Android Place Picker closes immediately after launch

Question

I am developing an android application as part of a project, and am using Google places API to display places of interest based on location. I am using the PlacePicker Inentbuilder to accomplish this.

However, when the app is run, the place picker launches and then closes immediately (about 1-2 seconds).

I have already implemented the below suggestions (that I got from other answers):

I have generated the public API key for android applications, and am including this in the meta-data tag in the app manifest.

I have enabled the "Google Places API for android" API on the developers console.

I have included the latest play services version in dependencies in build.gradle.

I have included my code and the logcat below. Do let me know if I need to include anything else.

Manifest.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
package="com.sampath.project.project_v2" >

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />


<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@style/AppTheme" >
    <activity
        android:name=".MainActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>

    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
        android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version" />

    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.geo.api_key"
        android:value="@string/google_api_key" />
    <meta-data
        android:name="com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY"
        android:value="@string/google_api_key" />"

    <activity
        android:name=".LoginActivity"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_login" >
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name=".PlacesSample"
        android:label="@string/title_activity_places_sample" >
        <meta-data
            android:name="com.google.android.geo.api_key"
            android:value="@string/google_api_key" />
    </activity>
</application>

</manifest>

Build.gradle (app module - This is the only module)

apply plugin: 'com.android.application'

android {
    compileSdkVersion 22
    buildToolsVersion "22.0.1"

    defaultConfig {
        applicationId "com.sampath.project.project_v2"
        minSdkVersion 16
        targetSdkVersion 21
        versionCode 1
        versionName "1.0"
    }
    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled false
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    //compile fileTree(include: ['*.jar'], dir: 'libs')
    //compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:22.1.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:22.1.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:22.1.1'
    compile 'com.android.support:recyclerview-v7:22.1.1'
    compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:7.3.0'
}

PlacesSample - Activity that is using google places API:

package com.sampath.project.project_v2;


import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.MenuItem;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;

import com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesNotAvailableException;
import com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesRepairableException;
import com.google.android.gms.location.places.Place;
import com.google.android.gms.location.places.ui.PlacePicker;


public class PlacesSample extends AppCompatActivity {
    TextView getLocation;
    int PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST = 1;
    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_places_sample);
        getLocation = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.getLocTV);
        getLocation.setClickable(true);
        getLocation.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                PlacePicker.IntentBuilder builder = new PlacePicker.IntentBuilder();
                Intent intent;
                try {
                    intent = builder.build(getApplicationContext());
                    startActivityForResult(intent, PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST);
                    System.out.println("start activity for result");
                } catch (GooglePlayServicesRepairableException e) {
                    e.printStackTrace();
                } catch (GooglePlayServicesNotAvailableException e) {
                    e.printStackTrace();
                }

            }
        });
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.menu_places_sample, menu);
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
        // Handle action bar item clicks here. The action bar will
        // automatically handle clicks on the Home/Up button, so long
        // as you specify a parent activity in AndroidManifest.xml.
        int id = item.getItemId();

        //noinspection SimplifiableIfStatement
        if (id == R.id.action_settings) {
            return true;
        }

        return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }

    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        System.out.println("onActivityResult");
        if (requestCode == PLACE_PICKER_REQUEST) {
            if (resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
                Place place = PlacePicker.getPlace(data, this);
                String toastMsg = String.format("Place: %s", place.getName());
                Toast.makeText(this, toastMsg, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
            }
        }
    }
}

Logcat:

05-05 23:38:30.593  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/Timeline﹕ Timeline: Activity_idle id: android.os.BinderProxy@17e945c6 time:628772943
05-05 23:38:30.598  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/Timeline﹕ Timeline: Activity_idle id: android.os.BinderProxy@17e945c6 time:628772948
05-05 23:38:31.517  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/Timeline﹕ Timeline: Activity_launch_request id:com.sampath.project.project_v2 time:628773867
05-05 23:38:31.527  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 W/ResourceType﹕ For resource 0x01030224, entry index(548) is beyond type entryCount(9)
05-05 23:38:31.527  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 W/ResourceType﹕ For resource 0x01030224, entry index(548) is beyond type entryCount(9)
05-05 23:38:31.636  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/Timeline﹕ Timeline: Activity_idle id: android.os.BinderProxy@2daadb0a time:628773986
05-05 23:38:33.869  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/System.out﹕ start activity for result
05-05 23:38:34.227  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/System.out﹕ onActivityResult
05-05 23:38:34.235  21408-21408/com.sampath.project.project_v2 I/Timeline﹕ Timeline: Activity_idle id: android.os.BinderProxy@2daadb0a time:628776586

Answer 1

Francois Wouts' solutions helped answer this. Thank you Francois...

I searched the logs with keyword 'Places' and found that Places API was indeed throwing an exception. It expected the com.google.android.geo.API_KEY within the <application> tags in the Manifest.xml.

I had changed to com.google.android.geo.API_KEY in the <activity> tag and not the one in the <application> tag.

Now changed to com.google.android.geo.API_KEY and removed the same lines from <activity> tag, and got it working. Feel like an idiot for not working this out by myself..

The meta-data tag should read android:name="com.google.android.geo.API_KEY"
It should be within the <application> tag in the Manifest.

Answer 2

Have you double checked that your API key is associated with your application (package name and SHA-1 fingerprint of your app's certificate) in the Developer Console?

You can find instructions at Signup and API Keys. Make sure to set it up for both your debug and your release certificates.

I hope that helps!

Answer 3

I was having the same issue. Make sure you enable Google Places API for Android and not just Places API in the Developer Console. "Places API for Android" will not show up under APIs & Auth/APIs because it isn’t a popular API (yet). You will have to search for it using the API search box.

Answer 4

In manifest file com.google.android.geo.api_key and com.google.android.maps.v2.API_KEY shouldnot be same.

go to https://console.developers.google.com/project

login and follow these steps to get key for placepicker places.

create or choose existing > use google apis > Google Places API for Android > enable > credentials in left menu > add credentials > api key > android key > create > copy key.

paste your key at manifest "com.google.android.geo.api_key"

Note : there is a limit of 1000 requests per day for google places api. after you have to pay money. Better to avoid PlacePicker.

Answer 5

In my case there was conflict of APIs. I have added google-service.json file which also had API key and I generated new key for Maps. So place picker was closing immediately. Solution :

1. Use single API key which is in google-service.json file

2. Enable "Places SDK for Android" feature for your Google Cloud Platform project (with same name as in Firebase project , don't use different project. You will find same name project as you are using in Firebase)

3. Put SHA1 Application Restriction for android app (Recommended)

4. Check if you have placed following code in Application tag only

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

Answer 6

This issue made me crazy as well, there are so many issues regarding exactly this problem, but no one was helpful for me. At the end, I figured out that there are different Google Places APIs especially for Android. Consequently, the API-Key that I was using was simply for the non-Android version.

Generate your key using this link https://developers.google.com/places/android-api/signup