- A
Assign the developer the Cloud SQL Admin IAM role
Why wrong: IAM roles control what actions are permitted, but the API must be enabled separately — roles alone do not enable APIs.
- B
Request a quota increase for Cloud SQL in the project
Why wrong: Quota limits restrict how many resources can be created — they are not the cause of an 'API not enabled' error.
- C
Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API via APIs & Services > Library in the Console
Navigating to APIs & Services > Library and enabling the Cloud SQL Admin API resolves this error. It can also be done with `gcloud services enable sqladmin.googleapis.com`.
- D
Create a new project — Cloud SQL is enabled by default in new projects
Why wrong: GCP does not enable all APIs by default in new projects. APIs must be enabled explicitly, whether in new or existing projects.
Quick Answer
The correct resolution is to enable the Cloud SQL Admin API via APIs & Services > Library in the Google Cloud Console. This error occurs because the `sqladmin.googleapis.com` service must be explicitly activated for your project before any Cloud SQL instance can be created; the API acts as the foundational gateway that allows your project to communicate with Google’s managed database infrastructure. On the Google Associate Cloud Engineer exam, this scenario tests your understanding that enabling the API is a prerequisite step separate from IAM role assignments or quota adjustments—a common trap is assuming that granting a user the Cloud SQL Admin role alone will resolve the error, but the API itself must be turned on first. Remember the memory tip: “API first, roles second”—you cannot manage what you haven’t enabled.
Google ACE Setting up a cloud solution environment Practice Question
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of setting up a cloud solution environment. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer attempts to create a Cloud SQL instance but receives the error: 'API [sqladmin.googleapis.com] not enabled.' What is the correct resolution?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API via APIs & Services > Library in the Console
The error 'API [sqladmin.googleapis.com] not enabled' indicates that the Cloud SQL Admin API has not been activated for the project. The correct resolution is to enable the API via APIs & Services > Library in the Google Cloud Console, as this is a prerequisite for creating any Cloud SQL instance. Assigning IAM roles or requesting quota increases does not enable the underlying API service.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Assign the developer the Cloud SQL Admin IAM role
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles control what actions are permitted, but the API must be enabled separately — roles alone do not enable APIs.
- ✗
Request a quota increase for Cloud SQL in the project
Why it's wrong here
Quota limits restrict how many resources can be created — they are not the cause of an 'API not enabled' error.
- ✓
Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API via APIs & Services > Library in the Console
Why this is correct
Navigating to APIs & Services > Library and enabling the Cloud SQL Admin API resolves this error. It can also be done with `gcloud services enable sqladmin.googleapis.com`.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a new project — Cloud SQL is enabled by default in new projects
Why it's wrong here
GCP does not enable all APIs by default in new projects. APIs must be enabled explicitly, whether in new or existing projects.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the distinction between enabling an API and assigning IAM roles, trapping candidates who think granting permissions automatically activates the underlying service.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Google Cloud APIs are per-project services that must be explicitly enabled before use; the Cloud SQL Admin API (sqladmin.googleapis.com) controls the lifecycle of Cloud SQL instances. Under the hood, API enablement registers the service with the project's service management system, allowing subsequent gcloud or console requests to be authenticated and routed. In real-world scenarios, forgetting to enable the API is a common first-time setup error, especially when using infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, which may fail with a similar error if the API is not pre-enabled.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Setting up a cloud solution environment — This question tests Setting up a cloud solution environment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable the Cloud SQL Admin API via APIs & Services > Library in the Console — The error 'API [sqladmin.googleapis.com] not enabled' indicates that the Cloud SQL Admin API has not been activated for the project. The correct resolution is to enable the API via APIs & Services > Library in the Google Cloud Console, as this is a prerequisite for creating any Cloud SQL instance. Assigning IAM roles or requesting quota increases does not enable the underlying API service.
What should I do if I get this ACE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This ACE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the ACE exam.
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