Google Map error FIX – Forbidden Your client does not have permission to get URL

Published on 7th Nov 2008

Update 13/01/09: Proxy Servers & Temporary errors

Just a note to highlight that the problem discussed here was receiving the error after using the “Customise and preview embedded map”. If you run through a Proxy server setup, it may well be that interfering with the map service and worth checking your setup and your map from a non-proxy machine (thanks to Paul). By using an anonymous proxy service certainly does break the maps to varying degrees as can be seen here. Occasionally I experience maps that did work, that stop periodically without any changes to the site, but work again when I check back later on.

Update 10/11/08: Google may well have updated the problem and hopefully it wont
occur now on maps create via the customise and preview your map link

I quite often embed the Google maps on contact pages for clients but quite often get the error “Forbidden Your client does not have permission to get URL…” (after customising a map). It wasn’t easy to get it to work, but I didn’t like being beaten either, so below you will find a screen shot of the problem and a link to the fix page. There are a few other reasons for the forbidden error, and this was designed for the error via the ‘customise and preview’ your map link only.

It can be quite annoying after a while and so here is my own fix for my own purposes, but hopefully it might be of use to you too… Google Map Fix – if it works it would be good to know – if it doesn’t, please post your iframe info and I will try and take a look.

A step by step guide to show the problem and fix

Below is a step by step guide using a company as an example, trying to embed a map on their contact page etc…

  1. Go to Google maps – http://maps.google.co.uk
  2. Perform your search e.g. realising designs canterbury
  3. Click: Link (Top-right)
  4. Click: Customise and preview embedded map
  5. Customise the map as required
  6. Open http://www.realisingdesigns.com/tools/google-map-fix.php (opens in a new window)
  7. Paste the Iframe code into the second box – “CUSTOMISED Google Map Code” e.g.

    <iframe width="400" height="400" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=realising+designs+canterbury&g=Canterbury,+Kent+CT1+2DU,+UK&ie=UTF8&t=h&cid=51281890,1082361,12036402316830049164&s=AARTsJo-uiFZittPMgQ0s8tzDpbHHn2oRA&ll=51.289728,1.086531&spn=0.021471,0.034332&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed"></iframe>
    <a href=”http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=realising+designs+canterbury&g=Canterbury,+Kent+CT1+2DU,+UK&ie=UTF8&t=h&cid=51281890,1082361,12036402316830049164&ll=51.289728,1.086531&spn=0.021471,0.034332&z=14&iwloc=A&source=embed” style=”color:#0000FF;text-align:left”>View Larger Map</a>

    E.g.:

  8. Click the “Go” button, to generate the map below, which is likely to show an error of “Forbidden, your client…”
  9. If you still have the map page open you can copy the uncustomised link into box 1 – “ORIGINAL Google Map Code”. For this exercise it will assume that you haven’t
  10. Head back to the Fix page and look for the link “Link to retrieve original Google Map search”, just below the box you put your code in
  11. Click the link “Link to retrieve original Google Map search”, which will open in a new window, showing you the Google Map page
  12. Click “Link” and copy the code from the box “Paste HTML to embed in website”
  13. Head back to the Fix page and paste the code into the box labeled “ORIGINAL Google Map Code”
  14. Click the “Go” button, to generate a revised map and code – hopefully one that works! e.g.


    <iframe width="400" height="400" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=realising+designs+canterbury&ie=UTF8&cid=51281890,1082361,12036402316830049164&ll=51.289728,1.086531&spn=0.021471,0.034332&sll=51.28189,1.082361&sspn=0.008442,0.019312&g=Canterbury,+Kent+CT1+2DU,+UK&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A&output=embed&s=AARTsJo-uiFZittPMgQ0s8tzDpbHHn2oRA"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=realising+designs+canterbury&ie=UTF8&cid=51281890,1082361,12036402316830049164&ll=51.289728,1.086531&spn=0.021471,0.034332&sll=51.28189,1.082361&sspn=0.008442,0.019312&g=Canterbury,+Kent+CT1+2DU,+UK&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

    Revised map:

  • admin

    A great resources for details on the Google Map variables can be found here:

    http://mapki.com/wiki/Google_Map_Parameters

  • http://www.dynamicwingtsun.net/ Mike Adams

    Thanks for the nice tool! I was getting the same error trying to post a Google map on my site. The Google groups were not very helpful. No one seemed to understand the error. But your tool helped fix it, and the map is up and working great.

    I also discovered that even with the corrected code, I get the error when viewing an HTML file on my hard drive. But it works fine once I FTP it to the web server.

    This saved me a lot of frustration, so thanks again!

  • http://tallpoppydigital.com.au Lisa

    Thanks for this resource; have had lots of gnashing teeth trying to work out why the map wouldn’t embed!

  • http://vipstudios.tv Casey

    Thank you so much! I couldn’t get a map to work, even with the non customized code Google gives in the “Link” box. Your tool fixed it and was super easy, much appreciated!

  • http://www.auquinco.cl Eric

    Thank you very much. This was very useful. I wonder why Google is not fixing the bug in the first place.

  • admin

    Glad its of use to you and I wondered the same. Guess they are busy taking over the world :)

  • http://barnettwebsites.com Lisa

    Below is the code that wouldn’t work for me…
    I was trying to get an embeded map for 243 Overhill Drive, Mooresville NC. If you get a chance perhaps you could email me what my problem is. I have never seen this error before.

    View Larger Map

  • http://barnettwebsites.com Lisa

    Okay, perhaps the link I copied was incorrect, I tried again and it worked. Thanks for the tool and the post about the error.

  • http://www.south-wales.org/ Paul

    Hi.
    When I view your article above then both embedded maps show the error. I think that this is more about viewing the page with embedded code out through a proxy. I’m currently in work and hence surfing through a pretty sophisticated proxy and proxy filtering system (BlueCoat). I’ve noticed other problesm with Google sites through this proxy setup.
    My own site with an embedded map doesn’t work when viewed from work but is fine when I view it from home.
    For me the clue is in the message – “Your client does not have permission to get URL…” and the fact that the IP address is displayed. The map is being blocked either by something like a proxy filter or even by Google themselves – maybe blacklisting certain IP addresses for some reason. Who knows.
    So personally, I would test your map from somewhere else before you spend hours hacking around with the code. Cheers, Paul

  • http://www.realisingdesigns.com James

    Thanks Paul and I agree totally, though the problem above was to with the error occurring after customising your map. I think in the case of customising the problem is (/was) with variables missing and the security code not matching, which perhaps explains the “does not have permission” in that instance. I will update the post to include a note about proxy setups with your comments in mind. Cheers, James

  • Vic

    Thanks a lot James. Its so much easier to develop a web with guys like you taking care of this kind of delicate issues. I am only starting to learn web design and fixes like this one are a real blessing.

    Keep up the good work.

Currently untagged