PlatformException(channel-error) on iOS Simulator 17.5 with Firebase 3.12.0

[imblubb]

Issue

Firebase.initializeApp fails with PlatformException(channel-error, Unable to establish connection on channel., null, null) on iOS 17.5 simulator (Xcode 15.4). App runs fine without Firebase.

Environment

• Flutter: 3.29.0 (stable)
• Xcode: 15.4
• Simulator: iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 17.5, also tested 17.4—same error)
• firebase_core: 3.12.0 (tried 2.24.2—same error)
• firebase_messaging: 15.2.3 (tried 14.7.10—same error)
• Firebase SDK: 11.8.0 (tried 10.25.0—same error)
• macOS: 14.1.1 (Sonoma)

Steps Taken

• Updated .p8 key to sandbox + production.
• Fresh GoogleService-Info.plist
• Enabled Push Notifications + Runner.entitlements (aps-environment: development).
• Simulator reset (deleted/re-added).
• Pods cleaned/updated (pod deintegrate, pod install --repo-update, pod update Firebase/CoreOnly).
• Xcode builds cleanly (no errors).
• No physical device available.

Logs

• flutter doctor -v: Attached as doctor.txt.
  doctor.txt
• Xcode console: "FIRMessaging proxy enabled" but no specific native error beyond channel failure:

[ +297 ms] flutter: Starting app...
flutter: Attempting Firebase initialization...
flutter: Options: {apiKey: REDACT, appId: REDACT, ...}
[ +5 ms] flutter: Firebase initialization failed: PlatformException(channel-error, Unable to establish connection on channel., null, null)
flutter: Stacktrace: #0 main (package:stalert_app/main.dart:24:37)
flutter: Continuing without Firebase...
flutter: Running app UI...

Notes

• UI loads with no-Firebase version (“STAlert” + “Waiting…”).
• Persistent across iOS 17.5 and 17.4 simulators.
• Suspect simulator-specific issue with Firebase SDK.

Any workaround for simulator-only testing?

[imblubb]

Issue

Firebase.initializeApp fails with PlatformException(channel-error, Unable to establish connection on channel., null, null) on iOS 17.5 simulator (Xcode 15.4). App runs fine without Firebase.

Environment

• Flutter: 3.29.0 (stable)
• Xcode: 15.4
• Simulator: iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS 17.5, also tested 17.4—same error)
• firebase_core: 3.12.0 (tried 2.24.2—same error)
• firebase_messaging: 15.2.3 (tried 14.7.10—same error)
• Firebase SDK: 11.8.0 (tried 10.25.0—same error)
• macOS: 14.1.1 (Sonoma)

Steps Taken

• Updated .p8 key to sandbox + production.
• Fresh GoogleService-Info.plist
• Enabled Push Notifications + Runner.entitlements (aps-environment: development).
• Simulator reset (deleted/re-added).
• Pods cleaned/updated (pod deintegrate, pod install --repo-update, pod update Firebase/CoreOnly).
• Xcode builds cleanly (no errors).
• No physical device available.

Logs

• flutter doctor -v: Attached as doctor.txt.
  doctor.txt
• Xcode console: "FIRMessaging proxy enabled" but no specific native error beyond channel failure:

[ +297 ms] flutter: Starting app... flutter: Attempting Firebase initialization... flutter: Options: {apiKey: REDACT, appId: REDACT, ...} [ +5 ms] flutter: Firebase initialization failed: PlatformException(channel-error, Unable to establish connection on channel., null, null) flutter: Stacktrace: #0 main (package:stalert_app/main.dart:24:37) flutter: Continuing without Firebase... flutter: Running app UI...

Notes

• UI loads with no-Firebase version (“STAlert” + “Waiting…”).
• Persistent across iOS 17.5 and 17.4 simulators.
• Suspect simulator-specific issue with Firebase SDK.

Any workaround for simulator-only testing?

@flutterfire-team Could you please convert this discussion to an issue? I’d like it tracked as a bug for the PlatformException(channel-error) on iOS simulator. Thanks!