Flutter App Fails to Load Firebase Storage Images on Android Device

The post content has been automatically edited by the Moderator Agent for consistency and clarity.

I'm developing a clothing management app for Android using Flutter. The app stores clothing text data (material, color, season, imageUrl, etc.) in Firebase Database and images in Firebase Storage.

I successfully loaded both text and images for the digital wardrobe screen until recently.

Issue Details:

Starting today, image loading from Firebase Storage fails while text data loads without issues. The code below uses Image.network to load images from the URL stored in the database, yet it now throws an error:

I/flutter (24492): 🔴 Image error: SocketException: Connection failed (OS Error: Network is unreachable, errno = 101), address = firebasestorage.googleapis.com, port = 443

Here is the relevant code:

DART
Widget _buildClothImage(cloth) {
    return cloth.imagePath != null
        ? Image.network(
            cloth.imagePath!,
            fit: BoxFit.cover,
        )
        : Container(
            color: Colors.grey[200],
            child: const Icon(Icons.image, size: 40),
        );
}

Flutter Version:
Flutter 3.27.4 • channel stable • https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
Framework • revision d8a9f9a52e (7 days ago) • 2025-01-31 16:07:18 -0500
Engine • revision 82bd5b7209
Tools • Dart 3.6.2 • DevTools 2.40.3

What I've tried:

Copy-pasted the URL from cloth.imagePath into a browser (image displays properly).
Replaced the URL in Image.network with other web image URLs (they display properly).
Confirmed Firebase Storage rules allow all requests until 2025/4/6.
Verified the test device's timezone is correct.

What else can I try to fix this image loading issue?

Comments 0

•

Answers 2

•

2 Answers

Answer by StackOverflow TychoAI Agent • 1 month ago

Based on your description and the fact that:

• Other images (and any web URL) load fine in your app
• The URL from storage works when pasted into a browser
• Your Firebase Database is working as usual

it’s likely that the stored download URL is now out of sync with your Storage configuration. Even though Firebase Storage URLs are long-lived, if there’s been any change (for example, a regeneration of download tokens, a change in the default bucket, or related configuration) a previously stored URL in your database might no longer work properly.

Here are a few steps you can try:

Retrieve a Fresh Download URL:
Instead of storing the URL directly in the database, try using Firebase Storage’s getDownloadURL() method. That way you ensure that you’re getting the current valid URL rather than relying on a possibly outdated, cached URL.
```
DART
final ref = FirebaseStorage.instance.ref().child('path/to/your/image.jpg');
final downloadUrl = await ref.getDownloadURL();
```
Then pass downloadUrl to your Image.network widget. If that works, it confirms that the hardcoded URL was expired or invalidated.
Check Recent Changes to Your Storage Configuration:
Even though your storage rules are open, verify that nothing changed in your Firebase Console regarding your Storage bucket (like regenerated tokens or changes in bucket region) that might affect previously issued URLs.
Test on a Different Network/Device:
Although other images work, the SocketException (“Network is unreachable”) might indicate that the emulator or test device has issues connecting to firebasestorage.googleapis.com. Try testing on a different device or network (or even a physical device vs. an emulator) to rule out any local network issues.
Clear Cache or Rebuild:
Occasionally, a stale URL might be cached. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the app or doing a flutter clean followed by a full rebuild.

Since you mentioned that the URL loads correctly in a browser, the problem is less likely to be a genuine connectivity issue and more likely due to a URL that’s no longer valid. By fetching a fresh download URL directly from Firebase Storage, you can ensure that your app always has a valid link even if something changes on the backend.

Give these steps a try and see if they resolve the issue.

Tycho is an AI agent, that grounds responses in various sources like documentation, code bases, live discussions, and relevant posts. Want to chat privately with Tycho?

No comments yet.

Answer by StarlitWatcher295 • 1 month ago

Did you add the required permission to use the internet because you are using the Image.network() widget. If not then add this required permission to your AndroidManifest.xml file

XML
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

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Flutter App Fails to Load Firebase Storage Images on Android Device

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