reviews. I then inspected the Network tab on the Developer Console in chrome and noticed that when my test html file called: [https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js/AuthenticationService.Authenticate](https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js/AuthenticationService.Authenticate) It passed in the API Key but when the plugin called the same endpoint it had no API key in the query string. * I have definitely entered the API Key in Settings->Google Reviews but its like the plugin is ignoring it. * Thanks in advance. * Stephen * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-places-reviews/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-places-reviews/) Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 24 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/page/2/?output_format=md) * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551663) * Hi there, * The error is not about the API key but that the widget isn’t configured with a business correctly. Can you provide the Google Maps url of the business or the G+ Profile page of the business you are using in that widget? * Thread Starter [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551674) * Hi Matt, * Thanks for the quick response. The url is: [https://www.google.com/maps/place/ASB+Computer+Services/@-33.730256,150.9742163,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7eede50d69b6a7c2!8m2!3d-33.730256!4d150.976405](https://www.google.com/maps/place/ASB+Computer+Services/@-33.730256,150.9742163,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7eede50d69b6a7c2!8m2!3d-33.730256!4d150.976405) * Thanks, Stephen * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551719) * Hi Stephen, * I believe the issue is that your Business is not a Verified Business and/or you have not confirmed that you serve customers at that physical address. These are requirements that Google puts in place. * Read through this documentation article on this, and confirm that your business profile is configured correctly: [https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/google-places-reviews-101/](https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/google-places-reviews-101/) * Thanks! * [Ali](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aetebari1985/) * (@aetebari1985) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551727) * Ive followed your guidebut the widget is not populating my business name. * [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ali+Computer+Repair/@30.3102785,-97.9981053,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x865b2d8493289e9d:0xe60adf837988c6f9!2sAli+Computer+Repair!8m2!3d30.309546!4d-97.9951705!3m4!1s0x865b2d8493289e9d:0xe60adf837988c6f9!8m2!3d30.309546!4d-97.9951705](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ali+Computer+Repair/@30.3102785,-97.9981053,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x865b2d8493289e9d:0xe60adf837988c6f9!2sAli+Computer+Repair!8m2!3d30.309546!4d-97.9951705!3m4!1s0x865b2d8493289e9d:0xe60adf837988c6f9!8m2!3d30.309546!4d-97.9951705) * website acr.etebari.org * Thread Starter [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551738) * Hi Matt, * Thanks for your continued support. Unfortunately I still have a problem. When I logged in to the google business profile it was only 80% complete but the business WAS already verified and “serving customers at that address”. I completed the profile to 100% but I still get the same error. * Here is a screenshot of the errors: [http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem.jpg](http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem.jpg) * Thanks, Stephen * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551752) * Hi there, * We just pushed an update out to the plugin, and updated our Docs. Google now requires the Maps API Key to be enabled in order to use the Lookup widget. Please do the following: * 1) [Review this doc](https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/creating-your-google-places-api-key/) and make sure you have both the “Google Places API Web Service” and “Google Maps Javascript API” enabled on your API Key 2) Update to the latest version (version 1.4.2) * Let me know how it goes. Thanks! * Thread Starter [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551758) * Hi Matt, * Thanks for the update. Unfortunately I still have an issue. I reviewed the document and I have both API keys enabled. I had to enter my Javascript API key in order to get the Lookup widget to work (I had the same error as before when using the“ Server” key) but then when I go to the sidebar of my page I get “Invalid Request Please check that this widget has a Google Place ID set.” See the screenshot: [http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem2.jpg](http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem2.jpg) * Do both API keys need to be used? One for the Lookup widget & the other one for the actual reviews? * Stephen * [Ali](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aetebari1985/) * (@aetebari1985) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551759) * Thanks for the update Matt… enabled the “Google Maps Javascript API” and that solved the problem. * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551765) * [@aetebari1985](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aetebari1985/) That’s great to hear. If you’re enjoying Google Places Reviews and appreciate our support, we’d love a kind review from you here: [https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/google-places-reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/google-places-reviews) * [@stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) Try