Setting up iOS, Android React Native push notifications for your Ethora chats

Setting up mobile (iOS, Android via React Native) push notifications for your Ethora chats

iOS / Android / React Native

This guide explains how to connect your mobile application to Firebase in order to receive push notifications for Ethora chats.

The instructions below cover only the client-side setup.
Backend configuration and admin dashboard setup are handled separately.

Assumptions

This guide assumes that:

• Your mobile project already supports push notifications

• Firebase SDK dependencies are already installed in your project

• You only need to connect your app to Firebase and add the required config files

Step 1. Create a Firebase project

1. Open Firebase Console

2. Click Create project

3. Enter a project name

4. Complete project creation

Typically, one Firebase project corresponds to one mobile application and contains both iOS and Android apps.

Step 2. Add iOS app in Firebase

1. Open Project Settings in Firebase Console

2. In the Your apps section click Add app

3. Select iOS

4. Enter your iOS Bundle ID
   (must exactly match the Bundle ID of your app)

5. Click Register app

Step 3. Download iOS configuration file

After registering the iOS app, download the file:

GoogleService-Info.plist

This file is generated specifically for your Bundle ID.

Step 4. Add iOS config file to the project

Place the downloaded file into:

ios/GoogleService-Info.plist

Make sure that the file is:

• included in the Xcode project

• added to the correct app target

No additional iOS changes are required.

Step 5. Add Android app in Firebase

1. Open Project Settings in Firebase Console

2. Click Add app

3. Select Android

4. Enter your Android package name
   (must exactly match applicationId)

5. Click Register app

SHA-1 is not required for basic push notifications.

Step 6. Download Android configuration file

After registering the Android app, download the file:

google-services.json

Step 7. Add Android config file to the project

Place the downloaded file into:

android/app/google-services.json

The file location must be exact.

No additional Android changes are required.

Step 8. Build and run the app

After adding the configuration files:

• Build and run the iOS app

• Build and run the Android app

At this point Firebase initializes successfully and the application can receive push notifications.

Important notes

• GoogleService-Info.plist and google-services.json are client-side files

• These files belong to your mobile application repository

• They are not uploaded to Ethora admin panel or backend services

Push delivery infrastructure (Firebase Admin SDK, service accounts, APNs keys) is configured separately.

Final checklist

• Firebase project created

• iOS app added in Firebase

• Android app added in Firebase

• GoogleService-Info.plist added to ios/

• google-services.json added to android/app/

• Application builds successfully

Validate in your Uptime service: