Google Maps

Add a Google Maps API key so the Accounts Dashboard can draw a map of where your registered users come from.

The Google Maps key is used in one place: the Registered User Countries card on Admin → Accounts → Dashboard. With the key and the switch on, the card shows a world map shaded by how many registered users live in each country. Nothing else in MagicPost uses the key.

Without it, the card shows “Google Maps is Disabled” where the map would be. The Top 20 Countries list beside it still works, because it comes from your own user records.

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Set it up

1. Create a project and enable the API

   In the Google Cloud console, select or create a project. Open APIs & Services → Library, find Maps JavaScript API and enable it.

2. Create an API key

   Open APIs & Services → Credentials, select Create credentials → API key, and copy the key.

3. Restrict the key

   Edit the key and restrict it to Maps JavaScript API and to your site address as an HTTP referrer. MagicPost writes the key into the page source of the Accounts Dashboard, so a restriction keeps it from being used elsewhere.

4. Add the key in MagicPost

   Go to Admin → Backend Settings → Global Settings and find the Google Maps block. Switch on Enable Google Maps, paste the key into Google Maps API Key, and select Save. The key is required while the switch is on.

5. Check the dashboard

   Open Admin → Accounts → Dashboard and scroll to Registered User Countries.

The map is drawn with Google Charts, which takes the key as its mapsApiKey setting. Google states that this key may be required for geocoding or non-standard region codes. See Google’s GeoChart documentation.

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What the map counts

The map is built from the country saved on each user account. Each country is shaded by how many accounts list it.

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Fix problems

What you see	Cause and fix
”Google Maps is Disabled”	Enable Google Maps is off in Global Settings. Switch it on and save.
The card is empty or shows a Google error	The key is wrong, the API is not enabled, or the key’s restriction does not match your site address. Open your browser’s developer console on the page. Google’s message names the cause.
A validation message when you save	Google Maps API Key is empty while the switch is on.

See Global settings for the other fields on the page, and Users for the accounts dashboard.