Delve into the world of built-in app and system services available to developers. Discuss leveraging these services to enhance your app's functionality and user experience.

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Screen Time API - Get user total screen time
I’m trying to integrate Screen Time usage data into my iOS app. The goal is to fetch the total time a user spends on their device (daily or weekly), and store this locally for analysis. So far, I’ve explored the DeviceActivity and FamilyControls frameworks: 1.DeviceActivityReport works but seems tied to extensions that show reports, not directly fetching raw values inside the main app. 2.I haven’t found a way to simply retrieve the total screen-on time (similar to what Settings → Screen Time shows). My questions: 1.Is there any public API that allows retrieving the user’s total Screen Time (like the one shown in Settings)? If yes, what’s the correct approach — should I use 2.DeviceActivityMonitorExtension, FamilyActivitySelection, or another framework? 3.If not, is it expected that this data is only available in the Settings app and not exposed to developers? Any guidance or official confirmation would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!
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203
Aug ’25
Screen Time issues after transferring App developer account ownership
After transferring the App ownership to a different account, if you update the app on iOS, two identical apps will show up in Settings > Screen Time. Users can't control the blocking settings from before the update - the only fix is to restart the phone. After the next execution of manageStore.shield.applications, users still can't manually disable the restrictions - their only option is to uninstall and reinstall the app. I believe this is related to how Screen Time API's authentication works - it's not just tied to the app's bundle ID, but also linked to the developer account's organization ID. Any suggestions for a clean solution that would allow smooth app updates after the transfer without running into these issues?
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580
Jan ’26
SensorKit Speech data question
We are a research team conducting a study collecting subject's SensorKit speech data, and we've encountered some questions we couldn't resolve ourselves or by looking up the online SensorKit documentation: Microphone Activation: In general, how is the microphone being turned on to capture a speech session? And how was each session determined to be an independent session? Negative Values: In the speech classification data, there are entries where some of the start and end values are negative (see screenshot below). How should we interpret and handle these values? Is it safe to filter them out? Duplicated sessions: From the same screenshot you can see there are multiple session identifiers linked to the same subject with the same timestamp - what does this represent? Another Negative Values: The same question for speech recognition data's average pause duration, what does the -1 mean and should we remove them as well? (Note that these screenshot got rid of subject IDs for privacy purposes but each screenshot was from one subject.) We greatly appreciate your time and help.
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Aug ’25
WeatherKit fails on AppStore
Hello, After being in the AppStore for more than a year with the app working perfectly, yesterday I started seeing that WeatherKit requests failed with Failed to generate jwt token for: com.apple.weatherkit.authservice with error: Error Domain=WeatherDaemon.WDSJWTAuthenticatorServiceListener.Errors Code=2 "(null)" Encountered an error when fetching weather data subset; location=<+41.40217108,+2.20023642> +/- 0.00m (speed -1.00 mps / course -1.00) @ 13/12/25, 12:20:35 Central European Standard Time, error=WeatherDaemon.WDSJWTAuthenticatorServiceListener.Errors 2 Error Domain=WeatherDaemon.WDSJWTAuthenticatorServiceListener.Errors Code=2 "(null)" I checked on developer.apple.com and we still have everything turned on and No changes were made from an already deployed app; and we pay 200$ a month for WeatherKit, this is unacceptable since it's not the first time WeatherKit randomly decides to stop working. More fun facts: the widget works fine...
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Jan ’26
How to debug a CoreSpotlight extension?
My CoreSpotlight extension seems to exceed the 6 MB memory limit. What’s the best way to debug this? I've tried to attach the debugger on the Simulator but the extension seems to be never launched when I trigger the reindex from Developer settings. Is this supposed to work? On device, I am able to attach the debugger. However, I can neither transfer the debug session to Instruments, nor display the memory graph. So I've no idea how the memory is used. Any recommendations how to move forward? Is there a way to temporarily disable the memory limit since even with LLDB attached, the extension is killed.
