Push Notifications in Capacitor

Implement push notifications for iOS and Android using Firebase and APNs.

When to Use This Skill

• User wants push notifications
• User needs FCM setup
• User asks about APNs
• User has notification issues
• User wants rich notifications

Quick Start

Install Plugin

bun add @capacitor/push-notifications
bunx cap sync

Basic Implementation

import { PushNotifications } from '@capacitor/push-notifications';

async function initPushNotifications() {
  // Request permission
  const permission = await PushNotifications.requestPermissions();

  if (permission.receive === 'granted') {
    // Register for push
    await PushNotifications.register();
  }

  // Get FCM token
  PushNotifications.addListener('registration', (token) => {
    console.log('Push token:', token.value);
    // Send token to your server
    sendTokenToServer(token.value);
  });

  // Handle registration error
  PushNotifications.addListener('registrationError', (error) => {
    console.error('Registration error:', error);
  });

  // Handle incoming notification (foreground)
  PushNotifications.addListener('pushNotificationReceived', (notification) => {
    console.log('Notification received:', notification);
    // Show in-app notification
    showInAppNotification(notification);
  });

  // Handle notification tap
  PushNotifications.addListener('pushNotificationActionPerformed', (action) => {
    console.log('Notification action:', action);
    // Navigate based on notification data
    handleNotificationTap(action.notification);
  });
}

Firebase Setup

1. Create Firebase Project

1. Go to https://console.firebase.google.com
2. Create new project
3. Add iOS and Android apps

2. Android Configuration

Download google-services.json to android/app/

// android/build.gradle
buildscript {
    dependencies {
        classpath 'com.google.gms:google-services:4.4.0'
    }
}

// android/app/build.gradle
apply plugin: 'com.google.gms.google-services'

dependencies {
    implementation platform('com.google.firebase:firebase-bom:32.7.0')
    implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging'
}

3. iOS Configuration

Download GoogleService-Info.plist to ios/App/App/

# ios/App/Podfile
pod 'Firebase/Messaging'

// ios/App/App/AppDelegate.swift
import Firebase
import FirebaseMessaging

@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {

    func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {
        FirebaseApp.configure()
        return true
    }

    func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didRegisterForRemoteNotificationsWithDeviceToken deviceToken: Data
    ) {
        Messaging.messaging().apnsToken = deviceToken
    }
}

4. iOS Capabilities

In Xcode:

1. Select App target
2. Signing & Capabilities
3. Add "Push Notifications"
4. Add "Background Modes" > "Remote notifications"

APNs Key Setup (iOS)

Create APNs Key

1. Go to https://developer.apple.com/account
2. Certificates, IDs & Profiles
3. Keys > Create Key
4. Enable Apple Push Notifications service (APNs)
5. Download .p8 file

Add to Firebase

1. Firebase Console > Project Settings
2. Cloud Messaging tab
3. iOS app configuration
4. Upload APNs Authentication Key (.p8)
5. Enter Key ID and Team ID

Sending Notifications

Firebase Admin SDK (Node.js)

import admin from 'firebase-admin';

// Initialize
admin.initializeApp({
  credential: admin.credential.cert(serviceAccount),
});

// Send to single device
async function sendToDevice(token: string) {
  await admin.messaging().send({
    token,
    notification: {
      title: 'Hello!',
      body: 'You have a new message',
    },
    data: {
      type: 'message',
      messageId: '123',
    },
    android: {
      priority: 'high',
      notification: {
        channelId: 'messages',
        icon: 'ic_notification',
        color: '#4285f4',
      },
    },
    apns: {
      payload: {
        aps: {
          badge: 1,
          sound: 'default',
        },
      },
    },
  });
}

// Send to topic
async function sendToTopic(topic: string) {
  await admin.messaging().send({
    topic,
    notification: {
      title: 'Breaking News',
      body: 'Something important happened',
    },
  });
}

// Send to multiple devices
async function sendToMultiple(tokens: string[]) {
  await admin.messaging().sendEachForMulticast({
    tokens,
    notification: {
      title: 'Update',
      body: 'New features available',
    },
  });
}

HTTP v1 API

curl -X POST \
  'https://fcm.googleapis.com/v1/projects/YOUR_PROJECT/messages:send' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer ACCESS_TOKEN' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
    "message": {
      "token": "DEVICE_TOKEN",
      "notification": {
        "title": "Hello",
        "body": "World"
      }
    }
  }'

Advanced Features

Notification Channels (Android)

import { PushNotifications } from '@capacitor/push-notifications';

