AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.lambda$onError$1

[jacobsofteng]

Describe the bug
The callbacks onSuccess and onError inside startSDK method cause this error. We cannot remove them as we track errors.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
Update to the latest version 6.16.2. Start the sdk manually via startSDK() method and assign the callbacks.

..startSDK(
          onSuccess: () {},
          onError: (int errorCode, String errorMessage) {
            _mobileService.recordError(
              AppsflyerInitException(errorMessage: errorMessage),
              information: 'AppsFlyer SDK initialization failed with error code $errorCode',
              null,
            );
          },
        );

Expected behavior
The callbacks don't cause exceptions

Screenshots

Smartphone (please complete the following information):

• Device: Redmi Note 8 Pro
• OS: Android 14

[github-actions]

👋 Hi @jacobsofteng and Thank you for reaching out to us.
In order for us to provide optimal support, please submit a ticket to our support team at support@appsflyer.com.
When submitting the ticket, please specify:

• ✅ your AppsFlyer sign-up (account) email
• ✅ app ID
• ✅ production steps
• ✅ logs
• ✅ code snippets
• ✅ and any additional relevant information.

[Dani-Koza-AF]

Hey @jacobsofteng 👋

Thanks for reporting this! This sounds similar to an issue we’ve encountered in the past and resolved in version 6.15.2 of the plugin.

To help us verify if you’re affected by the same root cause (or something new), could you please share the following details?
1. Which version of appsflyer_sdk are you currently using?
2. Are you seeing this exception on iOS, Android, or both?
3. Is this happening consistently when debugging locally, or only via Crashlytics/production logs?
4. Do you have any insights into when the crash occurs in the app lifecycle? (e.g. after background/foreground transitions, etc.)

Any additional logs or context (even partial stack traces) would also be helpful to narrow this down. Thanks!

[jacobsofteng]

Hi @Dani-Koza-AF

Thank you for getting back to me. Here are the details:

1. appsflyer_sdk: ^6.16.2
2. Only on Android
3. I haven't seen yet this issue in debugging, but in prod Crashlytics there are some of them
4. Yeah, it happens when the transitions between lifecycles occur:

[orkun1675]

Can confirm we are seeing this as well on v6.16.21

Crashlytics logs:

AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.lambda$onError$1
java.lang.NullPointerException - Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void P7.i.c(java.lang.String, java.lang.Object)' on a null object reference

as well as:

AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.lambda$onSuccess$0
java.lang.NullPointerException - Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void Q7.i.c(java.lang.String, java.lang.Object)' on a null object reference
com.appsflyer.appsflyersdk.AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.lambda$onSuccess$0 (AppsflyerSdkPlugin.java:394)

It is quite rare (only a few users encouter it).

[fuyud]

We are experiencing a crash in the AppsFlyer Flutter SDK when initializing the SDK during app startup. The crash occurs in the onError callback of startSDK(), and the stack trace points to a NullPointerException inside AppsflyerSdkPlugin.
SDK Version: appsflyer_sdk: 6.16.2
Platform: Android

Crash Log:
Fatal Exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void na.j.c(java.lang.String, java.lang.Object)' on a null object reference
at com.appsflyer.appsflyersdk.AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.lambda$onError$1(:27)
at com.appsflyer.appsflyersdk.AppsflyerSdkPlugin$5.b()
at com.appsflyer.appsflyersdk.b.run(:6)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:1013)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:101)
at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:226)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:328)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:9242)

Reproduction steps

Initialize AppsFlyer SDK with manualStart: true early in the app (before runApp()).

Call startSDK() with onSuccess and onError callbacks.

Occasionally, on cold start, the SDK crashes in the onError callback.

Expected behavior
onError should be invoked without causing a crash, even if the Flutter engine or channel is not yet ready.

Code snippet:

_appsFlyer = AppsflyerSdk(AppsFlyerOptions(
afDevKey: '',
appId: '',
manualStart: true,
));

_appsFlyer?.startSDK(
onSuccess: () { /* ... */ },
onError: (int errorCode, String errorMessage) {
devLog("Error initializing AppsFlyer SDK: $errorCode - $errorMessage");
},
);
Additional context

Seems related to a null MethodChannel during early initialization.

Happens sporadically on cold start.

Is this a known issue? Is there a recommended workaround or should we delay SDK initialization until after runApp()?

[antondokusov]

@Dani-Koza-AF Hi there!

I saw that your pull request with the fix has been merged. Could you let us know when you’re planning the next release that includes it, at least approximately? I’d just like to make a note in our bug tracker.

Thanks in advance!

[github-actions]

This issue is stale because it has been open for 60 days with no activity.

[github-actions]

This issue was closed because it has been inactive for 14 days since being marked as stale.