🐛 [APP_CHECK] Instructions for activating the debug provider on IOS don't appear to work

[PaulRudin]

Bug report

I have followed the instructions for activating the debug Appcheck provider here: https://firebase.flutter.dev/docs/app-check/usage/#activating-the-debug-provider-iosmacos but do not see a logged debug token.

App check works fine running on real ios devices, but when I attempt to run on a simulator, I don't get a debug token logged, and I can see in the firebase console that attempts to read the realtime database are being blocked by appcheck.

Steps to reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Modify ios/Runner/AppDeletage.swift. If I used exactly the version from the instructions I get build errors. This is the version I'm trying:

   
   import UIKit
   import Flutter

import google_mobile_ads

import Firebase

@UIApplicationMain @objc class AppDelegate: FlutterAppDelegate {

override func application( _ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]? ) -> Bool { GeneratedPluginRegistrant.register(with: self)

let listTileFactory = ListTileNativeAdFactory()
FLTGoogleMobileAdsPlugin.registerNativeAdFactory(
    self, factoryId: "listTile", nativeAdFactory: listTileFactory)

let providerFactory = AppCheckDebugProviderFactory()
AppCheck.setAppCheckProviderFactory(providerFactory)

return super.application(application, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: launchOptions)

} }

2. Ensure that your app uses appcheck protected services and that appcheck is enforced.
3. Run the app on a simulator with e.g. `flutter run`
4. Check the logs - there's no debug token printed.

### Expected behavior

I expect a debug appcheck token to be logged.

## Additional context

Appcheck works on real ios devices for the same app.

---

### Flutter doctor

Run `flutter doctor` and paste the output below:

<details><summary>Click To Expand</summary>

flutter doctor Doctor summary (to see all details, run flutter doctor -v): [✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 2.2.3, on macOS 11.5.2 20G95 darwin-arm, locale en-GB) [✗] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices ✗ Unable to locate Android SDK. Install Android Studio from: https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html On first launch it will assist you in installing the Android SDK components. (or visit https://flutter.dev/docs/get-started/install/macos#android-setup for detailed instructions). If the Android SDK has been installed to a custom location, please use flutter config --android-sdk to update to that location.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS [✓] Chrome - develop for the web [!] Android Studio (not installed) [✓] Connected device (3 available)

! Doctor found issues in 2 categories.

</details>

---

### Flutter dependencies

Run `flutter pub deps -- --style=compact` and paste the output below:

<details><summary>Click To Expand</summary>

Changing current working directory to: /Users/paulrudin/Dropbox/livefpl-ui Dart SDK 2.13.4 Flutter SDK 2.2.3 liveff 0.0.116+64

dependencies:

• admob_consent 2.0.0 [flutter]
• cloud_firestore 2.4.0 [cloud_firestore_platform_interface cloud_firestore_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter meta]
• cupertino_icons 1.0.3
• firebase 9.0.1 [http http_parser js]
• firebase_analytics 8.2.0 [firebase_analytics_platform_interface firebase_analytics_web firebase_core flutter meta]
• firebase_app_check 0.0.1+3 [firebase_app_check_platform_interface firebase_app_check_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter]
• firebase_auth 3.0.1 [firebase_auth_platform_interface firebase_auth_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter meta]
• firebase_auth_web 3.0.0 [firebase_auth_platform_interface firebase_core firebase_core_web flutter flutter_web_plugins http_parser intl js meta]
• firebase_core 1.5.0 [firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_core_web flutter meta]
• firebase_database 7.2.0 [firebase_core flutter]
• fluro 2.0.3 [flutter]
• flutter 0.0.0 [characters collection meta typed_data vector_math sky_engine]
• flutter_riverpod 1.0.0-dev.6 [collection flutter meta riverpod state_notifier]
• flutter_staggered_grid_view 0.4.0 [flutter]
• google_mobile_ads 0.13.3 [meta flutter]
• http 0.13.3 [async http_parser meta path pedantic]
• is_firebase_test_lab_activated 2.0.0 [flutter]
• logging 1.0.1
• rxdart 0.27.1
• shared_preferences 2.0.6 [meta flutter shared_preferences_platform_interface shared_preferences_linux shared_preferences_macos shared_preferences_web shared_preferences_windows]
• stream_transform 2.0.0
• universal_platform 1.0.0+1
• uuid 3.0.4 [crypto]

dev dependencies:

