Learn to generate an API key to connect your Branded App to Google Play Console.
In this article:
What is an API key?
API stands for Application Programming Interface. APIs provide the means for different software applications to communicate with each other.
An API key is a unique string of letters and numbers used to identify a software app when it tries to communicate with another app. When your Branded App reaches out to the Google Play Console to exchange data, Google uses your API key to confirm your identity. Without an API key, Google won’t be able to recognize your app.
Create your Google API key
Step 1. Create a Google Cloud project
- Log into the Google Cloud Console (note: you must be logged in as the account owner) and agree to the terms and conditions:
- In the top left corner, click on the dropdown menu to Select a Project:
- When the next dialog box appears, select New Project in the top right corner:
- Enter your Project name and click Create:
- It will take a moment to complete. Once it does, click the Select Project link in the notification window at the top right:
Step 2: Locate your API credentials
- Click on APIs & Services in the left menu.
- Then, select Credentials:
- When the next page loads, if it’s not already selected, click on Credentials again:
- Locate the project dropdown menu at the top left next to "Google Cloud" and make sure your project is selected.
(Note: In the screenshot below, the project name displays as My PGMacDesign Project. Your project name will be different.)
Step 3. Create new API credentials
- With your project selected, make sure you’re on the “Credentials” tab on the left.
- Click + Create Credentials.
- Select Service account:
- Navigate to “Step 1: Service account details”.
- Enter a Service account name of your choice (for example, your business name).
- Your Service account ID will be created automatically.
- Enter a short Service account description (for example, "Service account for my Android app").
- Click Create and Continue:
- Navigate to “Step 2: Grant this service account access to project”.
- Click Select a role.
- Select Basic as the access type and Owner as the role type.
- Click Continue:
- Skip “Step 3: Grant users access to this service account”.
Leave this section blank. - Click Done to continue:
Step 4: Create a new API key
You should now see a Service Account listed on your Credentials page under “Service Accounts”:
- First, copy the Service Account Email Address and set it aside for now as you'll be using it in a later step.
- Then click on your Service Account Email Address to open your account.
- Select the Keys tab.
- Click Add Key.
- Select Create new key:
- When prompted to select the key type for download, select JSON.
- Click Create:
The JSON file will download to your computer locally (you'll typically find it in your Downloads folder). This is the file you’ll need to upload to Kajabi during the intake process.
Step 5. Enable the API
Next, you'll need to enable the API within the Google Cloud Console.
To enable the API:
- Click this link: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library/androidpublisher.googleapis.com
- Then, click the blue ENABLE button:
A progress spinner will appear for a minute or so, then you'll be redirected to a new page. At this point the API has been properly enabled.
One additional API that needs to be enabled is Firebase.
- To do so, first go here: Firebase Management API - Google Cloud Console
- Then, click Enable:
The page should automatically redirect you. To confirm it was successfully enabled, click on the same link and the screen should now look like this:
Confirm that you see API Enabled on the right side.
Step 6. Add an authorized user
- Navigate to the Google Play Console and make sure you're not clicked into a specific app.
- Click on Users and permissions in the menu at the left of your screen.
- Then, click the blue Invite new users button:
- Paste in the Service Account Email Address you just copied in Step 4.
- Then select the Admin checkbox under "Account permissions".
- Click Invite User:
And that’s how you can create a Google API key for the Branded Mobile App intake process! Please vote below and let us know if you found this article helpful. We value your feedback. Thanks for being the best part of Kajabi!