Firebase App Initialization Error

Issue: You attempted to use firebase.app(['DEFAULT']) but this module is not found in React Native.

Proposed Solution:

  • Install the correct Firebase module: Use @react-native-firebase/app for React Native, not the web SDK.
  • Configure native files: Download google-services.json (Android) and GoogleService-Info.plist (iOS) from the Firebase Console and place them in your project as per documentation.
  • Rebuild your app: For Android, run npx react-native run-android. For iOS, run cd ios && pod install && cd .. && npx react-native run-ios.

APNs Entitlement Error (iOS Push Notifications)

Issue: application:didFailToRegisterForRemoteNotificationsWithError: no valid "aps-environment" entitlement string found for application

Solution:

  • Enable Push Notifications capability: In Xcode, under Signing & Capabilities, add “Push Notifications.”
  • Regenerate provisioning profiles: After enabling, update your provisioning profiles in the Apple Developer portal and download them again.
  • Clean and rebuild: Clean your build folder and rebuild the app to ensure entitlements are included.

What is Broadcast Capability in Apple’s push notifcations?

Broadcast Capability allows sending a single push notification to update Live Activities for many users at once, using channels.

  • Enable: In the Apple Developer portal, enable Broadcast Capability under your app’s identifier in the Push Notifications section.

Firebase Messaging Module Not Found

Issue: Error: You attempted to use 'firebase.app('[DEFAULT]').messaging' but this module could not be found.

Solution:

  • Install messaging module: Run npm install @react-native-firebase/messaging (or yarn add ...).
  • Link and rebuild: For iOS, run cd ios && pod install. Rebuild your app.
  • Correct import: Use import messaging from '@react-native-firebase/messaging'; instead of the web SDK import.

(Firebase Portal) APNs Authentication Key

How to get an APNs Authentication Key from Apple.

Solution:

  • Apple Developer Portal: Go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles > Keys > "+" > select APNs > Register > Download the .p8 key file.
  • Store Key ID and Team ID: Save these for server configuration in firebase.

Do you need APNs SSL Certificates?

  • Use the Modern approach: Use the APNs Authentication Key (.p8) for most push notification use cases.
  • Legacy (Old Apps): Only use SSL certificates if your provider or legacy system requires them.

messaging() Works, getApp() Import

Issue: messaging() works, but importing getApp() from @react-native-firebase/app does not.

Solution:

  • import { getMessaging } from '@react-native-firebase/messaging'; use getMessaging(getApp()) and not messaging() for React Native Firebase.

if you use messaging(), you will get a "Deprecation Warning"

This will fix all the issues you might encounter when enabling firebase messaging in react native.