// Create channel
await PushNotifications.createChannel({
  id: 'messages',
  name: 'Messages',
  description: 'Message notifications',
  importance: 5, // Max importance
  visibility: 1, // Public
  sound: 'notification.wav',
  vibration: true,
  lights: true,
  lightColor: '#FF0000',
});

// Delete channel
await PushNotifications.deleteChannel({ id: 'old-channel' });

// List channels
const channels = await PushNotifications.listChannels();

Topic Subscription

// Subscribe to topic
await PushNotifications.addListener('registration', async () => {
  // Subscribe to topics based on user preferences
  const messaging = getMessaging();
  await subscribeToTopic(messaging, 'news');
  await subscribeToTopic(messaging, 'promotions');
});

Rich Notifications (iOS)

// ios/App/NotificationService/NotificationService.swift
import UserNotifications

class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
    override func didReceive(
        _ request: UNNotificationRequest,
        withContentHandler contentHandler: @escaping (UNNotificationContent) -> Void
    ) {
        guard let mutableContent = request.content.mutableCopy() as? UNMutableNotificationContent else {
            contentHandler(request.content)
            return
        }

        // Add image
        if let imageUrl = request.content.userInfo["image"] as? String,
           let url = URL(string: imageUrl) {
            downloadImage(url: url) { attachment in
                if let attachment = attachment {
                    mutableContent.attachments = [attachment]
                }
                contentHandler(mutableContent)
            }
        } else {
            contentHandler(mutableContent)
        }
    }
}

Notification Actions

// Handle action buttons
PushNotifications.addListener('pushNotificationActionPerformed', (action) => {
  switch (action.actionId) {
    case 'reply':
      // Handle reply action
      const input = action.inputValue;
      sendReply(input);
      break;
    case 'dismiss':
      // Handle dismiss
      break;
    default:
      // Handle tap
      navigateToContent(action.notification.data);
  }
});

Background Handling

Data-Only Notifications

// Server-side: Send data-only message
{
  "to": "DEVICE_TOKEN",
  "data": {
    "type": "sync",
    "action": "refresh"
  }
  // No "notification" key = data-only
}

// android/app/src/main/java/.../FirebaseService.kt
class FirebaseService : FirebaseMessagingService() {
    override fun onMessageReceived(message: RemoteMessage) {
        // Handle data message in background
        message.data["type"]?.let { type ->
            when (type) {
                "sync" -> performBackgroundSync()
                "update" -> checkForUpdates()
            }
        }
    }
}

Local Notifications Fallback

import { LocalNotifications } from '@capacitor/local-notifications';

// Show local notification when in foreground
PushNotifications.addListener('pushNotificationReceived', async (notification) => {
  await LocalNotifications.schedule({
    notifications: [
      {
        id: Date.now(),
        title: notification.title || '',
        body: notification.body || '',
        extra: notification.data,
      },
    ],
  });
});

Best Practices

Permission Handling

async function requestNotificationPermission() {
  const { receive } = await PushNotifications.checkPermissions();

  if (receive === 'prompt') {
    // Show explanation first
    const shouldRequest = await showPermissionExplanation();

    if (shouldRequest) {
      const result = await PushNotifications.requestPermissions();
      return result.receive === 'granted';
    }
    return false;
  }

  if (receive === 'denied') {
    // Guide user to settings
    showSettingsPrompt();
    return false;
  }

  return receive === 'granted';
}

Token Refresh

// Handle token refresh
PushNotifications.addListener('registration', async (token) => {
  const oldToken = await getStoredToken();

  if (oldToken !== token.value) {
    // Token changed, update server
    await updateServerToken(oldToken, token.value);
    await storeToken(token.value);
  }
});

Error Handling

PushNotifications.addListener('registrationError', (error) => {
  console.error('Push registration failed:', error);

  // Log to analytics
  analytics.logEvent('push_registration_failed', {
    error: error.error,
  });

  // Retry with backoff
  scheduleRetry();
});

Troubleshooting

iOS Not Receiving

1. Check APNs key in Firebase
2. Verify Push Notifications capability
3. Check provisioning profile
4. Verify device token format
5. Test with Firebase Console

Android Not Receiving

1. Verify google-services.json
2. Check notification channel exists
3. Verify FCM token
4. Check battery optimization
5. Test with Firebase Console

Common Issues

Issue	Solution
No token	Check permissions, network
Foreground only	Implement background handler
Delayed delivery	Use high priority, data-only
No sound	Configure notification channel
Badge not updating	Set badge in payload

Resources

• Capacitor Push Notifications: https://capacitorjs.com/docs/apis/push-notifications
• Firebase Cloud Messaging: https://firebase.google.com/docs/cloud-messaging
• APNs Documentation: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/usernotifications