Android Firebase AI Live API: startAudioConversation() starts, mic activates, but session closes immediately with no transcripts

[dmazurek00]

`I'm using Firebase AI Logic on Android with:

• Firebase BoM: 34.10.0
• firebase-ai resolved version: 17.10.0
• model: gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025
• device: Samsung SM-S711B
• minSdk: 24
• targetSdk: 36

What works

• Firebase initializes correctly
• liveModel.connect() succeeds
• LiveSession is created successfully
• startAudioConversation() is invoked successfully
• RECORD_AUDIO permission is granted
• foreground service with foregroundServiceType="microphone" is configured correctly
• microphone indicator appears on device
• app UI receives runtime events correctly

What does NOT work

On Android only, the live audio conversation closes almost immediately after starting:

• no input transcript
• no output transcript
• no audio response from model

Session health check shows:

• session.isClosed() == true
• session.isAudioConversationActive() == false

Important comparison

The same model works correctly in Python on desktop, so this does not appear to be a model availability or prompt issue.

Current Android flow

The flow is minimal and follows the documented usage:

1. connect()
2. startAudioConversation()

There is no parallel custom receive() loop.

Important note

I already verified from SDK sources that startAudioConversation() is non-blocking and returns immediately by design, so the immediate return itself is not the issue.

The actual problem is that the underlying session closes immediately after startup.

Additional context

Earlier I had a custom receive loop, but I removed it after hitting:

"This session is already receiving. Please call stopReceiving() before calling this again."

So now the Android flow is clean and follows the recommended pattern:

• connect()
• startAudioConversation()
• no parallel receive()

Question

Is this a known Android / Firebase AI Logic SDK issue with native audio Live models?

Is there any Android-specific requirement, limitation, or known bug that would cause the session to close immediately after startAudioConversation() without surfacing a meaningful error?

Using Firebase AI Logic on Android:

• Firebase BoM 34.10.0
• firebase-ai 17.10.0
• model: gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025
• device: Samsung SM-S711B

Problem:

• liveModel.connect() succeeds
• startAudioConversation() is called successfully
• microphone activates
• but session closes almost immediately
• no input transcript
• no output transcript
• no audio response

The same model works correctly in Python on desktop.

Minimal Android flow:

• connect()
• startAudioConversation()
• no custom receive() loop

Relevant logs:

SESSION_CONNECTED
Calling startAudioConversation (non-blocking)...
startAudioConversation returned (internal coroutines are now running)
MIC_STARTED — mic capture and model playback are active
SESSION_HEALTH_CHECK #1: closed=true, audioActive=false, inputTranscripts=false, outputTranscripts=false
SESSION_CLOSED detected by health monitor

Question:
Is this a known Android/Firebase AI Logic issue with Live native audio models?

I'm using Firebase AI Logic on Android with:

• Firebase BoM 34.10.0
• firebase-ai 17.10.0
• model: gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025

What works:

• connect() succeeds
• startAudioConversation() is invoked
• microphone permission is granted
• foreground service is configured correctly
• microphone indicator appears

What fails:

• session closes almost immediately after startup
• no input transcript
• no output transcript
• no model audio

The same model works correctly in Python on desktop.

My Android flow is minimal and matches the docs:

• connect()
• startAudioConversation()
• no parallel custom receive() loop

Relevant logs:

SESSION_CONNECTED
Calling startAudioConversation (non-blocking)...
startAudioConversation returned (internal coroutines are now running)
MIC_STARTED — mic capture and model playback are active
SESSION_HEALTH_CHECK #1: closed=true, audioActive=false, inputTranscripts=false, outputTranscripts=false
SESSION_CLOSED detected by health monitor

I already checked SDK sources, and startAudioConversation() returning immediately is expected behavior, so that's not the bug.

Question:
Has anyone seen this on Android with Firebase AI Logic + Gemini Live native audio models?

SESSION_CONNECTED
Calling startAudioConversation (non-blocking)...
startAudioConversation returned (internal coroutines are now running)
MIC_STARTED — mic capture and model playback are active
SESSION_HEALTH_CHECK #1: closed=true, audioActive=false, inputTranscripts=false, outputTranscripts=false
SESSION_CLOSED detected by health monitor

`

[lehcar09]

Hi @dmazurek00, thank you for reaching out. I tried reproducing the issue by running the Firebase Quickstart for Firebase AI, however, I can see that the session persists.

By any chance, can you share an MCVE/ code snippet to help us investigate the issue?