Getting started ​
Welcome to WP Google Street View. This guide walks you through everything you need to go from zero to a fully functional, interactive Google Street View or Google Maps embed on your WordPress site.
What you will learn ​
- Installation — Install the plugin from WordPress.org or upload it manually.
- Google API setup — Create and configure your Google Maps API key (the most important step).
- Your first map — Create a Street View panorama and embed it in a page.
- Shortcode basics — Understand both shortcode modes and their parameters.
Prerequisites ​
- A WordPress installation (version 4.1 or higher)
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- A Google account (Gmail or Google Workspace)
- A Google Cloud Platform project with billing enabled (Google provides $200/month in free credits)
Time estimate
You can go from installation to your first published map in under 15 minutes. The API key setup takes the longest, about 5–8 minutes if it is your first time.
How the plugin works ​
WP Google Street View creates a custom post type called WPGSV. Each entry represents one map configuration: its type (Street View, Google Maps, or synchronized), its coordinates, its style, its markers, and its display options.
Once you save a map entry, the plugin generates a shortcode like [wpgsv id="42"] that you paste into any page, post, or widget area. The map renders on the front end using the Google Maps JavaScript API.
For simpler use cases, the plugin also provides an inline shortcode [wpgsv_map lat="48.8566" lng="2.3522"] that does not require creating a post first.