Google Places API: iOS key: Request Denied [duplicate] - ios

I'm trying to make an Autocomplete field which should fetch cities as the user types, by using the Google Places API as described in this tutorial:
https://developers.google.com/places/training/autocomplete-android
You've probably found this question around many times before as I did, but none of the answers helped me. Here are the things you should know:
The URL is
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/autocomplete/json?sensor=false&key=myKey&components=country:ro&input=whatTheUserTypes
Please don't reply by saying you replaced the API key with your own and it worked - the API key which goes there must be Android specific and won't work from a browser.
So did I make the Android API key using the SHA1 fingerprint obtained from the keystore I signed the app with.
I turned on Maps and Places APIs from the console.
The quota isn't exceeded.
All those and it still gives me REQUEST_DENIED
What I didn't mention is that I have O2Auth activated - does that change anything? Shouldn't it be as simple as putting the API key in the app?
Thanks!

Although this has been answered, I think the community could do better.
I was tearing my hair out about this, it just didn't make sense to me.. I was making an iOS/Android App, so I made an iOS/Android Key...
Wrong.
With Google's Places API, your bundle identifier isn't even considered.
What you really want to do is this:
(I'm using the new User Interface)
1. Log into https://cloud.google.com/console#/project
Select your Project Name, then go into API's & Auth > APIs
Make sure you have Places API Turned on. This is the only thing that needs to be turned on for Places-API to work.
2. Go into Credentials
Click CREATE NEW KEY under Public API Access
3. Select BROWSER KEY
4. Click Create, Nothing Else
Leave the HTTP Refer box empty.
5. Use the Key Generated here
This key will allow ANY user from any device access to the API via your Developer login.
You can try it out here: (Be sure to replace YOUR_KEY_HERE with your generated Key)
https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/autocomplete/json?input=Food%20Sh&sensor=false&radius=500&location=0,0&key=YOUR_KEY_HERE
6. Enjoy
Now you can use that URL above in your Android/iOS device.

The Google Places API does not currently support Android or iOS keys generated from the Google APIs Console. Only Server and Browser keys are currently supported.
If you would like to request this support, please file a Places API - Feature Request.

https://developers.google.com/places/training/autocomplete-android
Storing your API key
Although the above code demonstrates how to communicate directly
between an Android app and the Places Autocomplete service, you should
not store your Places API key with your app.
You should therefore build a web application that stores your API key
and proxies the Places API services. In order to secure communication
between your Android app and the proxy web service, you should require
user authentication to your proxy web service. Your Android app can
securely store user credentials and pass them to your web service, or
the user can log into your web app via an Android WebView.
For the latter approach, your web app should create and return a user
authentication token to your Android app, and your Android app should
subsequently pass this token to your proxy web service.

Go to google cloud platform console>Credentials click on edit by selected your YOUR_API_KEY>Application restrictions > select none option>save thats it.
If you select the android apps option from Application restrictions then google deny the place API with exception REQUEST_DENIED.

In Google dev console, you should be able to find both "Places API" and "Places API for Android"
Make sure to use "Places API for Android"
For some reason, "Places API for Android" is hidden in the API list, but can be accessed using search.

I had the same issue , I fix it by leaving
Accept requests from these HTTP referrers (web sites) (Optional)
in browser key Empty

I am still new, so I cannot comment, but to shed some light on Moe's answer, I resolved some similar Google Maps API issues regarding URL queries (for directions, using Volley) with the following steps:
Get Android API Key (including Google Maps Directions API in my case).
Get "Server" API Key (which seems to be created by using a key restriction of "HTTP referrers" these days - really, it's just used to issue URL queries through HTTP).
Store the Android API key as a meta-data tag in the application tag in AndroidManifest.xml with android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY" and android:value as your key. This is used for direct interaction with the Maps API (minus URL queries).
Use the server API key whenever issuing URL queries.
I am not sure if this also applies to URL queries for the Places API, if you only need the server API key, or if there is a better solution, but this worked for me.
I imagine that it works with just the first key - the one not restricted to Android.

Inside Google Cloud Console type Places and Activate it. Create an API Key and insert it onto your Android Studio App as you would do normally. That`s it.

I had the same problem. For me the key was to enable billing on project. I am still using "Applications for Android" restrictions. After setting up the payment method, Places Api started working.
Prior to using the Places SDK for Android, do the following:
Follow the Get an API Key guide to get, add, and restrict an API key.
Enable billing on each of your projects.
Enable the Places API for each of your projects.
See it there.
Be sure also to check out the billing plans for the Google Places API as it is not free!