• build_runner 2.1.1 [args async analyzer build build_config build_daemon build_resolvers build_runner_core code_builder collection crypto dart_style frontend_server_client glob graphs http_multi_server io js logging meta mime package_config path pedantic pool pub_semver pubspec_parse shelf shelf_web_socket stack_trace stream_transform timing watcher web_socket_channel yaml]
• flutter_driver 0.0.0 [file flutter flutter_test fuchsia_remote_debug_protocol path meta vm_service webdriver archive async boolean_selector characters charcode clock collection crypto matcher platform process source_span stack_trace stream_channel string_scanner sync_http term_glyph test_api typed_data vector_math]
• flutter_launcher_icons 0.9.1 [args image path yaml]
• flutter_test 0.0.0 [flutter test_api path fake_async clock stack_trace vector_math async boolean_selector characters charcode collection matcher meta source_span stream_channel string_scanner term_glyph typed_data]
• integration_test 0.0.0 [flutter flutter_driver flutter_test path vm_service archive async boolean_selector characters charcode clock collection crypto fake_async file matcher meta source_span stack_trace stream_channel string_scanner sync_http term_glyph test_api typed_data vector_math webdriver]
• mockito 5.0.14 [analyzer build code_builder collection dart_style matcher meta path source_gen test_api]
• test 1.16.8 [analyzer async boolean_selector collection coverage http_multi_server io js node_preamble package_config path pedantic pool shelf shelf_packages_handler shelf_static shelf_web_socket source_span stack_trace stream_channel typed_data web_socket_channel webkit_inspection_protocol yaml test_api test_core]

transitive dependencies:

• _fe_analyzer_shared 22.0.0 [meta]
• analyzer 1.7.1 [_fe_analyzer_shared cli_util collection convert crypto glob meta package_config path pub_semver source_span watcher yaml pedantic]
• archive 3.1.2 [crypto path]
• args 2.2.0
• async 2.6.1 [meta collection]
• boolean_selector 2.1.0 [source_span string_scanner]
• build 2.1.0 [analyzer async convert crypto glob logging meta path]
• build_config 1.0.0 [checked_yaml json_annotation path pubspec_parse yaml]
• build_daemon 3.0.0 [built_collection built_value http_multi_server logging pedantic path pool shelf shelf_web_socket stream_transform watcher web_socket_channel]
• build_resolvers 2.0.4 [analyzer async build crypto graphs logging path package_config pool pub_semver stream_transform yaml]
• build_runner_core 7.1.0 [async build build_config build_resolvers collection convert crypto glob graphs json_annotation logging meta path package_config pedantic pool timing watcher yaml]
• built_collection 5.1.0
• built_value 8.1.2 [built_collection collection fixnum meta]
• characters 1.1.0
• charcode 1.2.0
• checked_yaml 2.0.1 [json_annotation source_span yaml]
• cli_util 0.3.3 [meta path]
• clock 1.1.0
• cloud_firestore_platform_interface 5.3.0 [collection firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
• cloud_firestore_web 2.3.0 [cloud_firestore_platform_interface firebase_core firebase_core_web flutter flutter_web_plugins js]
• code_builder 4.1.0 [built_collection built_value collection matcher meta]
• collection 1.15.0
• convert 3.0.1 [typed_data]
• coverage 1.0.3 [args logging package_config path source_maps stack_trace vm_service]
• crypto 3.0.1 [collection typed_data]
• dart_style 2.0.3 [analyzer args path pub_semver source_span]
• fake_async 1.2.0 [clock collection]
• ffi 1.1.2
• file 6.1.0 [meta path]
• firebase_analytics_platform_interface 2.0.1 [flutter meta]
• firebase_analytics_web 0.3.0+1 [firebase firebase_analytics_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins meta]
• firebase_app_check_platform_interface 0.0.1+3 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
• firebase_app_check_web 0.0.1+3 [firebase_app_check_platform_interface firebase_core firebase_core_web flutter flutter_web_plugins js]
• firebase_auth_platform_interface 6.0.0 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
• firebase_core_platform_interface 4.0.1 [collection flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
• firebase_core_web 1.1.0 [firebase_core_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins js meta]
• fixnum 1.0.0
• flutter_web_plugins 0.0.0 [flutter js characters collection meta typed_data vector_math]
• freezed_annotation 0.14.2 [collection json_annotation meta]
• frontend_server_client 2.1.0 [async path]
• fuchsia_remote_debug_protocol 0.0.0 [process vm_service file meta path platform]
• glob 2.0.1 [async collection file path pedantic string_scanner]
• graphs 2.0.0
• http_multi_server 3.0.1 [async]
• http_parser 4.0.0 [charcode collection source_span string_scanner typed_data]
• image 3.0.2 [archive meta xml]
• intl 0.17.0 [clock path]
• io 1.0.3 [meta path string_scanner]
• js 0.6.3
• json_annotation 4.0.1
• matcher 0.12.10 [stack_trace]
• meta 1.3.0
• mime 1.0.0
• node_preamble 2.0.1
• package_config 2.0.0 [path]
• path 1.8.0
• path_provider_linux 2.0.2 [flutter path path_provider_platform_interface xdg_directories]
• path_provider_platform_interface 2.0.1 [flutter meta platform plugin_platform_interface]
• path_provider_windows 2.0.3 [ffi flutter meta path path_provider_platform_interface win32]
• pedantic 1.11.1
• petitparser 4.1.0 [meta]
• platform 3.0.0
• plugin_platform_interface 2.0.1 [meta]
• pool 1.5.0 [async stack_trace]
• process 4.2.1 [file path platform]
• pub_semver 2.0.0 [collection]
• pubspec_parse 1.0.0 [checked_yaml collection json_annotation pub_semver yaml]
• riverpod 1.0.0-dev.6 [collection freezed_annotation meta state_notifier]
• shared_preferences_linux 2.0.2 [file meta flutter path path_provider_linux shared_preferences_platform_interface]
• shared_preferences_macos 2.0.2 [flutter shared_preferences_platform_interface]
• shared_preferences_platform_interface 2.0.0 [flutter]
• shared_preferences_web 2.0.1 [flutter flutter_web_plugins meta shared_preferences_platform_interface]
• shared_preferences_windows 2.0.2 [flutter file meta path path_provider_platform_interface path_provider_windows shared_preferences_platform_interface]
• shelf 1.2.0 [async collection http_parser path stack_trace stream_channel]
• shelf_packages_handler 3.0.0 [path shelf shelf_static]
• shelf_static 1.1.0 [convert http_parser mime path shelf]
• shelf_web_socket 1.0.1 [shelf stream_channel web_socket_channel]
• sky_engine 0.0.99
• source_gen 1.0.3 [analyzer async build dart_style glob meta path pedantic source_span yaml]
• source_map_stack_trace 2.1.0 [path stack_trace source_maps]
• source_maps 0.10.10 [source_span]
• source_span 1.8.1 [collection path term_glyph]
• stack_trace 1.10.0 [path]
• state_notifier 0.7.0 [meta]
• stream_channel 2.1.0 [async]
• string_scanner 1.1.0 [charcode source_span]
• sync_http 0.3.0
• term_glyph 1.2.0
• test_api 0.3.0 [async boolean_selector collection meta path source_span stack_trace stream_channel string_scanner term_glyph matcher]
• test_core 0.3.19 [analyzer async args boolean_selector collection coverage glob io meta package_config path pedantic pool source_map_stack_trace source_maps source_span stack_trace stream_channel vm_service yaml matcher test_api]
• timing 1.0.0 [json_annotation]
• typed_data 1.3.0 [collection]
• vector_math 2.1.0
• vm_service 6.2.0
• watcher 1.0.0 [async path pedantic]
• web_socket_channel 2.1.0 [async crypto stream_channel]
• webdriver 3.0.0 [archive matcher path stack_trace sync_http]
• webkit_inspection_protocol 1.0.0 [logging]
• win32 2.2.5 [ffi]
• xdg_directories 0.2.0 [meta path process]
• xml 5.1.2 [collection meta petitparser]
• yaml 3.1.0 [collection source_span string_scanner]

