Firebase Remote Config fetch() fails when network is unavailable, caching issues occur, or throttling limits are exceeded. This error prevents your app from retrieving the latest configuration values from Firebase servers.
This error occurs when the Firebase Remote Config client attempts to fetch new parameter values from Firebase servers but cannot complete the operation. It indicates a communication failure between your app and Firebase Remote Config backend. This commonly happens due to network connectivity issues, authentication problems, caching conflicts, or service-side throttling when too many fetch requests are made in a short time window.
Verify the device has an active internet connection. Test by opening a web browser or using a network diagnostic tool. Remote Config fetch requires a stable network connection to reach Firebase servers. If offline, connect to WiFi or cellular data before attempting to fetch again.
Wrap your fetch call in a try-catch block and implement exponential backoff retry logic:
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
remoteConfig.settings.minimumFetchIntervalMillis = 3600000; // 1 hour for development
async function fetchWithRetry(retries = 3, delay = 1000) {
for (let i = 0; i < retries; i++) {
try {
await remoteConfig.fetch();
await remoteConfig.activate();
return true;
} catch (error) {
console.error(`Fetch attempt ${i + 1} failed:`, error);
if (i < retries - 1) {
await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay * Math.pow(2, i)));
}
}
}
return false;
}
const success = await fetchWithRetry();
if (!success) console.log('Using cached or default values');Define in-app default values so your app works even if fetch fails. This ensures your application always has valid configuration:
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
remoteConfig.settings.minimumFetchIntervalMillis = 3600000;
remoteConfig.defaultConfig = {
feature_enabled: true,
api_timeout: 30000,
theme: 'dark',
};
// Fetch and activate, but use defaults if it fails
try {
await remoteConfig.fetchAndActivate();
} catch (error) {
console.warn('Remote Config fetch failed, using defaults', error);
}
const featureEnabled = remoteConfig.getBoolean('feature_enabled');If fetch works initially but fails on later attempts, clear the cache before fetching (workaround for caching issues after library updates):
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
// Only use this if experiencing repeated fetch failures
await remoteConfig.reset();
await remoteConfig.fetch();
const success = await remoteConfig.activate();
console.log('Config updated:', success);Note: This is not ideal for production - reset() forces a fresh network request every time and bypasses caching benefits.
The default minimum fetch interval is 12 hours in production. Don't make excessive fetch requests:
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
// For development only - use lower intervals
if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
remoteConfig.settings.minimumFetchIntervalMillis = 300000; // 5 minutes
} else {
remoteConfig.settings.minimumFetchIntervalMillis = 43200000; // 12 hours
}
// Check cache age before fetching
const lastFetch = remoteConfig.settings.lastFetchStatus;
if (lastFetch === 'success') {
console.log('Using cached config, respecting fetch interval');
} else {
await remoteConfig.fetch();
}Ensure your Firebase credentials are correctly configured:
For Android: Check that google-services.json is:
- Placed in the android/app/ directory
- Downloaded from Firebase Console for the correct project and app
- Contains valid client and oauth_client entries
For iOS: Check that GoogleService-Info.plist is:
- Added to your Xcode project
- Included in all targets
- Downloaded from Firebase Console for the correct app bundle ID
For Web: Verify your Firebase config object has all required fields:
const firebaseConfig = {
apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY",
projectId: "YOUR_PROJECT_ID",
databaseURL: "YOUR_DATABASE_URL",
// ... other fields
};
firebase.initializeApp(firebaseConfig);Combine fetch and activate into a single operation for better reliability:
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
remoteConfig.settings.minimumFetchIntervalMillis = 3600000;
try {
const activated = await remoteConfig.fetchAndActivate();
if (activated) {
console.log('Remote Config updated and activated');
} else {
console.log('Using previously cached config');
}
} catch (error) {
console.error('fetchAndActivate failed:', error);
// App will use defaults or last cached values
}This is more efficient than calling fetch() and activate() separately.
If you see "Firebase Installations failed to get installation auth token", the service may be temporarily unavailable:
const remoteConfig = firebase.remoteConfig();
async function checkAndFetch() {
try {
const result = await remoteConfig.fetchAndActivate();
return result;
} catch (error) {
if (error.message.includes('Installations')) {
console.warn('Installations service unavailable, retrying in 30s...');
await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 30000));
return checkAndFetch(); // Retry
}
throw error;
}
}This error is typically temporary and resolves within minutes.
Real-time Remote Config: If you need frequent config updates beyond the 12-hour default fetch interval, consider using the addOnConfigUpdateListener() method alongside fetch(). This provides real-time updates when configs change on the Firebase Console without relying on client-side fetch calls.
Throttling behavior: Firebase implements hourly and daily quotas for Remote Config fetch operations. A single app with thousands of test users fetching every minute will likely hit quotas. For active development, use minimumFetchIntervalMillis: 300000 (5 minutes) on a small team only.
Caching mechanism: Remote Config caches fetched values locally. If fetch fails, the app automatically uses the most recently cached values. This ensures graceful degradation even during network outages. The cache persists across app sessions.
Client library versions: This error became more common after certain react-native-firebase updates. If you're experiencing it after a library upgrade, try resetting the cache or downgrading to verify the version change introduced the issue.
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