I have an iOS app that has an embedded watch app, not a stand alone app. Over on Appstore Connect there is a section for screenshots for the watch. Do I put watch screenshots there or do I put them in as part of the iPhone screen shots? The folks over at Appscreens said I can use watch screenshots showing a watch device as part of the iPhone screenshots but the watch ONLY screenshots should be JUST the screenshot, no text or device mockups... That got me thinking then that what they said would apply to stand alone watch apps. So I am confused where to put the embedded watch app screenshots?

In the WWDC 2019 session "Extended Runtime for WatchOS apps" the video talks about an entitlement being required to use the HR sensor judiciously in the background. It provides a link to request the entitlement which no longer works: http://developer.apple.com/contect/request/health-monitoring The session video is also quite hard to find these days. Does anyone know why this is the case? Is the API and entitlement still available? Is there a supported way to run, even periodically, in the background on the Watch app (ignoring the background observer route which is known to be unreliable) and access existing HR sensor data

I have a Form (scrollable) that contains 2 inputs as a Picker and a Stepper where frequency is an enum and time an Int. struct ConfigurationView: View { @Bindable var configuration: ConfigurationModel var body: some View { NavigationStack { Form { Picker(.frequency, selection: $configuration.frequency) { /* ... */ } Stepper(value: $configuration.time, in: 1...8) { // Stepper Label } .focusable() Button(.save) { configuration.save() } .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent) .listRowBackground(Color.clear) } .navigationTitle(.configuration) } } } The main issue I'm facing is a delay in the UI (1-3 seconds) while interacting with the Digital Crown over the focused Stepper which prints a Crown Sequencer warning: Crown Sequencer was set up without a view property. This will inevitably lead to incorrect crown indicator states This mainly happens when the Picker, which is showed as a modal or Sheet, changes its value, so the Stepper no longer gets focusable again. Looking into the docs, lectures and WWDC videos I just found that we need to provide a some sort of a focus, that's why the Stepper control has a focusable() modifier. I don't know if there is an overlap between the scroll and the focus event on the control.

I have a watchOS WidgetKit complication that needs the user's location to show the nearest transit station, but the widget never gets location permission and CLLocationManager times out. Setup: NSWidgetWantsLocation = YES in Widget Extension's Info.plist NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription and NSLocationAlwaysAndWhenInUseUsageDescription in Widget Extension's Info.plist Watch App successfully has location authorization Problem: The system never presents a location permission prompt for my widget. Apple's own World Clock widget does get one on watchOS (see screenshot) — I can't figure out what triggers it. When the widget tries to get location via CLLocationManager, the request times out and never returns a location. Questions: What triggers the system location prompt for a watchOS widget? Is NSWidgetWantsLocation sufficient or is something else required? Why would CLLocationManager time out and never return a location inside a widget extension? Is there a specific pattern required for requesting location in a WidgetKit timeline provider? Screenshots Sorry for swedish, but it says "Do you allow widgets from World Clock to use your location services?"

