Shack Locations Documentation

How to Fix the "For Development Purposes Only" Error in Shack Locations

Is your Joomla Shack Locations map greyed out and displaying "For development purposes only"?

the for development purposes only message

This usually indicates an issue with your Google Maps API key. Follow these steps to fix it.

Why is This Happening?

The error is typically caused by one of these reasons:

  • Billing is not enabled for your Google Maps API.
  • Invalid or missing API key in Shack Locations settings.
  • Required Google Maps APIs are not enabled.
  • API key is restricted incorrectly or has exceeded usage limits.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step #1. Verify Your Google Maps API Key

First, check if your API key is correctly entered in your Joomla admin panel:

  • Go to Components > Shack Locations Pro > Maps:

the maps button

  • This will bring you to the Maps screen. In the top right corner, click Options:

the options button

  • On the Shack Locations tab, find the Google Maps API Key field.
  • Ensure the key is entered correctly:

the google maps api key box

Step #2. Enable Billing for Your API Key

Since July 2018, Google has required billing for Maps services. Follow these steps:

  1. Visit Google Cloud Console.
  2. Select your project (or create one if needed).
  3. Go to Billing in the left menu.
  4. Add a valid payment method.
Note: Google provides $200/month free credit, enough for most sites.

Step #3. Ensure the Correct APIs Are Enabled

Your Shack Locations Pro extension requires the following APIs:

  1. Go to Google Cloud Console API Library.
  2. Make sure the following APIs are enabled:
    • Maps JavaScript API
    • Geocoding API
    • Places API
    • Geolocation API
  3. If any of these are disabled, enable them.

Step #4. Remove API Restrictions (if needed)

Sometimes, restrictions on the API key cause problems.

  1. Go to Google Cloud Console API Credentials.
  2. Click on your API Key.
  3. Under Application Restrictions, choose:
    • If restricted, ensure your website domain is correctly listed.
    • If unsure, select "None" temporarily to test.
  4. Save changes and reload your site.

Step #5. Clear Cache & Test

Once you've made changes, do the following:

  • Clear Joomla Cache: System > Clear Cache.
  • Wait a few minutes for Google settings to update.
  • Refresh your Shack Locations map page.

Still Not Working?

If the issue persists:

  • In your browser, open Developer Console (Press F12 then go to the Console tab).
  • Look for any Google Maps-related error messages and share them with our Support team.
  • Try generating a new Google Maps API Key and replacing the old one in Shack Locations.