Configure Android Push Credentials (FCM)

To send push notifications to Android devices, Attentive authenticates with Google's Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) service on your behalf. You'll need to create a dedicated service account with the right permissions and download a JSON key file that grants Attentive access to send through your Firebase project.

Before you begin, make sure you have access to your Firebase console with a role that allows you to manage service accounts.

Step 1: Create a Service Account

1. Open the Firebase console and select your project.
2. Click Settings (below Project Overview) in the left nav and select Service accounts.
3. Click Manage service account permissions — this opens Google Cloud IAM & Admin.
4. Click Create Service Account at the top of the page.
5. Enter a name, account ID, and description for the service account (e.g., Attentive Push Service Account), then click Create and Continue.
6. In the Role dropdown, search for and select Firebase Cloud Messaging API Admin.

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Important: Make sure to select Firebase Cloud Messaging API Admin — not "Firebase Cloud Messaging Admin". These are different roles and only the API Admin role will work correctly.

7. Leave the remaining fields blank and click Done.

Step 2: Download the JSON Key File

1. On the Service accounts page in Google Cloud, find the service account you just created.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the Actions column and select Manage keys.
3. Click Add Key → Create new key.
4. Select JSON and click Create.
5. The JSON key file will download automatically to your machine.

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Important: Store this file somewhere secure. Anyone with access to it can send push notifications through your Firebase project on your behalf.

Step 3: Enter Your Credentials in Attentive

1. In Attentive, navigate to Setup → Settings → Mobile App Settings.
2. Select the Android (FCM) tab.
3. Under Upload Service Account JSON Key, upload the .json file you downloaded in the previous step.
4. Click Save Settings.