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183
Apr ’25
[Texas SB 2420] How to Retrieve Parental Consent Status
After reading the news below, we are currently working on updating our app in preparation for the enforcement of Texas SB 2420. https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=2ezb6jhj Based on the information in the announcement, we understand that parents will be able to revoke their consent for apps. However, we are unsure how an app is supposed to obtain or verify the parent’s consent status in the first place. We reviewed the Declared Age Range API and PermissionKit’s Significant Change API, but could not find any functionality related to this. If anyone with expertise on this topic has insight, we would greatly appreciate your guidance. Thank you in advance.
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1k
Dec ’25
ExtendedDistanceMeasurement in Nearby Interaction Framework not working on iOS 26
Problem Description: After upgrading to iOS 26, I discovered that the ExtendedDistanceMeasurement feature in the Nearby Interaction framework is not working as expected. On the same device model, the issue did not occur on iOS 18, but it is present on iOS 26 (including the latest iOS 26.2), and it has started affecting the functionality of my app. I hope this issue can be resolved as soon as possible. Problem Details: On iOS 26 and later versions (including iOS 26.2), when using an iPhone and an Apple Watch both equipped with second-generation UWB chips, enabling isExtendedDistanceMeasurementEnabled initiates the distance measurement process successfully, but the distance information fails to update. The real-time distance between the devices does not display within the app. Affected Devices and Versions: iPhone Model: iPhone 15 Pro Max iOS Version: iOS 26.2 Apple Watch Model: Apple Watch 10 watchOS Version: 26.2 Example Code: The issue can be reproduced by adding the following code from the official sample code: Nearby Interaction Framework Sample Code
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Dec ’25
How to manage child device's apps through an app on parent's phone using Screen Time Controls?
When we request auth from the AuthorizationCenter, it seems that we're only really able to allow users to control the apps on the parent's phone. Is there a way to allow us to let parents manage apps on the kid's device directly through our parent app? For context, we have 2 different apps, one for the parent and one for the child. The child is able to purchase screen time and the parent can redeem them (activate those minutes) from their end.
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Mar ’25
Clarification Needed: histogrammedTimeToFirstDraw vs histogrammedOptimizedTimeToFirstDraw in MetricKit
Hi Apple Developer Community, I'm implementing MetricKit launch performance tracking in our iOS app and need clarification on two properties: histogrammedTimeToFirstDraw histogrammedOptimizedTimeToFirstDraw The Documentation Problem: The official MetricKit documentation provides minimal explanation of these properties beyond their names. Based on naming conventions, I initially assumed: histogrammedTimeToFirstDraw = cold launches histogrammedOptimizedTimeToFirstDraw = warm/optimized launches Based on our measurements: The “optimized” metric appears only in a small fraction of launches The "optimized" metric is actually slower The naming suggests the opposite behavior Questions: What specific launch conditions does each metric measure? Why would "optimized" launches be slower and less frequent? Is histogrammedOptimizedTimeToFirstDraw related to iOS app pre-warming or prediction features? If these metrics don’t correspond to cold vs. warm launch times, is there an alternative way to measure them accurately? Any clarification from Apple or insights from developers who've tracked these metrics would be greatly appreciated.
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210
Jan ’26
CallKit blocked call remains Missed Calls
I’m currently developing a spam number blocking app using CallKit. I’ve confirmed that up to iOS 26 beta 5, there is a bug where number blocking doesn’t work. In my current tests, the ringtone doesn’t sound and the blocking works fine, but the call still appears in the missed calls list, which is bothersome. If the bug is fixed in future versions (as it was in previous versions), is there a way to block the number so that it also does not appear in missed calls?
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Aug ’25
Updating Advanced App Clip Experience in Apple Store Connect Not Working
When updating an existing advanced app clip experience, the change doesn't actually apply. It shows the correct image in the UI, but when you use the app clip it shows the old image. Looking into it more, the status has "UPDATE_SUBMITTED". Seems related to this issue (https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/810544) and this issue (https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/810351).