We are developing a watchOS application that records long audio sessions and uploads them to our backend in chunks (~5 MB each) using pre-signed URLs and URLSession background upload. Current behavior: While audio recording is active, uploads continue successfully even when the app is in the background. Once the recording stops, if multiple chunks (e.g., 10+) are still pending, the remaining uploads do not proceed in the background and appear to be suspended. We attempted to use WKExtendedRuntimeSession (mindfulness type) to allow sufficient time to enqueue background upload tasks, but the session is invalidated when the app goes to the background (e.g., wrist down or app inactive), which prevents reliable scheduling of uploads. Additionally, we added the entitlement: com.apple.developer.extended-runtime-session (mindfulness) in the Watch app entitlements file, but Xcode automatic signing fails with: “Provisioning profile does not include the com.apple.developer.extended-runtime-session entitlement.” It appears that the provisioning profile is not being updated to include this entitlement. Our questions: Is WKExtendedRuntimeSession (mindfulness) expected to support scheduling background URLSession uploads after the app goes to background? How should we reliably complete pending background uploads on watchOS after a long recording session ends? Is there any additional entitlement or recommended approach for this use case? Why is the extended runtime entitlement not being applied to the provisioning profile despite being added in the entitlements file? We are aiming to follow Apple-recommended practices for long-running tasks and background uploads on watchOS. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I'm building a freediving app for Apple Watch Ultra using the shallow depth entitlement (com.apple.developer.submerged-shallow-depth-and-pressure). My app uses WKExtendedRuntimeSession with the underwater-depth background mode, and it works correctly — the session starts, Water Lock activates automatically, and Crown hold water ejection ends the session as expected. However, the app does not appear in Settings > General > Auto-Launch > When Submerged on the watch. Other third-party apps (including one that hasn't been updated in ~2 years and presumably only has the shallow entitlement) do appear in this list. My configuration: WKBackgroundModes: ["underwater-depth", "workout-processing"] WKSupportsAutomaticDepthLaunch: true (Boolean, in watch app Info.plist) Entitlement verified in both the signed binary and provisioning profile watchOS 26.3, Apple Watch Ultra 2 Tested with: development build, TestFlight, and direct Xcode deploy. Watch restarted after each. The app does not appear in any case. The documentation at https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coremotion/accessing-submersion-data states: "Adding the underwater-depth Background Mode capability also adds your app to the list of apps that the system can autolaunch when the wearer submerges the watch." Does auto-depth-launch require the full depth entitlement (com.apple.developer.submerged-depth-and-pressure), or should the shallow entitlement be sufficient? Is there an additional step required for the app to appear in the When Submerged list? Any guidance appreciated.

I'm developing a lighting control app for iOS that receives Art-Net (UDP port 6454) and sACN (UDP port 5568) packets from a lighting console and relays commands to BLE wristbands with LEDs. This is used in live event production — the participant locks their phone while in a show and expects lighting control to continue uninterrupted. The problem UDP receive stops reliably ~30 seconds after the screen locks. I understand this is by design - iOS suspends apps in the background. However, I'm trying to understand if any supported path exists for this use case. What I've already tried UIRequiresPersistentWiFi = true - helps with Wi-Fi association but doesn't prevent app suspension Silent AVAudioEngine loop with UIBackgroundModes: audio - keeps the app alive, works in testing, but risks App Store rejection and feels like an abuse of the audio background mode NWListener (Network framework) on the UDP port - same suspension behaviour Socket rebind on applicationWillEnterForeground - recovers after resume but doesn't prevent dropout What I'm asking Is there any supported background mode or entitlement for sustained UDP receive in a professional/enterprise context? (Similar to how VoIP apps get the voip background mode for sustained network activity.) Is the silent audio workaround considered acceptable for App Store distribution in a professional tools context, or will it be rejected? Is NEAppProxyProvider or another Network Extension a viable path, and if so does it require a special entitlement? Test project I have a minimal Xcode project (~130 lines) demonstrating the issue — NWListener on port 6454, packet counter, staleness timer, and silent audio toggle. I can share the test code. STEPS TO REPRODUCE In Xcode (one-time setup): Select the UDPBackgroundTest target → Signing & Capabilities → set your Team Plug in your iPhone → select it as the run destination Build & run — confirm packets appear on screen when you run 'send_test_udp.py' Lock the phone and observe the dropout Test: Open the app and run 'python3 send_test_udp.py 192.168.0.XXX' The app counts up the packages, they match the python output. 1 packet per second. lock screen & and wait 10 seconds unlock phone an see the numbers are 10 packets off

I already have a working iOS React Native app and I’m planning to add a watchOS companion app. Is it possible to keep the iOS app and the watchOS app in separate repositories? If so, will WatchConnectivity still work properly between them? Or is it recommended to keep both in a single Xcode project/repository?