going into your widget, open the “Advanced Options” section and hit the “Clear Cache” button. You probably have the old API results cached and that needs to be refreshed. * Secondly, that error on the frontend isn’t related to your API as much as that you haven’t added a proper Google Place into the widget itself. Make sure after you clear the cache that you search for your business, that the autopopulate comes up and you can choose your business correctly. * Let me know how that goes. Thanks! * Thread Starter [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551768) * Hi Matt, * I tried clicking “Clear Cache” but that didn’t fix the problem. When I clicked the button I got an error in the console. See screenshot: [http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem3.jpg](http://www.asbcomputer.com.au/new3/GoogleReviewsProblem3.jpg) * The “Location Place ID” is set correctly. * Stephen * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551769) * OK, most likely that’s a conflict with another plugin. Please de-activate all other plugins. If it works as expected at that point, re-activate each plugin one by one, testing the widget again in between until you experience the problem again. Then let me know which plugin caused the issue and I’ll look into a workaround. * If it still doesn’t work as expected, it’s most likely a conflict with your theme. Let me know which theme it is and I’ll dig into that. * Thanks! * [nikkinmg](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nikkinmg/) * (@nikkinmg) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551774) * Everything works fine on our development site, however when we transfer to the live site I can no longer look up a location. Have tried this several times on different ones. Added a new development site and used it fine – anyone else have this issue? plugin up to date and API key works fine. * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551775) * Hi [@nikkinmg](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nikkinmg/) * Check the settings of the API key to see if you added a HTTP referral and make sure you add one for your live site. * Also, here’s a couple other items: * 1) Make sure you’re on our latest version, since it resolves this issue with the latest Google API update. 2) Review our docs on creating your API key. It’s been updated in light of the recent Google API changes: [https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/creating-your-google-places-api-key/](https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/creating-your-google-places-api-key/) 3) After you make changes to your API key, make sure you go into your Widget and open the Advanced Options section and hit the “Clear Cache” button. * Let me know how that goes. Thanks! * Thread Starter [stephenerik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/stephenerik/) * (@stephenerik) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551795) * Hi Matt, * Unfortunately I still get the exact same issue. I deactivated the 3 other plugins that I had and then changed the theme back to TwentySixteen and I got the same error. I am using the “OnePress Plus” theme. * Thanks, Stephen * Plugin Author [Matt Cromwell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/webdevmattcrom/) * (@webdevmattcrom) * [9 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/#post-7551797) * Hi Stephen, * It seems we’ve touched all the major items, I’m not sure how to help much further except to ask that you review the main requirements for serving reviews: * 1) Make sure you’re on the latest version of our plugin 2) Make sure you have enabled BOTH the Google Maps Javascript API and the Google Places Reviews Web Service API on your API key per our documentation 3) Make sure your API key is in our settings correctly 4) Make sure you don’t have ANY other plugins that reference the Google APIs active (in your latest screenshot I noticed an additional“ Google Reviews” widget active besides ours) 5) Enter your business into the widget( like I see you did in the latest screenshot) 6) Clear the cache in our widget and any other plugin caching you might have active. * All our users who have struggled with this have struggled primarily with configuring the API key correctly, or that their business is not configured correctly. Once that is done everything works exactly as expected. * Let me know what you find. Thanks! Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 24 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Problem with API key’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/google-places-reviews/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=2718958) * [Reviews Block for Google](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-places-reviews/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/google-places-reviews/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-places-reviews/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-places-reviews/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-places-reviews/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/google-places-reviews/reviews/) ## Tags * [api key](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/api-key/) * [invalid](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/invalid/) * [request](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/request/) * 24 replies * 5 participants * Last reply from: [browningreagle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/browningreagle/) * Last activity: [9 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-api-key-2/page/2/#post-8156604) * Status: resolved