Error Messages
Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
This page describes the error messages that can be returned by the
Maps Embed API. When an error occurs, the
Maps Embed API presents error message text in place of the map.
Certain error conditions may also occur, which result in the display of a
darkened watermarked map.
Invalid requests
In the case of an invalid request, the Maps Embed API returns
an HTTP 4xx status code and a message describing the
problem. Below are examples of error conditions. Note: This is not
a complete list of the possible errors. Check the actual error code
and message returned by the API for details of specific problems.
| Example of error condition |
Status code |
The request includes an invalid parameter, or a required parameter is
missing. For example, the zoom parameter is not within the
expected range of numeric values, or a required parameter is missing from
the request. |
400 BAD REQUEST |
| The API key included in the request is invalid. |
403 FORBIDDEN |
API key and quota errors
API key and quota errors are treated as invalid requests. Possible causes
include the following:
Billing and HTTP referer errors
A darkened map, or "negative" Street View image, watermarked with "for
development purposes only" is returned when any of the following is true:
Check errors in your browser
For Billing and HTTP referer errors, the Maps Embed API writes
error messages to window.console. For invalid requests (including
API key and quota errors), only the HTTP 4xx status code is reported
in the console. This section explains how you can check the console output in
Google Chrome. If you are using any other browsers, please check the developer
documentation for your browser. For your reference, this is a list of tools to
check console output in some other browsers.
In Chrome, you can use the
JavaScript Console
to check console output as follows.
-
To open the Developer Tools, select the menu icon > More Tools >
Developer Tools.
-
To open the JavaScript Console, click the Console tab at the top of
the Developer Tools window. You can also use the ESC key to toggle the
JavaScript Console.
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-08-28 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe Maps Embed API displays error messages in place of the map or as a darkened, watermarked map when errors occur.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eInvalid requests result in a \u003ccode\u003e4xx\u003c/code\u003e HTTP status code and a descriptive error message, often due to missing or incorrect parameters or an invalid API key.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAPI key and quota errors are treated as invalid requests, and can stem from a missing, invalid, or restricted API key, or a disabled API.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBilling and HTTP referer errors result in a darkened, watermarked map, and may be caused by billing issues, exceeding usage limits, or missing HTTP referers.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eError messages for billing and referer issues can be found in the browser's console; invalid request errors show only the HTTP status code.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["The Maps Embed API displays error messages or a watermarked map when issues occur. Invalid requests trigger a `4xx` status code, indicating problems like missing or incorrect parameters or an invalid API key. Billing or HTTP referer issues result in a watermarked map, caused by disabled billing, invalid payment, exceeded limits, or missing referers. Errors are logged in the browser's console (`window.console`) and can be checked via browser developer tools.\n"],null,["This page describes the error messages that can be returned by the\nMaps Embed API. When an error occurs, the\nMaps Embed API presents error message text in place of the map.\nCertain error conditions may also occur, which result in the display of a\ndarkened watermarked map.\n\nInvalid requests\n\nIn the case of an invalid request, the Maps Embed API returns\nan HTTP `4xx` status code and a message describing the\nproblem. Below are examples of error conditions. Note: This is not\na complete list of the possible errors. Check the actual error code\nand message returned by the API for details of specific problems.\n\n| Example of error condition | Status code |\n|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|\n| The request includes an invalid parameter, or a required parameter is missing. For example, the `zoom` parameter is not within the expected range of numeric values, or a required parameter is missing from the request. | `400 BAD REQUEST` |\n| The API key included in the request is invalid. | `403 FORBIDDEN` |\n\nAPI key and quota errors\n\nAPI key and quota errors are treated as invalid requests. Possible causes\ninclude the following:\n\n- Missing or invalid API key. To resolve this error, ensure that your request includes a valid API key. [Get an API key](/maps/documentation/embed/get-api-key#get-an-api-key).\n- Maps Embed API is not enabled for your project. Learn about [enabling and disabling APIs](https://cloud.google.com/apis/docs/enable-disable-apis).\n- API key has a restriction violation. [Read\n more about API key best practices](/maps/api-key-best-practices).\n\nBilling and HTTP referer errors\n\nA darkened map, or \"negative\" Street View image, watermarked with \"for\ndevelopment purposes only\" is returned when any of the following is true:\n\n- Billing has not been enabled on your account. [Enable billing](https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/billing/enable?utm_source=Docs_BillingNudge).\n- The provided billing method is invalid (for example an expired credit card). To resolve this, visit the [Google Cloud console, and ensure that you have provided a valid method of payment.](https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/billing)\n- A self-imposed daily limit has been exceeded. [Learn how to view or change daily billable limits](/maps/documentation/embed/usage-and-billing#set-caps).\n- The request is missing an HTTP referer, and you are using a referer-restricted API key. [Learn\n more about adding referers](/maps/api-key-best-practices).\n\nCheck errors in your browser\n\nFor Billing and HTTP referer errors, the Maps Embed API writes\nerror messages to `window.console`. For invalid requests (including\nAPI key and quota errors), only the HTTP `4xx` status code is reported\nin the console. This section explains how you can check the console output in\nGoogle Chrome. If you are using any other browsers, please check the developer\ndocumentation for your browser. For your reference, this is a list of tools to\ncheck console output in some other browsers.\n\n- [Console](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn255006(v=vs.85).aspx) for Internet Explorer.\n- [Web Console](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Web_Console) for Firefox.\n- [Remote debugging](https://developer.chrome.com/devtools/docs/remote-debugging) for Android.\n- [Web Inspector](https://developer.apple.com/library/safari/documentation/AppleApplications/Conceptual/Safari_Developer_Guide/GettingStarted/GettingStarted.html) for iOS.\n\n\nIn Chrome, you can use the\n[JavaScript Console](/web/tools/chrome-devtools/debug/console)\nto check console output as follows.\n\n1. To open the Developer Tools, select the menu icon \\\u003e **More Tools** \\\u003e **Developer Tools**.\n2. To open the JavaScript Console, click the **Console** tab at the top of the Developer Tools window. You can also use the ESC key to toggle the JavaScript Console."]]
