Dependencies of Firebase Android SDKs on Google Play services

Some Firebase Android SDKs depend on Google Play services, which means they will only run on devices and emulators with Google Play services installed. These Firebase SDKs communicate with the Google Play services background service on the device to provide a secure, up-to-date, and lightweight API to your app. Certain Android devices, such as Amazon Kindle Fire devices or those sold in some regions, do not have Google Play services installed.

Which Firebase Android SDKs require Google Play services?

Firebase SDKs can be divided into three categories:

  • Play services required — These SDKs require Google Play services, otherwise they have no functionality.
  • Play services recommended — These SDKs require Google Play services to have full functionality, but they still offer most functionality even without Google Play services.
  • Play services not required — These SDKS do not require Google Play services to have full functionality.

The tables below are accurate only for the latest release of each SDK. Some older versions may have stricter requirements.

Google Play services not required

Product Library Google Play services?
App Check custom and debug providers com.google.firebase:firebase-appcheck:17.1.2
com.google.firebase:firebase-appcheck-ktx:17.1.2
com.google.firebase:firebase-appcheck-debug:17.1.2
Not Required
App Distribution API com.google.firebase:firebase-appdistribution-api:16.0.0-beta12
com.google.firebase:firebase-appdistribution-api-ktx:16.0.0-beta12
Not Required
App Distribution com.google.firebase:firebase-appdistribution:16.0.0-beta12 Not Required
Authentication com.google.firebase:firebase-auth:22.3.1
com.google.firebase:firebase-auth-ktx:22.3.1
Not Required
Cloud Firestore com.google.firebase:firebase-firestore:24.10.3
com.google.firebase:firebase-firestore-ktx:24.10.3
Not Required
Cloud Functions for Firebase Client SDK com.google.firebase:firebase-functions:20.4.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-functions-ktx:20.4.0
Not Required
Cloud Storage for Firebase com.google.firebase:firebase-storage:20.3.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-storage-ktx:20.3.0
Not Required
Crashlytics com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics:18.6.2
com.google.firebase:firebase-crashlytics-ktx:18.6.2
Not Required
In-App Messaging com.google.firebase:firebase-inappmessaging:20.4.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-inappmessaging-ktx:20.4.0
Not Required
In-App Messaging Display com.google.firebase:firebase-inappmessaging-display:20.4.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-inappmessaging-display-ktx:20.4.0
Not Required
Firebase installations com.google.firebase:firebase-installations:17.2.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-installations-ktx:17.2.0
Not Required
Performance Monitoring com.google.firebase:firebase-perf:20.5.2
com.google.firebase:firebase-perf-ktx:20.5.2
Not Required
Realtime Database com.google.firebase:firebase-database:20.3.1
com.google.firebase:firebase-database-ktx:20.3.1
Not Required
Remote Config com.google.firebase:firebase-config:21.6.3
com.google.firebase:firebase-config-ktx:21.6.3
Not Required
Product Library Google Play services?
AdMob com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:23.0.0 Recommended*
Analytics com.google.firebase:firebase-analytics:21.5.1
com.google.firebase:firebase-analytics-ktx:21.5.1
Recommended*
App Check Play Integrity provider com.google.firebase:firebase-appcheck-playintegrity:17.1.2 Required
App Check SafetyNet provider com.google.firebase:firebase-appcheck-safetynet:16.1.2 Required
App Indexing com.google.firebase:firebase-appindexing:20.0.0 Required
Cloud Messaging com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:23.4.1
com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging-ktx:23.4.1
Required
Dynamic Links com.google.firebase:firebase-dynamic-links:21.2.0
com.google.firebase:firebase-dynamic-links-ktx:21.2.0
Required
Firebase ML Vision com.google.firebase:firebase-ml-vision:24.1.0 Required
Firebase ML Custom Model com.google.firebase:firebase-ml-model-interpreter:22.0.4 Required

* The Firebase SDK for Google Analytics can send events on any device, but some automatic insights such as demographics are only available on devices with Google Play services.