🐛 [firebase_database] Client is offline

[Tom3652]

Bug report

Describe the bug

I am having this error :

I/RepoOperation(20534): get for query /chats falling back to disk cache after error: Client is offline
E/firebase_database(20534): An unknown error occurred handling native method call Query#get
E/firebase_database(20534): java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: java.lang.Exception: Client is offline
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at com.google.android.gms.tasks.Tasks.zza(com.google.android.gms:play-services-tasks@@18.0.1:5)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at com.google.android.gms.tasks.Tasks.await(com.google.android.gms:play-services-tasks@@18.0.1:8)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at io.flutter.plugins.firebase.database.FirebaseDatabasePlugin.lambda$queryGet$8$io-flutter-plugins-firebase-database-FirebaseDatabasePlugin(FirebaseDatabasePlugin.java:248)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at io.flutter.plugins.firebase.database.FirebaseDatabasePlugin$$ExternalSyntheticLambda17.call(Unknown Source:4)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at com.google.android.gms.tasks.zzz.run(com.google.android.gms:play-services-tasks@@18.0.1:1)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1167)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:641)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:923)
E/firebase_database(20534): Caused by: java.lang.Exception: Client is offline
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at com.google.firebase.database.connection.PersistentConnectionImpl.lambda$get$1$com-google-firebase-database-connection-PersistentConnectionImpl(PersistentConnectionImpl.java:441)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at com.google.firebase.database.connection.PersistentConnectionImpl$$ExternalSyntheticLambda4.run(Unknown Source:8)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Executors.java:462)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	at java.util.concurrent.ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor$ScheduledFutureTask.run(ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor.java:301)
E/firebase_database(20534): 	... 3 more

20% of the time. When i was using .once() i have never had this issue.

The client is indeed online because all my other queries work fine.

Also, I have thought that maybe firebase_database take time to initialize itself or something, i have called await FirebaseDatabase.instance.goOnline() before but this doesn't help :/

The problem with .once() is that it returns sometimes a value that doesn't match the one in DB i don't know why, so i would rather be using .get() to :

Gets the most up-to-date result for this query.

It's also written falling back to disk cache after error. What does it mean please ? Does firebase_database try to read data from local cache ? I thought it was only writing to disk cache to retry failed writes later.

Steps to reproduce

I don't know how to reproduce it, but i have it more often in my test project when i query right after app start.
If i add a 3-5 sec delay it works better.
In my real app the delay is already more or less 3 seconds.

Expected behavior

The query should not throw Client is offline when client is online.
In case the Client is offline from a DB perspective, please provide another error to understand what is the real error (database failed to established a connection for example).

---

Flutter doctor

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Doctor summary (to see all details, run flutter doctor -v):
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 2.10.2, on macOS 12.2.1 21D62 darwin-x64, locale fr-FR)
[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 31.0.0)
[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 13.2.1)
[✓] Chrome - develop for the web
[✓] Android Studio (version 2021.1)
[✓] VS Code (version 1.65.0)
[✓] Connected device (3 available)
[✓] HTTP Host Availability

• No issues found!

---

Flutter dependencies

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

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Dart SDK 2.16.1
Flutter SDK 2.10.2
myappname 1.0.0+1