Related

Connecting a desktop app to Google Photos without disclosing the app's secret key

I'm writing an open-source stand-alone desktop app in Java that handles photos, and I'm adding a feature to let users upload pictures to their Google Photos account, but I'm faced with an authentication/security question.
I've registered my project to use the Google Photo API and have downloaded my credentials JSON file. I've been able to use it successfully with the samples from the java-photoslibrary Github project, so all is good.
However, the credentials file contains a "client_secret" key which, if I'm not mistaken, should not be disclosed (am I correct here ?). But those credentials have to somehow be distributed with the app and, as it is open-source, will be basically public. So my question is: How can I authenticate my app's user to his/her Google Photo account without disclosing my app's secret key ?
Note: I've integrated Dropbox upload, and their procedure for desktop apps clearly explains how to authenticate without embedding the secret key in the Desktop app using OAuth's token flow. Is there an equivalent for Google Photos ?
Thanks.
Edit: made some progress (see my own answer below), but after I finally got time to implement it, I realized that after user has authorized the app and a valid code has been returned (Yay!), step 5 (Exchanging the code for a token) again requires the client_secret ! :-(
I tried the call without it but I'm receiving a "client_secret is missing" error, so that's not a typo.
After more search (with the [google-oauth] keyword instead of [oauth-2.0], which says it all), it seems "secret" does not mean it is actually "secret" in Google world. In other terms, it's OK to embed it in your apps because, well, it's secret but it cannot be used in a malicious way (hopefully)...
See answers to these related questions:
Safely distribute OAuth 2.0 client_secret in desktop applications in Python
Why does Google provide a client secret for a Native application?
Integrate oauth2 with native (iOS/Android) mobile application
One Google page even mentions that "In this context, the client secret is obviously not treated as a secret."
Come on Google, explain me how security works :-)
OK I think I found the answer.
Similar to Dropbox, Google can use OAuth 2 with PKCE, they just use the full spelling "Proof Key for Code Exchange", that's probably why I didn't find it at first :-). The details are here:
https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/oauth2/native-app#obtainingaccesstokens
I didn't find the equivalent process in the Google APIs, but those API are megabytes of classes so I may have missed it. Basically, all it takes is just sending a few requests and listening to the response, so I think I'll implement it from scratch (and will probably also get rid of Dropbox's client libs as the process is so similar).
Hope it helps...
Edit: that doesn't address the point because after the clean PKCE procedure, the app still has to send its private key to exchange the authorization code for a token. See edit in my question

Does google maps need api key for IOS application (and why)

I saw in this link
http://codewithchris.com/iphone-app-connect-to-mysql-database/#connectiphonetomysql
Mr. Chris uses a google map without a key.[I've tried it and it's working]
but, when i enter google developer
Here: https://developers.google.com/maps/ios/
they say [get a key].
(why should i do it? i got confused)
if it's required to run it in my app, how can Chris did it?
pre-Thanks ^^.
Yes Google map needs API key, without API key your request will be failed.
WHY: Every app is unique with its bundle ID, API key provided by google is used to identify the app uniquely.
There are so many paid services are offered by google to used in our app, App id used to manage your account based on request to API made/ package selected by you.
It also helps you to analyse use of google API through your app, which may may help you plan out your furthuer updates/usage to your App.

Keep receiving REQUEST_DENIED for Google Places for iOS

I keep receiving REQUEST_DENIED when trying to use Google Places Autocomplete for iOS.
The example link is https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/autocomplete/json?input=londo&location=45.647157,25.628332&key=AIzaSyCHRmOeUQCcI_1JbcWiJ (I have ommited some of the last characters of the key)
Both Google Places API and Google Maps API are enabled from Google Developer Console
I have a valid key in Credentials section, for which I also added my bundle identifier in the list of bundle identifiers
The key is an iOS applications key, in Public API access section. It's valid and is created by me (owner)
Can anyone point me out to the good direction ?
Thanks in advance.
I found the problem: you need to enable the Google Places Web Services as well and use the server key (Funny enough, this thing is not specified in any of their docs)
Directions API require not iOS key, but server key. When you'll create server key, leave text view blank, do not enter your bundle name.
Use Browser key or server key for Google Places Autocomplete API. Keep the referrer field as empty. Make sure you enable Google Places API in the developers console.
I met the same problem last week and struggled for quite a while. The way I solved the problem is to follow the Google Places API for iOS https://developers.google.com/places/ios/start. Use GMSPlacesClient instead of JSON calls.

