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The Maps Static API may issue an error or warning when something goes
wrong. This guide explains each error message, and provides further
instructions for resolving errors.
Invalid requests
In the case of an invalid request, the Maps Static API returns
an HTTP 4xx status code and a message describing the
problem. Below are examples of such error conditions. Note: This is not
a complete list of the possible errors. Please check the actual error code
and message returned by the API for details of specific problems.
Example of error condition
Status code
The request includes an invalid parameter, or a required parameter is
missing. For example, the size parameter is not within the
expected range of numeric values, or is missing from the request.
400 BAD REQUEST
The API key included in the request is invalid.
403 FORBIDDEN
Errors that prevent a map from being displayed
If the request is valid, but another error occurs that prevents the map from
being displayed, the Maps Static API returns either text or an error
image instead of the map, depending on the error. An example of such an error
condition is when the application exceeds its
usage limits.
Figure: An error image displayed instead of a map
Errors related to API keys and billing
If you use the Maps Static API without an API key, or if billing
is not enabled on your account, the page displays an error image instead of a
map, with a link indicating the type of error. For example
"g.co/staticmaperror/key".
Keyless errors and solutions
You are using the Maps Static API without an API key. To
resolve, you must:
Your request is missing a digital signature (required). To resolve,
Sign your URL
Warnings
For some error conditions, the API returns a map but some information may
be missing from the map. When this happens, two conditions occur to inform you of
the warning.
One, the map displays, but with a yellow error bar superimposed over
top of the map with the text "Map error: g.co/staticmaperror".
Two, the API returns a warning in
the form of an HTTP header named X-Staticmap-API-Warning.
For example, the following URL contains an unexpected value in the
markers parameter:
An error occurred while attempting to geocode the request. There are
many variants of this message, depending on the element where geocoding
failed (center, marker, visible, or path) and the number of elements
that failed. One example of this warning is
X-Staticmap-API-Warning:Error geocoding: marker 1, as
shown in the above example.
Too many geocoded markers requested (max is 15).
The request specifies more than the allowed maximum number of markers
with a human readable address. The maximum is 15. Note that this limit
applies only to markers specified as a human-readable address that
requires geocoding. It does not apply to markers specified with
latitude/longitude coordinates.
Too many geocoded polyline vertices requested (max is 15).
The request specifies more than the allowed maximum number of polylines
with a human readable address. The maximum is 15. Note that this limit
applies only to polylines with vertices specified as human-readable addresses that
require geocoding. It does not apply to polylines specified with
latitude/longitude coordinates.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-18 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe Maps Static API returns errors as HTTP status codes or warning messages for invalid requests, usage limits, or issues with API keys and billing.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eErrors that prevent map display can result in error images or text messages instead of the map, with details provided in the response.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eWarnings about potential issues, like geocoding problems or marker limits, are indicated by a yellow error bar on the map and HTTP header warnings.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFor invalid requests, refer to the HTTP status code (e.g., 400, 403) and message for details about the specific issue.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAlways check for HTTP header warnings and the yellow error bar to ensure your map is displayed correctly and address potential issues.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["The Maps Static API may issue an error or warning when something goes\nwrong. This guide explains each error message, and provides further\ninstructions for resolving errors.\n\nInvalid requests\n\nIn the case of an invalid request, the Maps Static API returns\nan HTTP `4xx` status code and a message describing the\nproblem. Below are examples of such error conditions. Note: This is not\na complete list of the possible errors. Please check the actual error code\nand message returned by the API for details of specific problems.\n\n| Example of error condition | Status code |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|\n| The request includes an invalid parameter, or a required parameter is missing. For example, the `size` parameter is not within the expected range of numeric values, or is missing from the request. | `400 BAD REQUEST` |\n| The API key included in the request is invalid. | `403 FORBIDDEN` |\n\nErrors that prevent a map from being displayed\n\nIf the request is valid, but another error occurs that prevents the map from\nbeing displayed, the Maps Static API returns either text or an error\nimage instead of the map, depending on the error. An example of such an error\ncondition is when the application exceeds its\n[usage limits](/maps/documentation/maps-static/usage-limits).\n\nFigure: An error image displayed instead of a map\n\nErrors related to API keys and billing\n\nIf you use the Maps Static API without an API key, or if billing\nis not enabled on your account, the page displays an error image instead of a\nmap, with a link indicating the type of error. For example\n\"g.co/staticmaperror/key\".\n\n| Keyless errors and solutions ||\n|---|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| | You are using the Maps Static API without an API key. To resolve, you must: 1. [Get an API key](/maps/documentation/maps-static/get-api-key#get-an-api-key) 2. [Enable billing](https://console.cloud.google.com/project/_/billing/enable?utm_source=Docs_BillingNudge) 3. [Sign your URL](/maps/documentation/maps-static/get-api-key#digital-signature) |\n| | Your request is missing a digital signature (required). To resolve, [Sign your URL](/maps/documentation/maps-static/get-api-key#digital-signature) |\n\nWarnings\n\nFor some error conditions, the API returns a map but some information may\nbe missing from the map. When this happens, two conditions occur to inform you of\nthe warning.\n\n- One, the map displays, but with a yellow error bar superimposed over top of the map with the text \"Map error: g.co/staticmaperror\".\n- Two, the API returns a warning in the form of an HTTP header named `X-Staticmap-API-Warning`.\n\nFor example, the following URL contains an unexpected value in the\n`markers` parameter: \n\n```\nhttps://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=Williamsburg,Brooklyn,NY&zoom=13&scale=1&size=400x400&markers=sdgaags&key=YOUR_API_KEY\n```\n\nThe API returns a map, but displays a yellow error bar superimposed\nover the image with \"Map error: g.co/staticmaperror\":\n\nThe API also returns the following HTTP header: \n\n```\nX-Staticmap-API-Warning:Error geocoding: marker 1\n```\n\nThe following table describes the warnings that the API may issue as HTTP\nheaders:\n\n| Warnings in `X-Staticmap-API-Warning` headers ||\n|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| `Error geocoding: [center, ][marker #number, ][visible #num, ][path #num, ]*` | An error occurred while attempting to geocode the request. There are many variants of this message, depending on the element where geocoding failed (center, marker, visible, or path) and the number of elements that failed. One example of this warning is `X-Staticmap-API-Warning:Error geocoding: marker 1`, as shown in the above example. |\n| `Too many geocoded markers requested (max is 15).` | The request specifies more than the allowed maximum number of markers with a human readable address. The maximum is 15. Note that this limit applies only to markers specified as a human-readable address that requires geocoding. It does not apply to markers specified with latitude/longitude coordinates. |\n| `Too many geocoded polyline vertices requested (max is 15).` | The request specifies more than the allowed maximum number of polylines with a human readable address. The maximum is 15. Note that this limit applies only to polylines with vertices specified as human-readable addresses that require geocoding. It does not apply to polylines specified with latitude/longitude coordinates. |\n\nYou can see the HTTP header warnings in the\n[Chrome DevTools Console](/web/tools/chrome-devtools/console/console-write#errors_and_warnings), the\n[Firefox\nWeb Console](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Web_Console), or other equivalent tools in your browser.\n| **Note:** You should check for HTTP header warnings if you notice the yellow error bar on the map indicating that something may be missing from the map. It's also a good idea to check for warnings before launching a new application. Consider also whether user input or internationalization could lead to unexpected characters or malformed latitude/longitude coordinate specifications in the request."]]
