Google Maps SDK for Android: Beginner's Guide

The Google Maps SDK for Android makes it simple to add interactive maps to Android apps. It supports both Java and Kotlin, offering tools like markers, polygons, and custom map styles. Here's what you'll need to get started:

• Requirements: Android Studio Hedgehog or later, API Level 21+ (Android 5.0), and a device/emulator with Google Play services.
• Google Cloud Setup: Enable the Maps SDK for Android API, link a billing account, and create a restricted API key for secure access.
• Integration Steps:
  1. Add the SDK dependency (play-services-maps) in your project.
  2. Store your API key securely in local.properties.
  3. Initialize the map using SupportMapFragment and getMapAsync().

Once set up, you can customize the map's type (e.g., satellite or terrain), add markers, and adjust user interaction settings like zoom and tilt. For advanced features, explore custom markers, clustering, or Cloud-based styling. This SDK ensures your app can deliver engaging map experiences across most Android devices.

Setting Up the Google Maps SDK

Creating a Google Cloud Project

Start by opening the Google Cloud Console and selecting "Create Project." Give your project a clear, descriptive name. Once the project is created, you’ll need to enable billing by linking a billing account. This is a required step to use the Google Maps Platform APIs, even if you plan to operate within the free tier.

Next, head to the API Library in the Cloud Console and search for "Maps SDK for Android." Enable this API - your project won’t be able to process map requests without it. With billing set up and the API enabled, you can move on to generating and securing your API key.

Generating and Restricting an API Key

Navigate to Google Maps Platform > Credentials in the Cloud Console. Click "Create credentials" and choose "API key." Once the key is generated, click on it to access its settings and apply restrictions.

• Under "Application restrictions," select "Android apps" and enter your app’s package name and SHA-1 certificate fingerprint.
• For extra security, go to "API restrictions" and limit the key’s access to the "Maps SDK for Android" API.

To keep your credentials safe, store the API key in the local.properties file using the Secrets Gradle Plugin instead of hardcoding it directly into your code.

With your API key ready, you can now integrate it into your Android project, or explore how to build an app without programming skills if you prefer a no-code approach.

Adding the SDK to Your Android Project

Open Android Studio and check the settings.gradle.kts file to ensure the google() and mavenCentral() repositories are included in the repositories block. Then, open the module-level build.gradle file and add the following dependency for the Maps SDK:

implementation "com.google.android.gms:play-services-maps:20.0.0"

Click "Sync Now" to apply the changes. Next, in your local.properties file (which should already be excluded from version control), add your API key like this:

MAPS_API_KEY=YOUR_ACTUAL_API_KEY

Finally, open your AndroidManifest.xml file and include the following <meta-data> tag inside the <application> element:

<meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.geo.API_KEY"
    android:value="${MAPS_API_KEY}" />

This setup ensures your API key is securely pulled from the local.properties file. If you’re testing on an emulator, make sure it displays the Play Store icon in the AVD Manager. This confirms that the necessary Google APIs are installed and ready to use.

sbb-itb-d4116c7

Displaying a Basic Map

Creating a Google Maps Activity

Android Studio makes it easy to integrate Google Maps into your app with its Google Maps Views Activity template. To get started, right-click the app folder in your project, then choose New > Google > Google Maps Views Activity. If you want the map to serve as the first screen users see when they open your app, make sure to check the "Launcher Activity" option during setup.

This template automatically creates an Activity with a SupportMapFragment already set up in the XML layout. The fragment simplifies managing the map's lifecycle, such as handling service connections and downloading map tiles, so you don’t have to worry about it. If you’re adding the map to an existing layout manually, assign a unique ID (e.g., @+id/map) to the fragment for easy reference.

Once the activity and fragment are ready, you can move on to initializing and customizing your map.

Initializing and Configuring the Map

To get started, implement the OnMapReadyCallback interface in your Activity. Then, in the onCreate method, retrieve the SupportMapFragment and call getMapAsync(this) to begin the map initialization process.

When the map is fully loaded, the onMapReady(GoogleMap googleMap) method is triggered. This is where you can set up everything, from the map type and zoom level to adding markers. The GoogleMap object provided in this method is your main tool for customizing the map at runtime. If you want to define initial settings like the camera position or zoom level, you can either use XML attributes like map:cameraZoom or configure them dynamically with GoogleMapOptions when creating the fragment programmatically.

Once you’ve set up the basics, you can make your map more interactive by adding markers to highlight specific locations.

Adding a Marker to the Map

To add a marker, start by creating a LatLng object to define the marker's coordinates. Inside the onMapReady method, you can create a LatLng instance like this: LatLng sydney = new LatLng(-33.852, 151.211). Then, use MarkerOptions to add the marker:

googleMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions().position(sydney).title("Sydney Opera House"));

If you want to focus the map on the marker, move the camera using:

googleMap.moveCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLng(sydney));

You can also customize the marker further by adding a snippet or changing its icon using .snippet() and .icon() methods on MarkerOptions. When users tap the marker, an info window showing the title will appear automatically, giving them additional context about the location.

Customizing the Map

Once you've set up your basic map, it's time to fine-tune its appearance and functionality. These adjustments can help make your map more engaging and tailored to your app's needs.

Changing the Map Type

The Google Maps SDK for Android offers five map types to choose from: Normal (standard road map), Satellite (aerial imagery without labels), Terrain (topographic data with contour lines), Hybrid (satellite imagery with road labels), and None (an empty grid). You can switch between these types either statically in your XML layout or dynamically during runtime.