dependencies:
- app_settings 4.1.1 [flutter]
- app_tracking_transparency 2.0.2+1 [flutter]
- apple_maps_flutter 1.1.0 [flutter]
- audioplayers 0.20.1 [uuid path_provider http flutter flutter_web_plugins]
- auto_size_text 3.0.0 [flutter]
- badges 2.0.2 [flutter]
- cached_network_image 3.2.0 [flutter flutter_cache_manager octo_image cached_network_image_platform_interface cached_network_image_web]
- clipboard 0.1.3 [flutter]
- cloud_functions 3.2.9 [cloud_functions_platform_interface cloud_functions_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter]
- confetti 0.6.0 [flutter vector_math]
- connectivity_plus 2.2.1 [flutter connectivity_plus_platform_interface connectivity_plus_linux connectivity_plus_macos connectivity_plus_web connectivity_plus_windows]
- country_code_picker 2.0.2 [flutter modal_bottom_sheet collection universal_platform]
- crypto 3.0.1 [collection typed_data]
- cupertino_back_gesture 0.1.0 [flutter]
- cupertino_icons 1.0.4
- device_display_brightness 0.0.6 [flutter]
- disk_space 0.2.1 [flutter]
- emoji_picker_flutter 1.1.2 [flutter shared_preferences]
- extended_image 6.0.1 [extended_image_library flutter meta]
- extended_tabs 2.3.0 [flutter]
- firebase_analytics 9.1.2 [firebase_analytics_platform_interface firebase_analytics_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter]
- firebase_auth 3.3.9 [firebase_auth_platform_interface firebase_auth_web firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface flutter meta]
- firebase_core 1.13.1 [firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_core_web flutter meta]
- firebase_crashlytics 2.5.3 [firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_crashlytics_platform_interface flutter stack_trace]
- firebase_database 9.0.8 [firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_database_platform_interface firebase_database_web flutter]
- firebase_dynamic_links 4.0.8 [firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_dynamic_links_platform_interface flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_messaging 11.2.8 [firebase_core firebase_core_platform_interface firebase_messaging_platform_interface firebase_messaging_web flutter meta]
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- flutter 0.0.0 [characters collection material_color_utilities meta typed_data vector_math sky_engine]
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- http 0.13.4 [async http_parser meta path]
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- share_plus 3.1.0 [meta mime flutter share_plus_platform_interface share_plus_linux share_plus_macos share_plus_windows share_plus_web]
- shared_preferences 2.0.13 [flutter shared_preferences_android shared_preferences_ios shared_preferences_linux shared_preferences_macos shared_preferences_platform_interface shared_preferences_web shared_preferences_windows]
- sign_in_with_apple 3.3.0 [flutter meta sign_in_with_apple_platform_interface sign_in_with_apple_web]
- sliver_tools 0.2.5 [flutter]
- sqflite 2.0.2 [flutter sqflite_common path]
- translator 0.1.7 [http]
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- video_compress 3.1.1 [flutter]
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- video_thumbnail 0.4.6 [flutter]
- visibility_detector 0.2.2 [flutter]

dev dependencies:
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- flutter_lints 1.0.4 [lints]
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- hive_generator 1.1.2 [build source_gen hive analyzer source_helper]

