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Get the SHA-1 Certificate Fingerprint

The Google Maps Android API v2 uses  “SHA-1 certificate fingerprint” to obtain the API key.  This SHA-1 fingerprint generate from keytool can only be used for testing and not for publishing the application.

Through Eclipse:

If you are using the Eclipse IDE, Goto Windows –> Preferences –> Select ‘Build’ under ‘Android’. You can get the SHA-1 fingerprint from there.

Through Command Prompt:

1. The .android folder at Users contains the debug.keystore file.

2. Open cmd from .android and enter the following command.

keytool -list -alias androiddebugkey -keystore <path to debug.keystore> -storepass android -keypass android

example:

keytool -list -alias androiddebugkey -keystore C:\Users\Tharaka\.android\debug.keystore -storepass android -keypass android

Get the Google Maps Android API v2 Key 

The SHA-1 fingerprint is used to register the application and to obtain the Map API v2 key.

1. Goto  –> Google API Console (https://code.google.com/apis/console/) –> Select “Create Project”.

2.   New “API Project” will be added to the “Google Developers Console”(redirect to page: https://console.developers.google.com/project ).

3.   Select “APIs & auth” –> From available “APIs” –> Select “Google Maps Android API v2”

4.   Click on “OFF” button –> Enable  Agree Terms of Use –>Accept

5.   Select “Credentials” –> Create New Key –> Select “Android Key”

6.   Add the “SHA-1 fingerprint” and the “package name” in the blank space according to the guidelines available. Click on “Create”.

7.   You will get the Key for Android application on the Google Console.

Note: 

This Map API key should be added to the AndroidMainfest.xml file as meta-data  under <application> element

<meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
    android:value="API_KEY"/>

Happy Coding 🙂