Connecting Firebase

Push notifications require a Firebase project connected to your Appilix app. Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) is the service that delivers notifications to your users' devices. This guide walks through the complete setup from creating a Firebase project to uploading your configuration file in Appilix.

Before you begin, make sure you have a Google account and access to Firebase Console.

Step 1 — Create a Firebase Project

If you already have a Firebase project, skip to Step 2.

1. Go to Firebase Console and sign in.
2. Click Add project.
3. Enter a project name and click Continue.
4. Enable or disable Google Analytics as preferred, then click Create project.
5. Wait for setup to complete and click Continue to open your project dashboard.

Step 2 — Add Your App to Firebase

1. Inside your Firebase project, click Add app.
2. Select Android or iOS depending on your app platform.
3. Enter your Package Name (Android) or Bundle ID (iOS). This must match the value shown in your Appilix dashboard exactly.
4. Click Register app.
5. Download the configuration file:

1. Keep the file — you will upload it to Appilix in Step 5.

Step 3 — Enable Firebase Cloud Messaging

1. In Firebase Console, go to Project settings (gear icon).
2. Open the Cloud Messaging tab.
3. Confirm that Firebase Cloud Messaging API (V1) is enabled. If it shows a disabled state, enable it.

This step is required for notifications to be delivered.

Step 4 — Upload APNs Key to Firebase (iOS Only)

iOS push notifications are delivered through Apple Push Notification service (APNs). Firebase needs your APNs key to communicate with Apple on your behalf.

Create the APNs Key in Apple Developer Portal

1. Go to Apple Developer Portal and sign in.
2. Navigate to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles → Keys.
3. Click the + button to register a new key.
4. Enter a name (e.g. FCM Key).
5. Check the Apple Push Notifications service (APNs) checkbox.
6. Click the Configure button that appears next to it.
7. On the Configure Key page, set Environment to Production and leave Key Restriction as Team Scoped (All Topics). Click Save.
8. Click Continue, then click Register.
9. On the Download Your Key page, note the Key ID shown on screen.
10. Click Download to save the .p8 file — this file can only be downloaded once. Keep it safe.
11. Note your Team ID shown in the top-right corner of the developer portal.

Upload the APNs Key to Firebase

1. In Firebase Console, go to Project settings (gear icon).
2. Open the Cloud Messaging tab.
3. Scroll down to Apple app configuration and find your iOS app.
4. Under APNs authentication key, locate the Production box — do not upload to the Sandbox box.
5. Click Upload inside the Production box.
6. Select the .p8 file you downloaded.
7. Enter your Key ID and Team ID.
8. Click Upload.

Firebase is now authorized to deliver push notifications to iOS devices through APNs.

Step 5 — Grant Permission to Appilix

1. Open your Appilix Dashboard and navigate to the Firebase page.
2. Click Grant Permission.
3. Sign in with the same Google account used for your Firebase project.
4. Allow the requested permissions.

This connects your Firebase project to Appilix so that notifications can be sent on your behalf.

Step 6 — Upload the Configuration File

Upload the configuration file you downloaded in Step 2:

• Android: upload google-services.json
• iOS: upload GoogleService-Info.plist

Drag the file into the upload area or click Choose File to browse.

Notification Icon (Android Only, Optional)

This icon appears in the Android notification bar when a notification arrives. If not set, a default icon is used.

• Format: PNG only
• Style: Single color, transparent background — no gradients or shadows
• Maximum file size: 200 KB

Use a white or light-colored icon so it renders correctly against any notification bar color.

Custom Notification Sound (Optional)

By default, the device's system sound plays when a notification arrives. You can upload a custom sound instead.

• Android: .wav format
• iOS: .aiff format
• Maximum file size: 1 MB

Once all steps are complete, push notifications are fully enabled for your app. You can send your first notification from the Push Notifications page in the Appilix dashboard.