The ScreenCloud Google Traffic app displays live traffic conditions for a location you choose, directly on your screens.

About this App

Live Traffic for Any Location

Show real-time congestion and traffic conditions for a location you choose.

Adjustable Zoom Level

Set how close-up or wide the map view appears.

Light or Dark Theme

Match the map style to your screen design.

Getting a Google API Key

Before adding the app, you'll need a Google API key so Arc can pull live traffic data from Google Maps. This is a one-time task, done on Google's site rather than in Arc.

You'll need a Google account, and a credit card to turn on billing with Google. This is required by Google, though you can set a daily spending cap to manage costs.

Go to console.cloud.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
Click Enable APIs and Services.
In the search box, type Static Map and select it from the results.
Click the blue Enable button.
Click Create Credentials, then choose API Key. Google generates a key for you.
Give your key a name you'll recognise, for example "Lobby Screens."
Under Key Restriction, choose Websites and enter *.screencloud.com*. This keeps your key safe by only allowing Arc to use it.
Click Create.
Copy your key and save it somewhere safe. You'll paste it into Arc in the next step.
Search for Google Maps JavaScript in the same search box and click Enable on it too. This makes sure your map displays correctly.

If you ever lose your key, go back to Credentials in the Google console to find and copy it again.

Setting Up the Google Traffic App

Google Traffic is a Layout app and cannot be added to a Collection.

Adding via a Layout

Go to Layouts and open the Layout Apps tab.
Find Google Traffic under Explore Apps for Layouts and click the plus sign on its tile.
Click Create on the app preview screen.

Configuring the app

App Settings

Setting	Description
Name	The name of your Google Traffic app instance, for example "Downtown Traffic."
Location	The address, city, or landmark to display, for example "Los Angeles, California."
Google API Key	Required. The API key you copied from the Google Cloud Console in the previous step.
Zoom Level	How close-up or wide the map appears, from Level 5 (zoomed out) to Level 20 (zoomed in).
Theme	Light or Dark, to match the rest of your screen design.

Click Save New App.

Showing the Google Traffic App on a Screen

Google Traffic is a Layout app, so it reaches a screen through the Layout it's added to.

Go to Screens and select the screen you want to update.
Open the screen's settings panel.
Adjust its Layout setting to the Layout containing your Google Traffic app.

See Applying a Layout to a Screen for more.

Supported Layouts

The Google Traffic app can be added to the following zones:

Layout Zone	Supported
Main	No
Side	Yes
Bottom (Ticker)	No
Corner	No

FAQ

Can I use the Google Traffic app offline?

Yes, but you won't see the very latest traffic data while offline.

How often does the app update with the latest traffic conditions?

Traffic information refreshes frequently, at Google's own request rate, so conditions shown are as close to real-time as you'd see in Google Maps itself.

The app isn't displaying the right time. How can I fix this?

This is a known limitation with the app's internal clock when it's used on its own. Placing it in a Layout alongside your Collection or another Layout app forces the clock to auto-update.

Can I use the Google Traffic app in landscape or portrait?

Yes, it supports both landscape and portrait.

Why am I seeing "This page can't load Google Maps correctly"?

This usually means your Google API key is missing, invalid, or has a billing issue. Most commonly, a valid key hasn't been set up, the key has expired or is incorrectly restricted, or billing isn't enabled on the associated Google Cloud project. Google requires an active billing account with a valid payment method to use the Maps JavaScript API, even though a free monthly credit is included. If you see "For development purposes only" on the map behind the error, this confirms the API is being used without proper credentials or billing. To fix this, go to the Google Cloud Console, make sure billing is enabled, generate a valid Maps API key, and add it to the app.