Posts under App & System Services topic

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PDF Services directory is missing and creating takes two steps
Our app attempts to install a PDF workflow in ~/Library/PDF Services but on a clean install of newer macOS versions, that directory no longer exists. Attempting to create the folder requires prompting for user permission to access the ~/Library directory and then prompting the user to access the newly created ~/Library/PDF Services directory. This is annoying and awkward. Creating the PDF Service in the sandbox Library directory does nothing useful since the PDF workflow does not show up in the PDF workflow list in the print dialog. We would like to create both directories in one step, or have the OS create the folder like it used to. Is there an entitlement that will allow our app access to the ~/Library directory without requiring Full Disk Access? Is there a way to have the OS create a symlink in ~/Library for the PDF Services directory that works with macOS 14 and later?
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Tap to Pay Entitlement only for development
Hello Team, We applied for Tap to Pay on iPhone entitlement and were approved, but on distribution support it's only showing Development. We can build and debug Tap to Pay on development, but unable to build release. We opened ticket with Apple support but they were saying it was configured correctly. I attached screenshot of our developer account entitlement for Tap to Pay. It clearly said Development only.
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Requesting guidance on long-running background BLE control triggered by server-side events
Hello Apple Forums, We are developing an iOS application that connects to a custom BLE accessory and sends control commands to it. Our system architecture is as follows: A separate hardware device collects data and sends it to our backend server via Wi-Fi. The backend evaluates state changes and determines when the BLE accessory should update its display. The iOS app acts purely as a BLE command executor for this accessory. Our goal is to: Maintain a BLE connection with the accessory while the app is in the background. Receive state-change events from our backend server. Upon receiving such events, send a BLE command to the accessory to update its state. We understand that iOS does not allow arbitrary background execution. We would like to confirm whether there is any supported mechanism, entitlement, or program that allows: Long-running background execution for BLE control, or Server-originated events (other than APNs) to trigger background BLE actions. If this is not supported, we would appreciate confirmation that APNs (silent push) is the only supported way to trigger such background BLE actions, or guidance on any recommended alternative architectures. Thank you for your guidance.
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MFi enrollment process
I followed the instructions on the page https://mfi.apple.com/en/help/login-help/How-to-Register-Your-Existing-Apple-ID.html to apply for the MFi Program. According to step 7 of the guide: "You have now created and registered your Apple Account. You will be automatically directed to the MFi Portal to begin the enrollment process," I should have been taken to the enrollment process after logging in. However, instead of accessing the enrollment page, a pop-up message appears stating: "The Apple Account you signed in with does not have permission to view this page. If you believe your company is currently enrolled in the MFi Program, please contact your company’s Account Administrator to request access to the MFi Portal. If your company is not currently enrolled in the MFi Program, please click here to learn about the program and start the enrollment process." This has created an endless loop—I cannot proceed to the enrollment process as instructed, and the pop-up only redirects me to information that leads back to the same login and permission issue. Could you please provide guidance on how to resolve this and successfully access the MFi Program enrollment process?
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URL(fileURLWithPath:) behavior change in iOS 26 - Tilde (~) in filename causes unexpected path resolution
Environment: Xcode 26 iOS 26 Also tested on iOS 18 (working correctly) Description: I'm experiencing a behavior change with URL(fileURLWithPath:) when the filename starts with a tilde (~) character. On iOS 18, passing a filename like ~MyFile.txt to URL(fileURLWithPath:) treats the tilde as a literal character. However, on iOS 26, the same code resolves the tilde as the home directory, resulting in unexpected output. Minimal Example: let filename = "~MyFile.txt" let url = URL(fileURLWithPath: filename) print(url.lastPathComponent) Expected Result (iOS 18): ~MyFile.txt Actual Result (iOS 26): 924AF0C4-C3CD-417A-9D5F-733FBB8FCF29 The tilde is being resolved to the app's container directory, and lastPathComponent returns the container UUID instead of the filename. Questions: 1. Is this an intentional behavior change in iOS 26? 2. Is there documentation about this change? 3. What is the recommended approach for extracting filename components when the filename may contain special characters like ~? Workaround: Using NSString.lastPathComponent works correctly on both iOS versions: let filename = "~MyFile.txt" let result = (filename as NSString).lastPathComponent // Returns: "~MyFile.txt" ✅ Is this the recommended approach going forward?
