Setting up Push Notifications for Android and iOS apps and Firebase Analytics

Push notifications are used to send messages to the users even when they are not using the application. For example, when you launch a new product or give a discount to products, your customers can be informed with a push notification that appears on the Notification bar of their iOS and Android device. This increases the retention and engagement of users with the app. You can send the order status to your customers when required. 

Follow the steps given below and finish setting up your Android and iOS push notifications:

Note: For iOS, there are a few additional steps before you are done.

First, log in to your app maker dashboard and from there go to the Update App section.

Then click on Push notification.

Step 1: Sign In with Google 

To set up push notifications first you have to log in with your Google account to enable firebase. This will configure your app with firebase to send push notifications to your customers. Click on the sign-in with Google to connect your email with firebase. 

Step 2: Create a new Firebase Project

Click on go to Firebase console and create a new project.

Click the add project option. Add a name for the project and then, click Continue. 

Here Firebase recommends you enable Google Analytics for your project. Click Continue. 

Pick an account from the drop-down menu or create a Google Analytics account on this page. Next, select Create Project.

Select Default account to create a project. This will take about 30 seconds to create the project.

Once the project is ready, press the Continue button to go to the firebase project’s overview Page. 

Now, head back to the Appmaker dashboard. Click on Refresh List and you will be able to select the project that you created from the drop-down.

Once you click on the project, Appmaker starts to configure it. Both iOS and Android apps will be created automatically.

Step 3: Upload Service Account

Click on Generate New Private Key

Click on the link to the Firebase service account and it will take you to the project setting.

Next, click the Create Service Account button to generate a private key. 

Click on Generate a new private key to download Key and then, return to the app maker dashboard.

After downloading the private key, upload the key that we generated here. 

Step 4: Adding FCM server Key

Now, copy and paste the FCM server key from the Firebase console. Click on the link to the  FCM server key. This will take you to the cloud messaging setting where you will be able to find the server key. Copy the key and paste it in the Orders section under the Settings in the Appmaker dashboard.

Now, your firebase is successfully configured. 

Note: Before you test push notifications, update your app. Now, click on push notification which is now enabled.

You can now fill in the fields to send Push Notifications.

For iOS, a few more steps need to be done to setup Push Notifications

Step 1: Login to Apple developer account

Step 2: Go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles, select Keys and Click + to create Key

Step 3: Enter Key Name as Push Notification and check APNs box. Then click Continue

Step 4: Copy the Key ID and keep it safe. Download the file and keep it secure. (This is Important)

Step 5: Go to FireBase Console and select your project

Step 6: Go to Project Overview and select Project Settings

Step 7: Under APNs Authentication Key and upload the file you downloaded before.

Step 8: Enter the Key ID in the Upload APNs auth key box

Step 9: Copy the Team ID from here and paste in the Team ID field in the Upload APNs auth key box