For a static setup, include the following in your layout file:

xmlns:map="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"

Then, specify the map type in your <fragment> element like this:

map:mapType="terrain"

To change the type programmatically, use the following code in your onMapReady callback:

googleMap.setMapType(GoogleMap.MAP_TYPE_HYBRID);

This flexibility allows you to adapt the map's appearance to suit your app's purpose. For example, a terrain view might be ideal for a hiking app, while satellite imagery could better serve a real estate application.

Once the map type is set, you can enhance user interaction by enabling additional controls.

Enabling User Interaction Controls

The UiSettings class lets you customize built-in UI elements like zoom buttons, the compass, and gesture controls. To access these settings, call googleMap.getUiSettings() within your onMapReady method. For example, to enable zoom controls and the compass, you can use:

googleMap.getUiSettings().setZoomControlsEnabled(true);
googleMap.getUiSettings().setCompassEnabled(true);

You can also enable or disable specific gestures. For instance:

• setScrollGesturesEnabled(true) allows users to pan the map.
• setZoomGesturesEnabled(true) activates pinch-to-zoom.
• setRotateGesturesEnabled(true) enables rotation.
• setTiltGesturesEnabled(true) allows tilting for a 3D effect.

If your app includes overlapping UI elements, such as floating menus, you can use googleMap.setPadding(left, top, right, bottom) to adjust the placement of map controls, ensuring they remain accessible.

Next, let’s look at how to make your markers stand out with custom designs.

Adding Custom Markers

To give your map a personalized touch, you can customize its markers. Instead of the default pin, you can use a custom icon by adding the following line to your MarkerOptions builder:

.icon(BitmapDescriptorFactory.fromResource(R.drawable.custom_icon))

Alternatively, you can change the marker's color with:

BitmapDescriptorFactory.defaultMarker(BitmapDescriptorFactory.HUE_BLUE)

If you need to add multiple markers, you can chain methods for cleaner, more efficient code:

googleMap.addMarker(
    new MarkerOptions()
      .position(location)
      .title("Custom Location")
      .snippet("Additional details")
      .icon(customIcon)
  );

The snippet provides supplementary information that appears below the title in the info window when the marker is tapped. This keeps the map clean while offering users extra context when needed.

Conclusion

This guide walked you through the essentials of integrating and customizing the Google Maps SDK - from setting up in the cloud and securing your API key to displaying maps, adding markers, and tweaking visuals to work on nearly all Android devices.

To keep your API key safe, use the Secrets Gradle Plugin to avoid exposing it in version control, and apply restrictions to prevent unauthorized access and unexpected billing charges. Also, make sure Google Play services are available to ensure smooth functionality.

Now that you've covered the basics, you can enhance your app with advanced features. Try adding polylines, marker clustering, or experimenting with Cloud-based styling for more dynamic and engaging maps. Want to see these features in action? Check out the official Google Maps samples on GitHub or dive into the Maps Platform 101 codelabs for hands-on practice with tools like camera control and interactive drawing.

The Google Maps SDK for Android makes it simple to add interactive maps to Android apps built with platforms like Adalo, a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms, published to the Apple App Store and Google Play. It supports both Java and Kotlin, offering tools like markers, polygons, and custom map styles. Here's what you'll need to get started:

With these tools and tips, you're well-equipped to create interactive map experiences that truly elevate your app's value.

Related Blog Posts

• How to Launch Your First Mobile App Without Coding
• How to Create a Voice To Text Feature For Your App
• How To Create The Digital Calendar App You Need for Samsung and Android
• How To Create a Real Estate App for Android and iOS?

FAQ

Question	Answer
Can I easily integrate Google Maps into my mobile app without coding?	Yes, with Adalo's No Code App Builder, you can easily integrate Google Maps functionality into your mobile app. Adalo supports various integrations and custom components that allow you to add interactive maps to your database-driven apps without writing any code.
Why choose Adalo over other App Builder solutions?	Adalo is a no-code app builder for database-driven web apps and native iOS and Android apps—one version across all three platforms. AI-assisted building and streamlined publishing enable launch to the Apple App Store and Google Play in days rather than months. This publishing capability is crucial because getting your app into the app stores is often the hardest part of launching a new app or business, and Adalo makes this process seamless for marketing and distribution success.
What are the minimum requirements for using the Google Maps SDK for Android?	You'll need Android Studio Hedgehog or later, API Level 21+ (Android 5.0), and a device or emulator with Google Play services installed. Additionally, you must set up a Google Cloud project with billing enabled and create a restricted API key for secure access.
How do I keep my Google Maps API key secure in my Android project?	Store your API key in the local.properties file using the Secrets Gradle Plugin instead of hardcoding it directly into your code. You should also apply restrictions in the Google Cloud Console by limiting the key to Android apps with your specific package name and SHA-1 certificate fingerprint.
What map types are available in the Google Maps SDK for Android?	The SDK offers five map types: Normal (standard road map), Satellite (aerial imagery without labels), Terrain (topographic data with contour lines), Hybrid (satellite imagery with road labels), and None (an empty grid). You can switch between these types either in your XML layout or programmatically during runtime.
How can I customize markers on my Google Maps implementation?	You can customize markers by using MarkerOptions to set a custom icon, change the marker color, add a title, and include a snippet for additional details. Custom icons can be loaded from your drawable resources, and you can chain multiple methods for cleaner code when adding several markers.