> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blockli.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Push Notifications

> How to set up push notifications for your Blockli app — Firebase, APNs, notification types, and real-time events.

Blockli delivers push notifications via **Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM v1)**. FCM handles both Android directly and iOS via APNs relay. Credentials are stored in Studio and injected into builds — you don't configure Firebase keys in the plugin directly.

## Setup overview

1. Create a Firebase project for your app (or use an existing one)
2. Add your iOS and Android apps to the Firebase project
3. Upload credentials to Studio (see [iOS credentials](/studio/credentials-ios) and [Android credentials](/studio/credentials-android))
4. Studio injects the credentials into your builds

The plugin receives a push token from each device when a user logs in. It stores the token against the user's account and uses it when dispatching notifications.

## Notification types

The plugin defines these notification events (`BMA_Push_Types`):

| Type                     | When it fires                                       |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `new_message`            | User receives a private message                     |
| `group_invite`           | User is invited to a group                          |
| `connection_request`     | User receives a friend/connection request           |
| `connection_accepted`    | A connection request is accepted                    |
| `activity_mention`       | User is @mentioned in an activity post              |
| `activity_comment`       | Someone comments on the user's activity             |
| `activity_comment_reply` | Someone replies to the user's comment               |
| `group_activity`         | New activity in a group the user belongs to         |
| `new_forum_reply`        | New reply in a forum topic the user participates in |
| `livestream_start`       | A livestream the user follows has started           |

Each type can be enabled or disabled by users in the app's notification preferences screen.

## Silent / data-only pushes

Blockli uses **data + title/body** pushes (not silent-only) so that `addNotificationReceivedListener` fires on both foreground and background. The notification UI is suppressed programmatically when the notification should be handled in-app without showing a banner.

<Warning>
  Pure data-only (silent) pushes will not trigger `addNotificationReceivedListener` in Expo. Always include `title` and `body` in notification payloads; suppress the UI via the notification handler instead.
</Warning>

## Real-time events

In addition to push, the plugin includes a real-time channel (`BMA_Realtime`) for in-app events while the user has the app open. This uses a polling or WebSocket connection depending on your server configuration. Real-time events power features like:

* Live activity feed updates
* Chat message delivery
* Presence indicators
* Livestream status changes

See the **Real-time** section for configuration details.