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230
Dec ’25
Age range permission prompt text configurability
For other permission prompts in the iOS ecosystem, we have the option to configure the text shown in the prompt via keys in the Info.plist. This does not appear to be the case with regards to the age range permission prompt. The text of the prompt implies the app includes a differentiated experience for child or teen content and that confirming age unlocks more features (making it seem optional for using the app). Is there a plan for app developers to be able to update that permission prompt similarly to how we can configure others? If so, is there any timeline we can expect that on?
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Dec ’25
WeatherKit request fail
Hello, I have an app on the App Store built around WeatherKit and it was working fine, up until this morning when I started seeing errors when using the app. When debugging using Xcode I see the familiar error Failed to generate jwt token for: com.apple.weatherkit.authservice with error: Error Domain=WeatherDaemon.WDSJWTAuthenticatorServiceListener.Errors Code=2 "(null)" which, according to what I've read on the forums looks like an authentication error. Attaching a network debugger to the Simulator, I saw this error: This I have tried: Verify that WeatherKit is enabled on both Capabilities and App Services tabs on the Dev Portal. Toggle on/off this value and regenerate Provisioning Profiles Uninstall/reinstall Checking that I have API available calls. Nothing. If I create a new Bundle ID and sign with that, it works correctly. But this is not an option since that will force all my customers to download everything from scratch. I am getting emails from customers demanding money back and I can't figure out what has happened. The only thing I can think of, is that I started developing an Apple Watch app to complement the iOS app, but that was last week and everything was working fine.
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Dec ’25
Clarification on AskCenter and Age Assurance APIs for Texas Regulatory Compliance
Hello, I’m currently reviewing and implementing age assurance and parental approval flows using AgeRangeService and PermissionKit (AskCenter) in the context of Texas regulatory compliance requirements. While the high-level APIs are clear, there are several technical aspects where the intended usage patterns are not fully explicit in the documentation. Clarification on these points would help ensure our implementation aligns with system expectations and regulatory obligations. ⸻ Querying the current approval state for SignificantAppUpdateTopic AskCenter.ask(...) returns Void, and AskCenter.responses(for:) provides an AsyncSequence of approval events. Is there an official or recommended way to determine whether a SignificantAppUpdateTopic has already been approved when the app launches, or is listening for future responses events the only supported mechanism? ⸻ Behavior of AskCenter.responses(for:) regarding past approvals When subscribing to AskCenter.responses(for:): • Does the stream replay previously recorded approval or decline decisions? • Or does it only emit events that occur after subscription? This affects whether the listener must be registered early in the app lifecycle. ⸻ Recommended lifecycle timing for registering a responses(for:) listener What is the intended or recommended time to register a responses(for:) listener? • At application launch • Immediately before calling ask(...) • When entering a specific gated feature Clarification on the expected lifecycle usage would be helpful. ⸻ Repeated calls to ask(...) after approval If AskCenter.ask(...) is called again for the same SignificantAppUpdateTopic after parental approval has already been granted: • Is the request ignored? • Is a new approval request sent to the parent? • Or is the call handled idempotently by the system? ⸻ Delivery of approval results when the child app is not running If a parent approves or declines a SignificantAppUpdateTopic while the child app is not running: • Will the approval decision be delivered as a responses(for:) event on the next app launch? • Or is the app expected to persist approval state locally? ⸻ Persistence of approval state Is the approval decision for SignificantAppUpdateTopic persisted by the system at the OS level, or is the app responsible for storing approval state? Additionally, does the approval persist across: • app restarts? • app deletion and reinstallation? ⸻ Meaning of activeParentalControls.significantAppChangeApprovalRequired How is activeParentalControls.significantAppChangeApprovalRequired determined? • Is this value explicitly configured by a parent (for example via Screen Time)? • Or is it automatically determined by the system based on region, age, or regulatory requirements? ⸻ Relationship between significantAppChangeApprovalRequired and AgeRangeService When activeParentalControls contains significantAppChangeApprovalRequired, is it still expected that apps call AgeRangeService.requestAgeRange(...)? Or can the presence of this flag be treated as sufficient indication that the user is a minor for gating purposes? ⸻ Recommended interpretation of AgeRangeDeclaration Is the intended usage of AgeRangeDeclaration to handle each case individually, or is it acceptable and recommended to interpret the values as different trust levels (for example, self-declared vs. government ID or payment verified)? Clarification on these points would help ensure that implementations of age assurance and parental approval flows are consistent with system behavior while meeting regulatory compliance requirements. Thank you for your guidance.