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NetworkExtension framework problems
Case-ID: 17935956 In the NetworkExtension framework, for the NETransparentProxyProvider and NEDNSProxyProvider classes: when calling the open func writeDatagrams(_ datagrams: [Data], sentBy remoteEndpoints: [NWEndpoint]) async throwsin the NEDNSProxyProvider class, and the open func write(_ data: Data, withCompletionHandler completionHandler: @escaping @Sendable ((any Error)?) -> Void)in the NETransparentProxyProvider class, errors such as "The operation could not be completed because the flow is not connected" and "Error Domain=NEAppProxyFlowErrorDomain Code=1 "The operation could not be completed because the flow is not connected"" occur. Once this issue arises, if it occurs in the NEDNSProxyProvider, the entire system's DNS will fail to function properly; if it occurs in the NETransparentProxyProvider, the entire network will become unavailable.
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App Logout / Termination Behavior When Changing Bluetooth Settings With and Without Multitasking
I would like to share an issue observed during app development. When changing Bluetooth settings from the system Settings app without using multitasking, the app does not terminate but instead logs the user out. However, when changing Bluetooth settings while using multitasking, the app terminates completely. In this context, I would like to understand: Whether there is any system behavior that causes the app to refresh or restart when Bluetooth settings are changed And why the app behavior differs in a multitasking environment, particularly in terms of app lifecycle handling Any insights into these behaviors would be greatly appreciated. “while using multitasking” means reducing the app’s size and displaying it side by side with the Settings screen at the same time. For better understanding, I will attach an image. Additionally, I found that YouTube also terminates when the “Allow Tracking” permission is changed in Settings while using the multitasking interface.
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How to encode / decode Array < Array < SomeStruct > >
I need to encode and decode Array<Array> SomeStruct is multiplexed in an Int The former API did work: if let format = decoder.decodeObject(forKey: someKey) as? Array<Array<SomeStruct>> { } But using the new API if let format = decoder.decodeObject(of: Array<Array<Int>>.self, forKey: someKey) { generates an error: Cannot convert value of type 'Array<Array<Int>>.Type' to expected argument type '[AnyClass]' (aka 'Array<any AnyObject.Type>') encoding is done as follows: var format = Array(repeating: Array(repeating: 0, count: 4), count: 4) // initialize the var coder.encode(format, forKey: someKey) What is the correct syntax ?
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Is it allowed for a third-party iOS app to query time.apple.com (NTP/SNTP)? Any official usage guidance / rate limits?
I’m developing an iOS idle game (guild management). To detect manual device time changes that would break progression, I need a trusted “current real-world time” reference. I’m considering querying Apple’s NTP host time.apple.com, but I couldn’t find any official guidance about whether third-party apps may use time.apple.com directly (acceptable use, rate limits, whether it’s discouraged, etc.). Apple Developer Support couldn’t provide info and suggested asking on the forums. Questions: 1. Is it permitted for a third-party iOS app to query time.apple.com via NTP/SNTP (Yes/No or conditional)? 2. If permitted, are there any published or recommended constraints (rate limits, caching, prohibited patterns, commercial app considerations)? 3. If not permitted / not recommended, what is the recommended alternative approach (run our own time service, use public NTP pool, or any Apple-recommended mechanism)? 4. If there is any official document / policy covering this, could you point me to it? For context: I do not need sub-second accuracy and I do not intend high-frequency polling. If implemented at all, it would be very low frequency (e.g., first launch + once per 24h) with caching and graceful fallback on failure. My main goal is policy clarity rather than implementation details.
