# XPC activities Schedule background activities for the system to execute. ## Topics ### Registration [`xpc_activity_register`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_register(_:_:_:)) Registers an activity with the system. [`xpc_activity_unregister`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_unregister(_:)) Unregisters an activity with the specified identifier. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_CHECK_IN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_CHECK_IN) A constant to check in with the system for a previously registered activity using the same identifier. [`xpc_activity_t`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_t) An XPC activity object. [`xpc_activity_handler_t`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_handler_t) A block to call when an XPC activity becomes eligible to run. ### State [`xpc_activity_get_state`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_get_state(_:)) Returns the current state of an activity. [`xpc_activity_set_state`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_set_state(_:_:)) Updates the current state of an activity. [`xpc_activity_should_defer`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_should_defer(_:)) Tests whether to defer an activity. [xpc_activity_state_t](/documentation/XPC/xpc-activity-state-t-swift-consts) A type that represents the state of an activity. [`xpc_activity_state_t`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_state_t) A type that represents the state of an activity. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_CHECK_IN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_CHECK_IN) The activity has completed a check-in with the system. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_WAIT`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_WAIT) The activity is waiting for an opportunity to run. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_RUN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_RUN) The activity is eligible to run according to its criteria. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_DEFER`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_DEFER) The activity needs to wait until it satisfies its criteria again. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_CONTINUE`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_CONTINUE) The activity continues its operation beyond the return of its handler block. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_DONE`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_STATE_DONE) The activity is complete. ### Execution criteria [`xpc_activity_copy_criteria`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_copy_criteria(_:)) Returns an XPC dictionary that describes the execution criteria of an activity. [`xpc_activity_set_criteria`](/documentation/XPC/xpc_activity_set_criteria(_:_:)) Modifies the execution criteria of an activity. ### Scheduling [`XPC_ACTIVITY_REPEATING`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_REPEATING) A Boolean property that indicates whether this is a repeating activity. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_DELAY`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_DELAY) An integer property that indicates the number of seconds to delay before beginning the activity. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_GRACE_PERIOD`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_GRACE_PERIOD) An integer property that indicates the number of seconds to allow as a grace period before the scheduling of the activity becomes more aggressive. ### Time Intervals [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL) An integer property that indicates the desired time interval of the activity in seconds. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_MIN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_MIN) A constant that represents a 1-minute time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_5_MIN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_5_MIN) A constant that represents a 5-minute time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_15_MIN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_15_MIN) A constant that represents a 15-minute time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_30_MIN`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_30_MIN) A constant that represents a 30-minute time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_HOUR`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_HOUR) A constant that represents a 1-hour time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_4_HOURS`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_4_HOURS) A constant that represents a 4-hour time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_8_HOURS`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_8_HOURS) A constant that represents an 8-hour time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_DAY`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_1_DAY) A constant that represents a one-day time interval. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_7_DAYS`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_INTERVAL_7_DAYS) A constant that represents a seven-day time interval. ### Priority [`XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY) A string property that indicates the priority of the activity. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY_MAINTENANCE`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY_MAINTENANCE) A string that indicates an activity is maintenance priority. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY_UTILITY`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_PRIORITY_UTILITY) A string that indicates an activity is utility priority. ### Power consumption [`XPC_ACTIVITY_ALLOW_BATTERY`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_ALLOW_BATTERY) A Boolean value that indicates whether to allow the activity to run while the computer is on battery power. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_SCREEN_SLEEP`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_SCREEN_SLEEP) A Boolean value that indicates whether the activity performs only while the primary screen is in sleep mode. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_PREVENT_DEVICE_SLEEP`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_PREVENT_DEVICE_SLEEP) A Boolean that indicates whether the activity prevents the system from sleeping while on battery power. ### Deprecated [`XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_BATTERY_LEVEL`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_BATTERY_LEVEL) An integer percentage of minimum battery charge required to allow the activity to run. [`XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_HDD_SPINNING`](/documentation/XPC/XPC_ACTIVITY_REQUIRE_HDD_SPINNING) A Boolean value indicating whether the activity should only be performed while the hard disk drive (HDD) is spinning. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)