transitive dependencies:
- _fe_analyzer_shared 36.0.0 [meta]
- analyzer 3.3.1 [_fe_analyzer_shared collection convert crypto glob meta package_config path pub_semver source_span watcher yaml]
- args 2.3.0
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- build_resolvers 2.0.6 [analyzer async build crypto graphs logging path package_config pool pub_semver stream_transform yaml]
- build_runner_core 7.2.3 [async build build_config build_resolvers collection convert crypto glob graphs json_annotation logging meta path package_config pool timing watcher yaml]
- built_collection 5.1.1
- built_value 8.1.4 [built_collection collection fixnum meta]
- cached_network_image_platform_interface 1.0.0 [flutter flutter_cache_manager]
- cached_network_image_web 1.0.1 [flutter flutter_cache_manager cached_network_image_platform_interface]
- characters 1.2.0
- charcode 1.3.1
- checked_yaml 2.0.1 [json_annotation source_span yaml]
- clock 1.1.0
- cloud_functions_platform_interface 5.1.1 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- cloud_functions_web 4.2.9 [cloud_functions_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
- connectivity_plus_linux 1.3.0 [flutter connectivity_plus_platform_interface meta nm]
- connectivity_plus_macos 1.2.1 [connectivity_plus_platform_interface flutter]
- connectivity_plus_platform_interface 1.2.0 [flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- connectivity_plus_web 1.2.0 [connectivity_plus_platform_interface flutter_web_plugins flutter]
- connectivity_plus_windows 1.2.0 [connectivity_plus_platform_interface flutter]
- convert 3.0.1 [typed_data]
- csslib 0.17.1 [source_span]
- dart_style 2.2.2 [analyzer args path pub_semver source_span]
- dbus 0.7.1 [args ffi meta xml]
- extended_image_library 3.1.2 [crypto flutter http_client_helper path path_provider]
- fake_async 1.2.0 [clock collection]
- ffi 1.1.2
- file 6.1.2 [meta path]
- firebase 9.0.2 [http http_parser js]
- firebase_analytics_platform_interface 3.1.1 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_analytics_web 0.4.0+8 [firebase_analytics_platform_interface firebase_core firebase_core_web flutter flutter_web_plugins js]
- firebase_auth_platform_interface 6.2.1 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_auth_web 3.3.9 [firebase_auth_platform_interface firebase_core firebase_core_web flutter flutter_web_plugins http_parser intl js meta]
- firebase_core_platform_interface 4.2.5 [collection flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_core_web 1.6.1 [firebase_core_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins js meta]
- firebase_crashlytics_platform_interface 3.2.1 [collection firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_database_platform_interface 0.2.1+1 [collection firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_database_web 0.2.0+7 [firebase_core firebase_core_web firebase_database_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins js]
- firebase_dynamic_links_platform_interface 0.2.1+1 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_messaging_platform_interface 3.2.1 [firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_messaging_web 2.2.9 [firebase_core firebase_core_web firebase_messaging_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins js meta]
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- firebase_storage_platform_interface 4.1.1 [collection firebase_core flutter meta plugin_platform_interface]
- firebase_storage_web 3.2.10 [async firebase_core firebase_core_web firebase_storage_platform_interface flutter flutter_web_plugins http js meta]
- fixnum 1.0.0
- flutter_blurhash 0.6.4 [flutter]
- flutter_cache_manager 3.3.0 [clock collection file flutter http path path_provider pedantic rxdart sqflite uuid]
- flutter_facebook_auth_platform_interface 3.0.1 [flutter plugin_platform_interface]
- flutter_facebook_auth_web 3.0.0+1 [flutter flutter_web_plugins js flutter_facebook_auth_platform_interface]
- flutter_plugin_android_lifecycle 2.0.5 [flutter]
- flutter_web_plugins 0.0.0 [flutter js characters collection material_color_utilities meta typed_data vector_math]
- frontend_server_client 2.1.2 [async path]
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- glob 2.0.2 [async collection file path string_scanner]
- google_maps_flutter_platform_interface 2.1.5 [collection flutter plugin_platform_interface stream_transform]
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- google_sign_in_web 0.10.0+5 [flutter flutter_web_plugins google_sign_in_platform_interface js]
- graphs 2.1.0 [collection]
- html 0.15.0 [csslib source_span]
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- http_multi_server 3.2.0 [async]
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- in_app_purchase_storekit 0.3.0+1 [collection flutter in_app_purchase_platform_interface json_annotation]
- in_app_review_platform_interface 2.0.3 [flutter url_launcher plugin_platform_interface platform]
- intl 0.17.0 [clock path]
- io 1.0.3 [meta path string_scanner]
- js 0.6.3
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- logging 1.0.2
- matcher 0.12.11 [stack_trace]
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- meta 1.7.0
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- url_launcher_macos 3.0.0 [flutter url_launcher_platform_interface]
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- url_launcher_web 2.0.9 [flutter flutter_web_plugins url_launcher_platform_interface]
- url_launcher_windows 3.0.0 [flutter url_launcher_platform_interface]
- vector_math 2.1.1
- video_player_android 2.3.0 [flutter video_player_platform_interface]
- video_player_avfoundation 2.3.0 [flutter video_player_platform_interface]
- video_player_platform_interface 5.1.0 [flutter plugin_platform_interface]
- video_player_web 2.0.7 [flutter flutter_web_plugins video_player_platform_interface]
- watcher 1.0.1 [async path]
- web_socket_channel 2.1.0 [async crypto stream_channel]
- win32 2.4.1 [ffi]
- xdg_directories 0.2.0+1 [meta path process]
- xml 5.3.1 [collection meta petitparser]
- yaml 3.1.0 [collection source_span string_scanner]

