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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Flutter OTA·May 5, 2026·2 min read

How Flutter OTA Updates Work: Patches, Diffs, and the Dart Runtime

A technical look at how Flutter over-the-air updates work under the hood: release artifacts, binary diffs, signature verification, and how patches are fetched and applied on Android and iOS.

Flutter OTA updates feel like magic, but the mechanism is straightforward once you break it down. This post explains what happens from the moment you run a patch command to the moment a user sees the fix.

1. The release is the anchor

When you run quickpatch release, the build you ship to the store is recorded as a known release with a unique identity. Every future patch targets one specific release, which is what makes delivery safe and deterministic - a patch is never applied to a build it was not made for.

2. A patch is a diff, not a new app

When you run quickpatch patch, the tool compares your new Dart code against the exact release it targets and produces a compact diff. Only the changed code travels over the network, which is why patches are small and fast to deliver.

3. Signing and verification

Before a patch leaves your machine it is cryptographically signed. On the device, the engine verifies that signature and confirms the patch matches the installed release before applying anything. A patch that fails verification is discarded. Signing keys can be rotated without breaking already-installed apps - more on that in Signed Patches and Key Rotation.

4. Fetch on launch, apply on next launch

The engine bundled in your app checks for a patch when the app starts. If a valid patch is available, it is downloaded in the background and applied on the following launch. This avoids interrupting an active session and keeps the update invisible to the user.

Android and iOS

The same release-and-patch model works on both platforms through one workflow, even though the underlying runtimes differ. We cover the cross-platform details in Android vs iOS Code Push.

Why the design matters

Targeted patches mean a fix can never land on the wrong build.
Signature checks mean only your code runs on devices.
Apply-on-next-launch means updates never disrupt a live session.

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.

Flutter OTAHow it worksTechnical