Google OAuth2 in distributed, self-hosted packages complaining about redirect_uri

I've taken over development of a Google Analytics API dashboard for a content management platform, and upgraded the code to use OAuth2 as the older oauth was disabled recently. The authentication flow and subsequent API calls are all working fine on my localhost for development.
The problem is when trying the code from a different domain. Google wants the redirect_uri to be whitelisted through the developer console, and if it isn't there, it throws Error: redirect_uri_mismatch
As this is a self-hosted (+ open source) package, people will be able of installing on their own servers, there is no way I'll be able of adding all possible redirect_uri values to the app key in the developer console.
After a bunch of Googling and trying to understand the docs, I get the impression there are 2 possible solutions.
Instruct users to go to the Google Developer console, and to create an app key of their own, before also going through the OAuth2 flow within the distributed app to provide the code access to the data in Google Analytics.
Use a redirect_uri value of urn:ietf:wg:oauth:2.0:oob with an Installed App key, instructing people to copy/paste the code back into the self-hosted app after authentication.
Neither of these are really appealing as it adds a bunch of complexity for the user (though option 2 sounds mostly doable). Are there other options, or am I simply overlooking something simple?
You actually don't have any choice in this matter. You must go with nr 1. When you state this is a dashboard and web application it leads me to believe this is some kind of scripting language. This means that the client id and client secret will be displayed to your users / customers. This is against googles terms of service.
Changes to the Google APIs Terms of Service Asking developers to
make reasonable efforts to keep their private keys private and not
embed them in open source projects.
You may not release your client id and client secret to your users they are going to have to create there own. Which nicely solvers your redirect URI problem they have to make there own.
Further reading Can I really not ship open source with Client ID?

Google APIs Console - missing client secret

I tried to create a testing client id for an android app which uses OAUTH 2.0 as login for retrieving user profile. I followed the steps to complete the creation of the client id on google console, but I do not see anywhere the client secret. I'm trying to help my employer with getting google credentials for it's app. I know how to implement OAUTH 2.0 in android, but I need client secret to exchange the code with access token.
First, I selected "Google+ API" from Services tab.
Then followed the on screen steps from API Access tab.
It seems that Google finally ditched the unnecessary client_secret for installable applications and is not yet up-to-date with their documentation.
You should check if you already get an access_token in the initial OAuth request like it's handled on Facebook.
Another possibility would be to fall back to using a Simple API Access key.
Update:
First method seems to not work with Google.
The recommended way for Android is to use AccountManager instead of baking your own requests. Follow this example to see how this is implemented and how you get an AuthToken using a Simple API Access key. Instead of using the Tasks API you can then include the OAuth2 API library to retrieve the userinfo.
Click on "Download JSON "
Is it what you're looking for ?
Since almost everything from the accepted answer has been deprecated, I thought I'd share what I've found.
I needed the People API which requires a client secret. What Google recommends for using People API with Android is,
Select the application type Other, enter the
name "People API Quickstart", and click the Create button.
Found here: https://developers.google.com/people/quickstart/java
(Step 1 part e)
So if you need a client secret, you might consider using the Other type. Of course, follow the documentation for your specific API first.
Just today I found out that on the new Cloud Console we can see the client secret for android apps - while in the old google console we just can't.
To use the new Cloud console, just click on the message "We are improving the experience. Try the new Cloud Console." Google will ask for a SMS confirmation. Now you'll be redirected to the new cloud console
Now, just select your project, click on "Registered Apps" on the left menu, selected your android app, and voilá, on oAuth 2.0 Client Id you'll see your client secret. No idea why on the old google console it's not displayed, but if you really need a client secret key, it's there.
Now that the type Other is unavailable, I used type Desktop since I wish to upload using Visual Studio which is a Desktop app. That worked, I got the client id and client secret.
When you update any changes in the credential, make sure you could see the client ID and secret in the dashboard before downloading.
Google cloud takes at the least 10 seconds to regenerate the client id and add it in the json.
Once json is downloaded you can check for client_secret to be present.
source said that :
Visit the Google Developers Console to obtain OAuth 2.0 credentials such as a client ID and client secret that are known to both Google and your application. The set of values varies based on what type of application you are building. For example, a JavaScript application does not require a secret, but a web server application does.
Another solution is that you have to create a client ID with the type of "Installed Application" then you will have the Client secret

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