HALO
Companion
Bring your own key

Get your free Google Maps key

HALO Unlimited runs on your own Google Maps key, so you navigate on your own free quota — no shared limits, ever. It takes about 10 minutes and stays free for normal use.

~10 minutes Free for everyday use One-time setup

Before you start: Google needs a card on file

Google requires a payment method on your account before map keys work — even for free usage. HALO stays well inside Google’s free monthly limits, so you should not be charged, but the card is required by Google. You can set a budget alert in step 3 for peace of mind.

1

Open the Google Cloud Console

Go to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with any Google account.

2

Create a project

Click the project dropdown at the top of the page, then New Project. Name it anything — HALO works — and create it. Make sure it’s selected before moving on.

3

Turn on billing (add a card)

Open Billing and link a payment method to your project. This is required by Google for map keys to work.

Optional but recommended: open Budgets & alerts and set a small budget (e.g. $1) so Google emails you if usage ever goes above the free tier. HALO’s normal use stays free.

4

Enable these three APIs

Open the API Library, search each one by name, and click Enable:

Maps JavaScript APIthe map
Places API (New)search
Routes APIdirections

All three are needed. If any is missing, search or place search will fail on the glasses.

5

Create your key

Go to APIs & Services → Credentials, click Create credentials → API key. A key appears that starts with AIza… — copy it. That’s your key.

6

Lock it down (recommended)

On the key you just made, click Edit and set:

  • Application restrictions → Websites, then add halonavi.com/* so only HALO can use your key.
  • API restrictions → Restrict key, then select only the three APIs from step 4.

Save. This keeps your key from being used anywhere but HALO. You can skip this and add it later if you’re in a hurry.

7

Paste it into HALO

On your phone, open halonavi.com/get, pair with the 4-digit code shown on your glasses, then under Advanced · use my own key paste your key and tap Send key to glasses. The glasses reload — and you’re navigating on your own free quota.

Open the companion →

If something doesn’t work

The map shows a “For development purposes only” watermark
Billing isn’t enabled on the project (step 3). Add a payment method and it clears.
Search finds nothing / “REQUEST_DENIED”
One of the three APIs isn’t enabled (step 4), or your key restriction is blocking it (step 6). Check that Places API (New) and Routes API are both on.
“This API key is not authorized” on the map
Your website restriction doesn’t include HALO. Edit the key and add halonavi.com/* exactly.
It worked, then stopped after a while
You may have crossed Google’s free monthly limit. Normal HALO use stays within it; if you navigate very heavily, you might see a small charge, or wait for the monthly reset.