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Message Filter Extension Impacts
Hello, We are using a Message Filter Extension (ILMessageFilterExtension) to classify SMS/iMessage content (junk vs allow) in our app. After testing on iOS 26.1, we want to confirm whether there are any behavioral, performance, or API-level changes that impact message filtering, such as: Changes in how often the filter extension is invoked Differences in classification accuracy or system overrides New privacy, entitlement, or permission-related restrictions Execution time limits or memory constraints Any changes specific to iMessage vs SMS filtering We did not find any explicit mention of Message Filter Extensions in the iOS 26.1 release notes and would like to confirm whether the existing behavior from previous iOS versions remains unchanged. Has Apple introduced any known or undocumented changes in iOS 26.1 that developers should be aware of when supporting Message Filter Extensions? Sometime I also found unpredictable behaviour on iOS version 18.5 or below, like sometime it works but sometimes starts working. Thanks in advance for any guidance.
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Is there any way to control alarm volume independently when using AlarmKit?
Is there any supported or recommended way to achieve user-configurable alarm volume while still using AlarmKit? Hi there! I’m currently building an alarm app on iOS using AlarmKit, and I’m running into a fundamental limitation around volume control. When using AlarmKit, alarm sounds are played at the system ringer volume. My goal is simple in concept: Allow users to set an alarm volume inside the app, and have the alarm sound play at that volume when triggered. However, AlarmKit does not provide any API to control or override the alarm volume. I’ve explored several approaches(AVSystemController, MPVolumeView...), but none achieved the desired result. Is there any supported or recommended way to achieve user-configurable alarm volume while still using AlarmKit? Any insights from developers who’ve shipped alarm apps, or from Apple engineers, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙏
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Questions regarding refundPreference sending consumption data
Apple notification description: notificationType: The type that describes the In-App Purchase or external purchase event for which the App Store sends the version 2 notification. App Store Server Notifications 2.0+ string notificationType Possible Values CONSUMPTION_REQUEST A notification type that indicates that the customer initiated a refund request for a consumable In-App Purchase or auto-renewable subscription, and the App Store is requesting that you provide consumption data. For more information, see Send Consumption Information. When the developer receives the refund request notification and sends the refundPreference, they say: GRANT_PRORATED You prefer that the App Store grants a prorated refund. Discussion Use these values in the refundPreference field of a ConsumptionRequest. The following constraints apply to the GRANT_PRORATED option: If the product is a consumable or non-consumable In-App Purchase or a non-renewing subscription, you may include a consumptionPercentage value in the ConsumptionRequest. Question: Requesting a refund for a non-consumable type does not send a notification to the developer. However, when a developer sends a refund preference, they can still send a GRANT_PRORATED request for a non-consumable type.
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Push notifications on macOS "discarded due to expiry"
I'm having a reproducible problem receiving push notifications on macOS 26.2. The pattern is that the push is received and then discarded almost immediately (there is a 60s expiration date) when on battery power and then when I plug in pushes start working and even if I unplug again it works for hours until breaking again. These are alert notifications with priority 10. Other team members have had similar problems but less reliably broken and even get a "stored for device power considerations" message followed by discarded (see apns-unique-id c29250a3-abbf-008a-96f9-a5384e32d1df). An example from my machine with the apns-unique-id 6b2dfe3d-af99-182a-0e1e-6b811d3ec486 which fails immediately. iOS is working fine however so this seems to be confined to macOS only.
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App Logout / Termination Behavior When Changing Bluetooth Settings With and Without Multitasking
I would like to share an issue observed during app development. When changing Bluetooth settings from the system Settings app without using multitasking, the app does not terminate but instead logs the user out. However, when changing Bluetooth settings while using multitasking, the app terminates completely. In this context, I would like to understand: Whether there is any system behavior that causes the app to refresh or restart when Bluetooth settings are changed And why the app behavior differs in a multitasking environment, particularly in terms of app lifecycle handling Any insights into these behaviors would be greatly appreciated.