</details>

---

[markusaksli-nc]

Hi @PaulRudin Are there any errors logged? Have you tried using the latest version firebase_app_check: ^0.0.2? Thank you

[PaulRudin]

I have upgraded firebase_app_check to 0.0.2, but the behaviour is the same. There's no error logged.

[markusaksli-nc]

Have you tried the instructions in the firebase docs?

[PaulRudin]

Yeah, so I'd already experimented with those instructions. I've found that adding -FIRDebugEnabled to the launch arguments makes no difference. Adding FirebaseApp.configure() in AppDelegate.swift causes the app to crash after startup (which is perhaps not a surprise as I've already got Firebase.initializeApp(); in my dart code - not sure?)

[PaulRudin]

If I can find time tomorrow I'll try to make a minimal project that exhibits this behaviour... at least then we might have an idea if it's peculiar to something I've done or it's a general problem with flutter/ios/appcheck/emulator/debug tokens

[markusaksli-nc]

There are some general issues with appcheck right now (some of which have been fixed but are pending a new firebase sdk release) so I'll label this based on the report for now. Haven't been able to reproduce this myself though.

[AresVampire]

I am facing the same issue, debug token is not generated. with the latest version 0.0.3

[moritzpail]

I ran into the same issue today ( with firebase_app_check: ^0.0.6+2).

I found that while no debug token is printed to the console when running flutter run the token was printed to the console when running the project directly from Xcode. I am not sure what exactly the issue is, but maybe it helps.

[rohan20]

For everyone struggling with this issue, what did you end up doing? Not enforcing AppCheck?

Or did you stop using the iOS Simulator for dev?

[PaulRudin]

You don't see the output in the console from flutter run, but if you launch via xcode, then you can see it in the output that xcode shows.

[OfirMarom]

In case this helps anyone, I got the debug token to generate with firebase_app_check v0.0.8. As previously mentioned, the debug token displays when you launch directly from xcode.

In addition, I found that these lines:

let providerFactory = AppCheckDebugProviderFactory()
AppCheck.setAppCheckProviderFactory(providerFactory)

Must occur BEFORE this line:

GeneratedPluginRegistrant.register(with: self)

I have no idea why, but the other way did not generate a token. I suspect it is related to this line in the documentation: "In your debug build before using any Firebase backend services, create and set the App Check debug provider factory".

[Lyokone]

Closing since @OfirMarom response is working