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[path_provider_foundation] [path_provider] path_provider_foundation FFI implementation crashes Flutter framework used in native iOS app (Add-to-App) #181382

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#181507
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[path_provider_foundation] [path_provider] path_provider_foundation FFI implementation crashes Flutter framework used in native iOS app (Add-to-App)#181382
#181507
Assignees
dcharkes
Labels
a: buildBuilding flutter applications with the toolp: path_providerPlugin that provides resolved paths to some platform directoriespackageflutter/packages repository. See also p: labels.platform-iosiOS applications specificallyteam-toolOwned by Flutter Tool teamtoolAffects the "flutter" command-line tool. See also t: labels.

Description

@HyperlinkKishanr
HyperlinkKishanr
opened on Jan 23, 2026

Steps to reproduce

  1. Create a Flutter module intended to be used as a framework inside a native iOS app:
    flutter create -t module repro_module

  2. Build Flutter iOS frameworks (not a full Flutter app):
    flutter build ios-framework

  3. Integrate the generated Flutter frameworks into a native UIKit iOS application using CocoaPods (Flutter Add-to-App / frameworks approach).

  4. In the Flutter module, update pubspec.yaml:
    dependencies:
    flutter:
    sdk: flutter
    path_provider: ^2.1.5

  5. Run:

flutter pub get
flutter build ios-framework
  1. Launch the native iOS app that embeds the Flutter framework.
  2. Call any API that uses path_provider, for example:
    getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();

Expected results

  • The native iOS app launches successfully.
  • The embedded Flutter framework initializes correctly.
  • getApplicationDocumentsDirectory() returns a valid directory.
  • Flutter framework behavior is identical to pre-FFI versions of path_provider_foundation.

Actual results

The native iOS app crashes at runtime when the embedded Flutter framework initializes:

[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(40)] Unhandled Exception: Invalid argument(s): Couldn't resolve native function 'DOBJC_initializeApi' in 'package:objective_c/objective_c.dylib' : Failed to load dynamic library 'objective_c.framework/objective_c': Failed to load dynamic library 'objective_c.framework/objective_c': dlopen(objective_c.framework/objective_c, 0x0001): tried: '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRootobjective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/usr/lib/swift/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/usr/lib/swift/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file, not in dyld cache), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/usr/lib/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file, not in dyld cache), 'objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/System/Library/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file).

#0      Native._ffi_resolver.#ffiClosure0 (dart:ffi-patch/ffi_patch.dart)
#1      Native._ffi_resolver_function (dart:ffi-patch/ffi_patch.dart:1943:20)
#2      initializeApi (package:objective_c/src/c_bindings_generated.dart)
#3      _ensureDartAPI (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:212:22)
#4      _newFinalizableHandle (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:221:3)
#5      new _ObjCReference (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:242:14)
#6      new ObjCObjectRef (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:322:7)
#7      new ObjCObject (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:334:13)
#8      NSArray.fromPointer (package:objective_c/src/objective_c_bindings_generated.dart:1379:23)
#9      FoundationFFI.NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (package:path_provider_foundation/src/ffi_bindings.g.dart:29:25)
#10     PathProviderFoundation._getUserDirectory (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:146:35)
#11     PathProviderFoundation._getDirectoryPath (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:122:22)
#12     PathProviderFoundation.getApplicationDocumentsPath (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:64:12)
#13     getApplicationDocumentsDirectory (package:path_provider/path_provider.dart:121:40)
#14     commonInitialization (package:ivestor/main.dart:86:38)
#15     ivestor (package:ivestor/main.dart:63:9)
#16     _runMain.<anonymous closure> (dart:ui/hooks.dart:345:23)
#17     _delayEntrypointInvocation.<anonymous closure> (dart:isolate-patch/isolate_patch.dart:314:19)
#18     _RawReceivePort._handleMessage (dart:isolate-patch/isolate_patch.dart:193:12)

This crash happens inside the Flutter framework before any Dart main() code executes, making it impossible to work around in application code.

Code sample

Code sample 
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:path_provider/path_provider.dart';

void main() async {
  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
  await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
  runApp(const MyApp());
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  const MyApp({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return const MaterialApp(
      home: Scaffold(
        body: Center(child: Text('Repro')),
      ),
    );
  }
}

Screenshots or Video

Screenshots / Video demonstration

[Upload media here]

Logs

Logs 
[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(40)] Unhandled Exception: Invalid argument(s): Couldn't resolve native function 'DOBJC_initializeApi' in 'package:objective_c/objective_c.dylib' : Failed to load dynamic library 'objective_c.framework/objective_c': Failed to load dynamic library 'objective_c.framework/objective_c': dlopen(objective_c.framework/objective_c, 0x0001): tried: '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRootobjective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/iVESTOR-chzjnchpswubwsbxupsgnfvywqtc/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/PackageFrameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/usr/lib/swift/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/usr/lib/swift/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file, not in dyld cache), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Users/kishanraja/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices/C601F808-A156-44A6-B2D8-AC4493D96C0A/data/Containers/Bundle/Application/F715F741-2D68-43CA-8F4D-B86370DB1854/iVESTOR-UAT.app/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/usr/lib/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file, not in dyld cache), 'objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file), '/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Volumes/iOS_23A343/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Profiles/Runtimes/iOS 26.0.simruntime/Contents/Resources/RuntimeRoot/System/Library/Frameworks/objective_c.framework/objective_c' (no such file).

