Hi there,
That definitely is an issue with the API Key. A lot of users struggle with creating that key since Google revamped the interface a couple months back. We updated our documentation to try to make it as straight-forward as possible, but there are some quirks to it. Please review this and let me know how it goes:
https://wordimpress.com/documentation/google-places-reviews/creating-your-google-places-api-key/
Hi there,
Thanks for the response. The link you provided are the instructions I followed creating the API key.
I rewrote the directions in my own words.
1.) Log in to the google account associated with the Google Places page
2.) Visit the Google APIs Console: https://console.developers.google.com/project
3.) Create a project (Name it whatever, “WordPress API” would be handy for future reference)
4.) Click on the project, and you will see a left hand menu. Click on “APIs & auth” then “APIs” under that.
5.) You’ll see a ton of options/links but the one we need isn’t there, so in the search field type “places”
6.) In the search results you should see: Google Places API Web Services. Click on that.
7.) Click “Enable API” (give it a sec to load)
8.) Then in the left hand menu again, select “Credentials”
9.) Once in Credentials, click “Add Credentials” and select “API Key”
10.) Select “Browser Key”
11.) Name it whatever you’d like, and put this in the second option: *.yoururl.com/*
12.) Click “Create” and it should generate an API key for you
Then in Settings > Google Reviews, I pasted the API Key in.
OK, a couple things:
1) On item #11 did you use your own site url? (sorry if it seems like a silly question, but it happens sometimes)
2) The documentation mentions that you might need to additionally create a “Server Key”, not only a “Browser Key”. Did you do that?
Let me know.
No worries I know you’re trying to help me cover my bases. I did use my own site URL (I just didn’t want to put it here since it’s a client’s site) and no I did not create a Server Key, I will try that and see if that resolves it.
Alrighty, I used the Server key instead of the Browser Key, and now the plugin is working. Thank you for your help and quick responses!
I will note that in the documentation it’s not clear that I would need to use the server key in place of the browser key, it just seems to state that I would need to only generate it.
Anywho, I’m happy! Thanks again!
Glad to hear! Sorry for all that hassle, wish we could have full control of that but Google has a mind of its own 😉
If you’re enjoying Google Places Reviews and have appreciated our support we’d love a kind review from you:
https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/google-places-reviews