---

[OlegNovosad]

Keep on seeing the same error on the first run 👆

[darshankawar]

Does firebase_database try to read data from local cache ? I thought it was only writing to disk cache to retry failed writes later.

When a write request is triggered, it writes to local db first and then if sync with server is successful, the request will be carried out.

Since you are using .get(), can you explicitly enable disk persistence for the Firebase Realtime Database before it can read data from it by calling FirebaseDatabase.instance.setPersistenceEnabled(true); at the start of the app and see if you still get the said error ?

[Tom3652]

Thanks for the explanations.

I am already using the persistence, i have called FirebaseDatabase.instance.setPersistenceEnabled(true) at app start in my real app but this doesn't change anything.

I have fall back on the .once() for now.

[darshankawar]

@Tom3652
I would also suggest you to reach out to firebase support to check what they have to say about it.

[Tom3652]

I have got an answer from Firebase support :

The error says that the connection to the database was not possible and that is why the client is marked as offline. You mentioned that this only happens when the app is starting, which could mean that there could be a problem while making the connections to the service or loading the credentials or libraries necessary to connect.

Now, it could be working better with once because this operation looks first in the local cache instead of checking for an updated value on the server. The get operation does the contrary, first it will look at the server and if it fails it will look at the local cache.

I tried to verify the behavior using the Firebase Realtime Database Android SDK but I was not able to reproduce it. I don't see a problem with the service, it is more like a problem on how the connection is established. It would be good to contact the Flutter support team so they can also investigate the issue.

We are in touch if something else happens.

[prologikus]

I have the same issue with .get() but only I do heavy UI, eg: shimmer loading items, this depends on the device power tho.

[Tom3652]

Hi @darshankawar, do you expect something else from me for this issue ?

I guess that if the client is offline at the moment of the query, there should be a way to ensure that the database is online first (and not goOnline() because i have tried it and it doesn't help with this) ?
Or at least not throwing an error like this ?

I am more about turning it into a feature request than a bug request then, that would be to handle this case internally.
What do you think ?

[darshankawar]

Sorry for coming back a bit late on this.

there should be a way to ensure that the database is online first (and not goOnline() because i have tried it and it doesn't help with this) ? Or at least not throwing an error like this ?

I am more about turning it into a feature request than a bug request then, that would be to handle this case internally. What do you think ?

Check this SO answer from a former firebase member. Although that is for firestore, but I am sure the same would be applicable for database plugin too. See if that comment helps a bit further.

[Tom3652]

Alright thanks for the update i understand, i will be using .once() for now because there doesn't seem to be any retry on the .get() unfortunately, it simply falls back on the cache and finds nothing so returns nothing.

The .once() however seems to be retrying from the server if there is no internet connectivity for example, until there is a concrete response (unless it finds from the cache first apparently, but i don't cache anything to avoid this).

[darshankawar]

I'll label it for team's insights on this though to know what would be the possible root-cause for this.

/cc @russellwheatley

[utekau]

I'm also suffering due to the same issue. I'm sure that there is an internet connection up but got "Client is offline" message.

[puf]

firebaser here

This is actually a known issue in our native SDKs for Android, iOS and Web, which give up too soon when getting the value from the server on startup. We have a fix going out for this in version 20.0.5 of the Android SDK for the Realtime Database. Once that lands and is picked up in FlutterFire too, the problem should disappear.