FAQ

Is code push allowed on the App Store?

Apple allows apps to download code that changes behaviour, as long as it doesn't change the app's primary purpose. OverPush patches never contain native code. See iOS › App Store review.

Is it allowed on Google Play?

Google Play's policy restricts apps that download code to change their behaviour outside of Play's review, and the rules are applied differently to different kinds of apps. Read the current Device and Network Abuse policy and decide for your app. Patches are best used for fixes, not new features that change what reviewers approved.

Do users see anything?

No. There's no prompt, no download screen, and no restart in front of them. The patch is downloaded in the background and used on the next launch.

How big is a patch?

A patch carries only what changed since the release. A small fix is usually a few hundred KB. See Android.

The first patch for a release is usually a couple of MB, and every patch after that is usually tens of KB, because a phone only downloads what changed since the patch it has. See iOS.

Does it slow the app down?

No. Patched apps run at the same speed as the store build.

Code you change in a patch can run a little slower than code from the store build. For typical UI and business logic you won't notice the difference. For heavy work such as image processing or large calculations, ship changes in a store release.

What happens offline?

The app runs whatever it last had: the release code or the last patch it verified. It checks for patches again when it's back online. Rollback works offline too.

Can I patch an app that's already in the store?

Only if that store build was made with overpush release. Existing builds made with plain flutter build need one more store update first.

What happens when I upgrade Flutter?

Ship a store release with the new Flutter version. Your older releases can still receive patches. Any Flutter version works.

Check the version is supported first: today that is Flutter 3.41.4. Then ship a store release with it. Your older releases can still receive patches.

Do I need a server?

No. OverPush hosts your patches and the dashboard.

Does it work with Play Store app bundles?

Yes. overpush release android builds an app bundle by default, and patches reach every phone the Play Store installs it on. See Android.

Does it work with obfuscated apps?

Yes. See Configuration.

Can several people work on the same app?

Yes. Put the app in a team organization and add people with the role they need. See Console & team.