Solving the Restricted Google API Key Issue in Flutter Applications

Описание: Learn how to effectively manage your `Google API Key restrictions` for Flutter apps to ensure all services function correctly.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/75609351/ asked by the user 'Matteo Antolini' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8558714/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/75614935/ provided by the user 'Matteo Antolini' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/8558714/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Restricted Google Api Key works only when I remove package restrictions

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Solving the Restricted Google API Key Issue in Flutter Applications

If you're developing a Flutter application that utilizes various Google services, you might run into a common problem: your restricted Google API Key works perfectly only when the package restrictions are removed. In this post, we will explain the issue in detail and provide organized and actionable solutions to help you effectively manage your API Key restrictions, ensuring smooth operation of your app's features.

Understanding the Problem

When you are using a restricted Google API Key, you can set certain restrictions to enhance security and prevent misuse. Common restrictions include:

IP Address Restrictions: Only certain IP addresses can use the API Key.

HTTP Referrer Restrictions: Only requests from specified web pages are allowed.

Android Package Name and SHA-1 Restrictions: Only your specified Android applications can use the API Key.

For Flutter apps, maintaining these restrictions can be tricky. You may find that while some services like Maps with google_maps_flutter or user position with geolocator can function properly, others such as Autocomplete and Place reviews do not—unless you remove the restrictions.

The Core Issue Explained

The reason some services may not work with the restricted API Key can be attributed to how they make API calls:

SDK vs Custom Libraries: Services like google_maps_flutter and geolocator leverage official Google Maps SDKs that are designed to work seamlessly with API restrictions, while other libraries may utilize custom headers which can conflict with the restrictions imposed on the Google API Key.

Potential Solutions

1. Use Official SDKs Where Possible

The most straightforward approach is to stick to using Google’s official SDKs whenever available. This ensures compatibility with restrictions. Here's what you can do:

Replace custom libraries with official Google SDKs when possible.

For libraries like flutter_google_places that do not have direct SDK equivalents, consider the following server-side solutions.

2. Make Server-Side API Calls

If you want to preserve restrictions and still use services like Autocomplete, Place Reviews, or Direction calculations, you can make API calls on a server rather than directly in the client application. This approach abstracts API Key management and can keep it secure.

Example Endpoints

Here are some starting points for creating server-side functions to interact with Google’s APIs.

Autocomplete Predictions

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Place Reviews

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Distance between Two latlng

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Managing API Key restrictions in Flutter applications can be challenging, especially with varying compatibilities across libraries. By understanding the underlying issues and making server-side calls to Google APIs, you can retain the security of your application while ensuring that all services function smoothly.

If you encounter any specific issues while implementing these solutions or have additional questions, feel free to leave a comment!