1. Log in to Google Cloud

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console and Sign in with your Google account.
2. If you are new to Google Cloud, you'll be asked to agree to their Terms of Service. Please check the box and click Agree and Continue.

2. Create a New Project

1. At the top of the Console, click on "Select a project", then New Project.
   

1. Enter a name for your project (e.g., "My Website Maps").
2. Click "Create" to set up your new project.
3. Once it's created, click "Select Project" in the top right corner.
   

3. Enable Google Maps APIs

1. Using the navigation menu on the left, Go to the "APIs & Services" and click "Library."
2. Select "Maps JavaScript API" and click Enable.
   

1. If you don't have a billing account with Google, you'll be redirected to set one up. Otherwise, you may skip the next step.
   

4. Set Up Your Billing Account

IMPORTANT: A billing account is required to verify that you are not a robot. Google provides a monthly $200 credit for Maps API usage, which covers the cost for most websites. On average, a website uses only $30-$40 of this credit each month, keeping you well within the free tier. Exceeding this threshold would indicate incredibly high traffic on your website. Don't worry, Google will notify you if you approach the limit.

1. Ensure you have the correct country selected and click Agree and Continue.
2. Follow the prompts to set up your billing profile. If you are using a personal Google account, please select "Individual" for the Account Type. Enter your name, billing address, and card information, then click Start Free. 
3. Next, you'll be presented with an optional survey. We recommend selecting None, Other or N/A for all of the answers. This will not impact your account negatively. 
4. Click Submit.

5. Configure the Key

1. Leave the two checkboxes checked, allowing Google to enable the rest of the Maps APIs automatically and set up a budget alert to stay on top of your $200 monthly credit. 
2. Click Go to Google Maps Platform.
3. Next, select Websites from the dropdown menu and enter your website address in this format: www.mywebsite.com.
4. Click Restrict Key. This feature limits the usage of the key to your website to improve security.
   

1. Using the menu on the left, let's navigate back to Billing and click Activate on the right hand side. This will activate the full account and ensure that your API Key continues to work past the first 91 days.
   

6. Add the Key to Your Website

If you did not copy your key during the setup process, no worries, you can always find it in your Google Cloud Console. Simply navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials > Show Key