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NWConnectionGroup with Both Datagram and Non-datagram streams
I want to know the right way/API/usage to use NWConnectionGroup to send both datagram and non-datagram stream. I am currently working on an P2P video streaming app. I want to leverage NWConnectionGroup over QUIC to handle both message channel (traditionally handled by a TCP connection) and media channel (traditionally handled by sth. over UDP) to transmit SRT packets back and forth. I created a NWConnectionGroup and it worked fine on non-datagram parts. The problems are with datagram part. I tried extracting a connection with datagram = true either from the group or from message, doesn't and in some cases it breaks other non-datagram connections. I currently send datagram directly using the NWConnectionGroup.send(content:completion). It kinda works but I keep seeing it canceled a lot of messages, which breaks SRT shortly after start. The warnings belong flooded my console. (Seems like want me to create a connection to transmit datagram, how?) nw_connection_create_with_connection [C1600] Original connection not yet connected nw_connection_group_create_connection_for_endpoint_and_parameters [G1] failed to create connection with parameters quic, local: fe80::439:68b4:6ec2:694%en0.60517, definite, attribution: developer, server I must use it in wrong way. What should I do to fix it?
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SwiftUI: UNUserNotificationCenter delegate not called on cold start when opening notification
I'm sending local push notifications and want to show specific content based on the id of any notification the user opens. I'm able to do this with no issues when the app is already running in the background using the code below. final class AppDelegate: NSObject, UIApplicationDelegate, UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate { let container = AppContainer() func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]? = nil) -> Bool { let center = UNUserNotificationCenter.current() center.delegate = self return true } func userNotificationCenter(_ center: UNUserNotificationCenter, didReceive response: UNNotificationResponse, withCompletionHandler completionHandler: () -> Void) { container.notifications.handleResponse(response) completionHandler() } } However, the delegate never fires if the app was terminated before the user taps the notification. I'm looking for a way to fix this without switching my app lifecycle to UIKit. This is a SwiftUI lifecycle app using UIApplicationDelegateAdaptor. @main struct MyApp: App { @UIApplicationDelegateAdaptor(AppDelegate.self) var appDelegate var body: some Scene { WindowGroup { ContentView() } } } I’m aware notification responses may be delivered via launchOptions on cold start, but I’m unsure how to bridge that cleanly into a SwiftUI lifecycle app without reverting to UIKit.
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Sharing: How I Built an IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack Network Diagnostic Tool for iOS
Hi everyone 👋 As a network engineer and indie iOS developer, I couldn’t find a lightweight mobile tool that fully supports IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack diagnostics — so I built NetToolbox -All-In-One Utility for engineers, DevOps, and developers. Here are its core features that solve real mobile networking pain points: One-Click Full Diagnostics: Integrates ping, traceroute, and multi-type DNS queries (A/AAAA/CNAME) — no need to switch between apps IPv4/IPv6 Dual-Stack Support: Seamlessly works in IPv6-only networks, with the ability to test connectivity differences between dual-stack environments LAN Device Scanning: Quickly identifies all devices on the same network segment and checks port availability Offline Functionality: Diagnostic logic is stored locally, enabling LAN troubleshooting without an internet connection Lightweight Design: 5MB install size, no storage bloat, and low power consumption during operation Dark Mode Support: Tailored for developers who work late at night During development, I leveraged Apple Intelligence alongside Claude Code and Gemini 3 to accelerate the process, optimize iOS native networking stack adaptation and local storage logic, and significantly boost development efficiency. I’d love to hear from the community: What must-have features are missing from mobile network diagnostic tools? Do you have experience optimizing iOS workflows with Apple Intelligence? 👉 You can try the app here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nettoolbox-all-in-one-utility/id6757392404 Feedback is highly appreciated — I’ll keep iterating to make it better! 🚀
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