Firebase Cloud Messaging troubleshooting & FAQ

What's the difference between the the Notifications composer and FCM?

Firebase Cloud Messaging provides a complete set of messaging capabilities through its client SDKs and HTTP server protocol. For deployments with more complex messaging requirements, FCM is the right choice.

The Notifications composer is a lightweight, serverless messaging solution built on Firebase Cloud Messaging. With a user-friendly graphical console and reduced coding requirements, the Notifications composer lets users send messages to re-engage and retain users, foster app growth, and support marketing campaigns.

Do I need to use other Firebase services in order to use FCM?

You can use Firebase Cloud Messaging as a standalone component, without using other Firebase services.

Why do my targeted devices apparently fail to receive messages?

When it looks like devices haven't successfully received messages, check first for these two potential causes:

Foreground message handling for notification messages. Client apps need to add message handling logic to handle notification messages when the app is in the foreground on the device. See the details for iOS and Android.

Network firewall restrictions. If your organization has a firewall that restricts the traffic to or from the Internet, you need to configure it to allow connectivity with FCM in order for your Firebase Cloud Messaging client apps to receive messages. The ports to open are:

• 5228
• 5229
• 5230

FCM usually uses 5228, but it sometimes uses 5229 and 5230. FCM doesn't provide specific IPs, so you should allow your firewall to accept outgoing connections to all IP addresses contained in the IP blocks listed in Google's ASN of 15169.

Why isn't onMessageReceived being called in my Android app?

When your app is in the background, notification messages are displayed in the system tray, and onMessageReceived is not called. For notification messages with a data payload, the notification message is displayed in the system tray, and the data that was included with the notification message can be retrieved from the intent launched when the user taps on the notification.

For more information, see Receive and handle messages.

Why do I get 404 error when I send messages to an active app instance restored from a backup?

FID (Firebase Installation ID) is the identifier of an app instance. By default, Firebase Installation data is backed up and restored. So in the restoration case, the restored app instance and the original app instance share the same FID. Since FCM only stores one token per FID, if both the original app instance and the restored app instance are in use, then when one app instance registers with FCM, the other app instance's token is removed, which causes 404 errors.

We recommend developers to do the following in their app:

• Exclude Firebase installation data in backup. The Firebase installation data is stored in a PersistedInstallation....json file. The filename is a constant for an app. For example, <exclude domain="file" path="PersistedInstallation.W0R...GQ.json" />

Apple announced they're deprecating the legacy binary protocol for APNs. Do I need to do anything?

No. Firebase Cloud Messaging switched to the HTTP/2-based APNs protocol in 2017. If you're using FCM to send notifications to iOS devices, there should be no action required on your part.

How do I notify a large customer base within 2 minutes?

This use case cannot be supported. You must spread your traffic out over 5 minutes.

My app notifies users of events, and these messages must be delivered immediately to support my business model. Can I get more quota?

Unfortunately, we cannot grant quota increases for this reason. You must spread your traffic out over 5 minutes to avoid spiky traffic.

My messages are about scheduled events. How can I send all traffic at the top of the hour?

We recommend that you start sending the notifications at least 5 minutes prior to the event. Alternatively, send data messages and implement your platform's analog of onMessageReceived handler to schedule local notifications ahead of time.

How can I monitor my quota usage?

See Google Cloud guidance on how to chart and monitor quota metrics.

429 errors are hard for me and my business to handle. Can I get an exemption or more quota to avoid getting 429s?

While we understand that quota limits can be challenging, quotas are vital to keeping the service reliable and we can't grant exemptions. Use retries to properly handle 429 errors.

How long will it take for my quota increase request to be fulfilled?

Your quota increase request depends on your use of FCM. In any case, you can expect an answer in a few business days. In some cases, there may be some back-and-forth regarding your usage of FCM and various circumstances, which can prolong the process. If all requirements are met, most requests will be handled within 2 weeks.

Can I get more quota for a temporary event?

You can request additional quota to support an event lasting up to 1 month. File the request at least 1 month in advance of the event and with clear details on when the event starts and ends, and FCM will make every practical effort to fulfill the request. If granted, these quota increases will be reverted after the event's end date.

Is my current quota subject to change?

While Google won't do so lightly, quotas may be changed as needed to protect the integrity of the system. When possible, Google will notify you in advance of such changes. Keep your Cloud MSA contacts updated to increase the chances of receiving service announcements.