How to get data from firebase-message while Android app is in background

Question

I'm sending firebase-messages using the firebase-console. The messages shall contain additional data like shown below with the purpose to open a specific URL within a webview in my app:

I set up my manifest and firebase class to get the messages. Within my firebase class I try to get the data:

@Override
public void onMessageReceived(RemoteMessage remoteMessage) {
    super.onMessageReceived(remoteMessage);
    Intent intent = new Intent(this, MainActivity.class);
    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
    if(remoteMessage.getData().containsKey("key1")) {
        intent.putExtra("destination", remoteMessage.getData().get("key1"));
    }
    PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity
    (this, 0, intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
    String channelId = "default";
    NotificationCompat.Builder builder;
    if (remoteMessage.getNotification() != null ) {
        if (remoteMessage.getNotification().getTitle() != null) {
            builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(this, channelId)
                    .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_onesignal_default)
                    .setContentTitle(remoteMessage.getNotification().getTitle())
                    .setStyle(new NotificationCompat.BigTextStyle().bigText(remoteMessage.getNotification().getBody()))
                    .setAutoCancel(true)
                    .setContentIntent(pendingIntent);
        } else {
            builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(this, channelId)
                    .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_onesignal_default)
                    .setStyle(new NotificationCompat.BigTextStyle().bigText(remoteMessage.getNotification().getBody()))
                    .setAutoCancel(true)
                    .setContentIntent(pendingIntent);
        }

        NotificationManager manager = (NotificationManager) getSystemService(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
            NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel(channelId, "default", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT);
            manager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
        }

        manager.notify(0, builder.build());
    }
}

Within my MainActivity class I try to get the data. When the app is in the foreground, the following works (no matter what activity is opened, it will jump to the MainActivity and execute the following):

@Override
protected void onNewIntent(Intent intent) {
    if (intent.getExtras() != null) {

        Bundle extras = intent.getExtras();

        if(extras.containsKey("destination")) {
            Log.e("FIREBASE_CONTAINS", (String) extras.get("destination"));
        }
    }
}

But the event wont trigger if the app started from the background. I tried to get the intent and check for the key within the onResume() event of the activity, but it does not work (Same in inCreate() and onStart()).

Can anybody help me?

------------EDIT-----------------

As described in one of the comments, the problem seems to be that Notification-Messages won't reach the onMessageReceived() event. Apparently the firebase console can't send data-notifications (which would reach the event) so I tried using POSTMAN. I've read that I have to leave the notification tag out of the message body and put all my information in the data section. But if I do so, the messages won't reach my app (they do, when I add the notification section again, but of course they are not reaching the onMessageReceived() event in that case).

Answer 1

There are 3 types of push messages

• notification
• data
• and both

A push messages is basically a json payload:

payload:{
    notificacion...
    data
}

Rules for each type of push messages are differente. In your case you are using the Firebase web console and adding custom data, which mean your payload will have notification and data.

For the combined type the behaviour in backgroun is to use a default notificacion (NotificationCompat, the visual kind) and open the default activity registered in the manifest. In the activity you can get the data.

Lets say your default activity is called MainActivity

public class MainActivity {

    onCreate...{
    //... usual stuff
    Intent fcmIntent = getIntent();
    if fcmIntent != null
    //check the extras and forward them to the next activity if needed
    }
}

Answer 2

There are two type of push message

(1)Notification Message (will receive when app is in foreground)

(2)Data Message (will receive when app is in background+foreground)

Reference : https://firebase.google.com/docs/cloud-messaging/android/receive

Answer 3

You need to set click_action in firebase notification data set to be able to receive data from background and implement onMessageReceived to handle foreground data

See updated answer here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/73724040/7904082

Answer 4

I solved this buy handling the notification in handleIntent it fires when app is killed,in background and foreground. I completely ignore the onMessageReceived(@NonNull RemoteMessage message) method because it doesnt seem to work when app is in background.

@Override

    public void handleIntent(Intent intent) {
        Log.d( "FCM", "handleIntent \n"+intent.getStringExtra("data"));
        String messageTitle = intent.getStringExtra("title");
        String messageBody = intent.getStringExtra("body");
        //from here pass the values to a method to show your notification.
        
    }

In your activity you will then be able to retrieve any data from the intent.

To redirect to your desired activity, you must add click_action to your payload. Here is what my payload looks like:

"notification": {
  "body": "Your message is here",
  "title": "Hey Robby",
  "discount_code": "baba-blacksheep",
  "uid": "2",
  "click_action": "OPEN_ACTIVITY_FROM_NOTIFICATION"
}