#0      Native._ffi_resolver.#ffiClosure0 (dart:ffi-patch/ffi_patch.dart)
#1      Native._ffi_resolver_function (dart:ffi-patch/ffi_patch.dart:1943:20)
#2      initializeApi (package:objective_c/src/c_bindings_generated.dart)
#3      _ensureDartAPI (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:212:22)
#4      _newFinalizableHandle (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:221:3)
#5      new _ObjCReference (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:242:14)
#6      new ObjCObjectRef (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:322:7)
#7      new ObjCObject (package:objective_c/src/internal.dart:334:13)
#8      NSArray.fromPointer (package:objective_c/src/objective_c_bindings_generated.dart:1379:23)
#9      FoundationFFI.NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains (package:path_provider_foundation/src/ffi_bindings.g.dart:29:25)
#10     PathProviderFoundation._getUserDirectory (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:146:35)
#11     PathProviderFoundation._getDirectoryPath (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:122:22)
#12     PathProviderFoundation.getApplicationDocumentsPath (package:path_provider_foundation/src/path_provider_foundation_real.dart:64:12)
#13     getApplicationDocumentsDirectory (package:path_provider/path_provider.dart:121:40)
#14     commonInitialization (package:ivestor/main.dart:86:38)
#15     ivestor (package:ivestor/main.dart:63:9)
#16     _runMain.<anonymous closure> (dart:ui/hooks.dart:345:23)
#17     _delayEntrypointInvocation.<anonymous closure> (dart:isolate-patch/isolate_patch.dart:314:19)
#18     _RawReceivePort._handleMessage (dart:isolate-patch/isolate_patch.dart:193:12)

[ERROR:flutter/runtime/dart_vm_initializer.cc(40)]
Unhandled Exception: Invalid argument(s):
Couldn't resolve native function 'DOBJC_initializeApi'
in 'package:objective_c/objective_c.dylib'

Failed to load dynamic library 'objective_c.framework/objective_c'
(no such file)

Flutter Doctor output

Doctor output 
doctor --verbose
[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.38.7, on macOS 26.0 25A353 darwin-arm64, locale en-IN) [1,461ms]
    • Flutter version 3.38.7 on channel stable at /Users/kishanraja/Desktop/Soft./flutter
    • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
    • Framework revision 3b62efc2a3 (10 days ago), 2026-01-13 13:47:42 -0800
    • Engine revision 78fc3012e4
    • Dart version 3.10.7
    • DevTools version 2.51.1
    • Feature flags: enable-web, enable-linux-desktop, enable-macos-desktop, enable-windows-desktop, enable-android, enable-ios, cli-animations, enable-native-assets, omit-legacy-version-file, enable-lldb-debugging

[✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices (Android SDK version 36.1.0) [2.6s]
    • Android SDK at /Users/kishanraja/Library/Android/sdk
    • Emulator version 36.1.9.0 (build_id 13823996) (CL:N/A)
    • Platform android-36.1, build-tools 36.1.0
    • ANDROID_HOME = /Users/kishanraja/Library/Android/sdk
    • ANDROID_SDK_ROOT = /Users/kishanraja/Library/Android/sdk
    • Java binary at: /opt/homebrew/opt/openjdk@17/bin/java
      This JDK is specified in your Flutter configuration.
      To change the current JDK, run: `flutter config --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
    • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment Homebrew (build 17.0.15+0)
    • All Android licenses accepted.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 26.0) [1,723ms]
    • Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
    • Build 17A324
    • CocoaPods version 1.16.2

[✓] Chrome - develop for the web [6ms]
    • Chrome at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome

[✓] Connected device (2 available) [6.4s]
    • macOS (desktop) • macos  • darwin-arm64   • macOS 26.0 25A353 darwin-arm64
    • Chrome (web)    • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 144.0.7559.60
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for Raja’s iPhone. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
      The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for iPhone XR. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
      The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for anshul’s iPhone. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
      The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)
    ! Error: Browsing on the local area network for Anshul’s Apple Watch. Ensure the device is unlocked and discoverable via Bluetooth. (code -27)

[✓] Network resources [418ms]
    • All expected network resources are available.

• No issues found!

Regression information

Works when pinning:

dependency_overrides:
  path_provider_foundation: 2.5.1

Crashes with:

path_provider_foundation 2.6.0
objective_c 9.2.4

Recent related releases
path_provider_foundation 2.6.0 (released ~8 hours ago):

Re-release: replaces Flutter-plugin-based implementation with direct FFI calls to Foundation.

objective_c 9.2.4 (released ~8 hours ago):

Fix build hook path issue that could pass percent-encoded cache paths to clang.

This suggests the new direct FFI implementation is incompatible with Flutter frameworks embedded in native iOS apps.

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Labels

a: buildBuilding flutter applications with the toolp: path_providerPlugin that provides resolved paths to some platform directoriespackageflutter/packages repository. See also p: labels.platform-iosiOS applications specificallyteam-toolOwned by Flutter Tool teamtoolAffects the "flutter" command-line tool. See also t: labels.

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