Android google maps release key?

Question

How do I get a release key for Google Maps? I used my current key with a debug.apk and a signed-release.apk, and the maps dont render on the release.apk, so I assume its a A

Answer 1

From How to configure Google Maps API keys for Android by Dragana Vucic:

Go to Google API Console -> APIs & Services -> Credentials and click on Create Credentials -> API key. This option will generate a key that is not restricted to anything (yet).

2. Copy this generated key and click close
3. In Android Studio: Build -> Select Build Variant -> release
4. Open file res/values/google_maps_api.xml(release) and paste generated key
5. Publish app
6. Go to https://play.google.com/console/developers and select your publich app
7. Go to page: release management -> app signing
8. copy SHA-1 certificate fingerprint
9. Return to https://console.developers.google.com/apis/credentials
10. Click on release key. In "Key restrictions" section to select "Android Apps"
11. In "Restrict usage to your Android apps" section enter package name and SHA-1 from Google play console
12. In "API restriction" section select -> Restrict key -> 1 API.
13. Click Save

After these steps, the google map service will work for the published application.