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79
Dec ’25
ShieldConfiguration: Shield does not update when token is moved from one store to anohter (while in foreground)
Hello, I have noticed that the ShieldConfiguration is only requested when opening a target app, and never when the application token is moved to a different shield while the target app remains in foreground. This causes problems because many times the wrong ShieldConfiguration is displayed (recycled) instead of requesting a new ShieldConfiguration. This bug has been around since the introduction of the Screen Time API in 2020 and is has not been addressed. Bug reports: FB14237883 FB17902392 Please fix asap!! Not acceptable to have bugs not being addressed for more than 5 years. Most concerning: This is still reproducing on iOS 26 beta 7!! Thanks a lot for your help.
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315
Aug ’25
Misleading iOS prompt claims developers "will receive" user data
When a user enables an SMS filtering extension via iOS Settings → Messages → Text Message Filtering and selects an app, the following prompt appears: "The developer of [App Name] will receive the text, attachments and sender information in text messages from senders not in your Contacts. Messages may include personal or sensitive information like bank verification codes." This message cannot be modified by developers, and we're receiving complaints and negative reviews from users who are alarmed by it, despite our app not collecting any data. iOS should allow developers to customize this message or reword this message to not make false claims about data collection. We've opened a feedback assistant report here: FB21445903
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Jan ’26
How to identify which minor user's authorization has been revoked by the parent/guardian?
I followed the method outlined in Apple's documentation to test "Revocation of Consent." Our server received the notification sent by Apple, but the parsed data only contains the following content (some data has been modified for privacy, but the fields remain unchanged): { "receiptType": "Sandbox", "bundleId": "com.xxx.xxxxx", "receiptCreationDate": 1764932591296, "requestDate": 1764932591296, "originalPurchaseDate": 1375340400000, "originalApplicationVersion": "1.0", "appTransactionId": "705020051250081000", "originalPlatform": "iOS" } How can we identify that "a parent/guardian has revoked authorization for a specific user"? We are unable to determine which minor user should be restricted from using certain features of our app. I hope to receive a prompt response from Apple's technical experts! Thanks A Lot !
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Dec ’25
Error Blocking Phone Numbers
In my case, when I try to block calls on iOS 26, the blocking doesn't occur; the scenarios seem intermittent. If I create two CallDirectory extensions, the first blocks the numbers, but the second doesn't. Interestingly, the extension marks the number as suspicious. There's also a case where, on iOS 26 on an iPhone 16 Pro, the functionality doesn't work at all. I'd like to know if there have been any changes to the use of CallKit in iOS 26, because users of my app on iOS 18 and below report successful blocking.
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232
Dec ’25
QuickLook Thumbnailing returns stale macOS 26 folder icon
On macOS 26, I've run into a situation when a user “customizes” a folder icon with Finder by assigning/changing an SF Symbol or an emoji, QLThumbnailGenerator keeps returning the stale initially retrieved folder icon (no matter whether it had been customized or not) until my app quits. After the app is re-launched, the icon is correctly retrieved once again. let generator = QLThumbnailGenerator.shared let size: CGSize = CGSize(width: 64, height: 64) let request = QLThumbnailGenerator.Request(fileAt: url, size: size, scale: NSScreen.main!.backingScaleFactor, representationTypes: .icon) request.iconMode = true do { let thumb = try await generator.generateBestRepresentation(for: request) thumb.nsImage.size = size return thumb.nsImage } catch { print("generateThumbnail: \(error)") return nil } It seems like the QuickLook Thumbnailing cache does not invalidate automatically upon folder customization. Is there any way to manually invalidate the QuickLook Thumbnailing cache?
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Dec ’25