QuickPatch is an over-the-air (OTA) code-push platform for Flutter apps. It lets you push Dart code changes - bug fixes, UI tweaks, logic updates - directly to users' Android and iOS devices in seconds, without shipping a new build through the App Store or Google Play review process.

How does Flutter code push work with QuickPatch?

You ship your app to the stores once with the QuickPatch engine bundled in. After that, you change your Dart code, run `quickpatch patch`, and upload a small diff targeting that exact release. Apps fetch the patch on launch and apply it on the next launch - no reinstall and no store review.

Does QuickPatch work on both Android and iOS?

Yes. QuickPatch supports both Android and iOS with a single workflow. The same patch command and dashboard manage over-the-air updates for both platforms.

Is pushing code updates over the air allowed by the App Store?

QuickPatch is designed for pushing Dart code fixes and improvements to your existing app's functionality, which is a common and accepted practice for code-push tools. It does not change your app's core purpose. You should always follow Apple and Google's current developer guidelines for over-the-air updates.

How much does QuickPatch cost?

QuickPatch has a free plan with 4,000 patch installs per month. Paid plans start at $19/month (Pro, 60,000 installs) and $200/month (Business, 1,000,000 installs), with usage-based overage and custom Enterprise pricing. Apps, releases, and patches are unlimited on every plan - you're only metered on patch installs.

Is QuickPatch a Shorebird alternative?

Yes. QuickPatch is a fully-managed Flutter code-push service that offers the same core capability - over-the-air Dart updates for Android and iOS - with simpler usage-based pricing, signed patches with key rotation, and instant rollback.

Can I roll back a bad patch?

Yes. Every patch can be paused or instantly rolled back from the dashboard. You can also stage rollouts - release to 10% of users first, watch install metrics, then ramp to 100% or stop.

Are QuickPatch updates safe?

Patches are cryptographically signed and verified against the exact release they target before they are applied, and signing keys can be rotated. A patch that doesn't verify is never applied, and you can pause or roll back at any time.

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Code push·Apr 28, 2026·2 min read

Flutter Code Push: Ship Dart Updates Without an App Store Review

Learn how Flutter code push lets you deliver Dart bug fixes to users without resubmitting to the App Store or Google Play, and how to set it up with QuickPatch in three steps.

Code push is the practice of delivering updated application code to installed apps over the air. For Flutter, that means pushing compiled Dart changes straight to devices, so a bug fix no longer has to wait in a store review queue. This guide shows the workflow end to end.

The three-step workflow

1.Release once: ship a normal store build with the QuickPatch engine bundled in.
2.Patch anytime: change Dart code and create a small diff for that exact release.
3.Users auto-update: apps fetch the patch on launch and apply it on the next one.

Setting it up

Install the CLI and initialize your project. The engine ships inside your normal build, so there is nothing for your users to install.

dart pub global activate quickpatch_cli
quickpatch init
quickpatch release android   # then upload this build to the store

Pushing a fix

Found a bug after release? Fix the Dart code, then create a patch that targets the release your users are running. The diff is tiny because only changed code is shipped.

# edit your Dart code, then:
quickpatch patch android

That is it. The patch is verified, uploaded to the edge network, and delivered to devices on their next launch. No new binary, no resubmission.

Why this is safe

Every patch is cryptographically signed and verified against the exact release it targets before it is applied. If it does not verify, it is never applied. You can also stage the rollout and roll back instantly - see Staged Rollouts and Instant Rollback.

A note on store policy

Code push is intended for fixing bugs and improving your existing app, not for changing what it fundamentally does. We break down the guideline details in OTA Updates and App Store Guidelines.

Ship your next Flutter fix over the air

QuickPatch is a fully-managed over-the-air code-push service for Flutter. Push Dart bug fixes to Android and iOS in seconds, with staged rollouts, instant rollback, and signed patches. Start on the free plan, read the documentation, or see the apps already shipping with QuickPatch.

Code pushFlutter OTATutorial