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Learn how to create a Google API key for authenticating your Google Sheets data source against public spreadsheets.

Estimated time: 2 min

Create a Google API key

In this milestone, you create a Google API key that lets your Google Sheets data source read publicly shared spreadsheets. The API key is the simplest way to authenticate and is a good fit for getting started in Grafana Cloud.

With API key authentication, the spreadsheets you query must be publicly viewable, for example shared as Anyone with the link. If you need to read private spreadsheets, use Google service account (JWT) authentication instead. See Configure the Google Sheets data source for the service account steps.

Before you create the key, the Google Sheets API must be enabled in your Google Cloud project. To create an API key, complete the following steps:

  1. Sign in to the Google Cloud Console and select the project you want to use, or create a new project.

  2. Open the Google Sheets API page and click Enable.

  3. Open the Credentials page in the Google Cloud Console.

  4. Click Create credentials, and then select API key.

  5. Copy the generated API key and store it securely for the next milestone.

    Caution: Treat your API key like a password. Store it securely and never commit it to version control or share it publicly. Consider restricting the key to the Google Sheets API in the Google Cloud Console.

You now have a Google API key that can authenticate your Google Sheets data source against publicly shared spreadsheets. Keep it handy for the next milestone, where you’ll paste it into the data source configuration.