On watchOS, the Developer Mode entry under Settings -> Privacy & Security is hidden by default and only appears after Xcode has attempted to connect to the watch as a development device. In my case, once Xcode triggers that surfacing, opening Settings -> Privacy & Security on the watch prompts for a 4-digit Screen Time passcode before granting access. No Screen Time passcode I set on the paired iPhone is accepted at this prompt, which prevents me from reaching the Developer Mode toggle to enable it. The passcode prompt only appears in this specific state. With no Xcode connection attempt (and therefore no Developer Mode entry surfaced in the menu), Settings → Privacy & Security opens normally on the watch with no prompt at all. Environment macOS: Tahoe 26.4.1 (Build 25E253) Xcode: 26.4.1 (24909.0.3) (Build 17E202) iPhone: iOS 26.4.2 Apple Watch: Ultra 3 running watchOS 26.4 All devices on release software (no betas). Xcode error Developer Mode disabled Domain: com.apple.dt.deviceprep Code: -28 Recovery Suggestion: To use [Watch Name] for development, enable Developer Mode in Settings → Privacy & Security. User Info: { DVTErrorCreationDateKey = "2026-04-30 09:38:57 +0000"; "com.apple.dt.DVTCoreDevice.operationName" = checkDeveloperMode; } Reproduction Pair Apple Watch to iPhone (paired fresh, set up as new, not restored from backup). Connect iPhone to Mac running Xcode 26.4.1. Before any Xcode connection attempt, open Settings -> Privacy & Security on the watch. The menu opens normally with no passcode prompt. There is no Developer Mode entry visible. In Xcode, attempt to use the Apple Watch as a run destination. Xcode returns the -28 / Developer Mode disabled error above and instructs me to enable Developer Mode in Settings -> Privacy & Security on the watch. After this attempt, the Developer Mode entry is surfaced in Settings -> Privacy & Security on the watch. Open Settings -> Privacy & Security on the watch in this surfaced state. The menu now prompts for a 4-digit Screen Time passcode before allowing access. The passcodes I have set on the paired iPhone are rejected. The passcode prompt is therefore conditional on the Developer Mode entry having been surfaced by a recent Xcode connection attempt. In step 3 (no surfacing) the menu opens freely; in step 6 (surfacing in effect) the menu is gated. What I have already tried Confirmed Screen Time is disabled on the paired iPhone. Confirmed Share Across Devices is enabled. Confirmed Content & Privacy Restrictions is off on the iPhone. Confirmed I am an adult in my Family Sharing group (not a managed/child account). Confirmed there are no configuration profiles installed (Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management is empty). Set a fresh Screen Time passcode on the iPhone. Not accepted by the watch prompt. Used Forgot Passcode? → Apple ID authentication to reset the Screen Time passcode and set a new one. Not accepted by the watch prompt. Turned the Screen Time passcode off entirely on the iPhone. The watch still prompts for one when Xcode is connecting. Unpaired the Apple Watch and re-paired as new (not restored from backup). Issue persists. Tried entering the watch's own device passcode at the prompt. Not accepted. Question What credential is the watch's Privacy & Security menu actually checking against once the Developer Mode entry has been surfaced, and how can it be reset or cleared from a paired iPhone? Is anyone else seeing this conditional gating where the menu is only locked in the post-surfacing state? Any pointers from the Xcode / watchOS tools team would be appreciated. Happy to provide sysdiagnose or further details on request.

The process of copying shared cache symbols from my Apple Watch has been horrendous. I cannot even get past 2% complete before this process fails. Every device is on the same network. I have trusted my machine. Developer mode is enabled on the watch. I have successfully paired the phone and watch. I managed to install an Watch app onto the watch. But the shared cache symbols were never copied from the watch. I gathered several commands at the terminal to help me. rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/CoreDevice sudo killall -9 remoted CoreDeviceService 2>/dev/null || true xcrun devicectl manage ddis update xcrun devicectl list devices Clear CoreDevice state. With Xcode quit: rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode Reset Xcode's Local Network permission. tccutil reset Local-Network com.apple.dt.Xcode tccutil reset Bluetooth com.apple.dt.Xcode xcrun devicectl device info hardware --device MY_DEVICE_ID xcrun devicectl list devices ping -c 3 MY_IP_ADDRESS Confirm no VPN/proxy/filter is lurking scutil --nwi ifconfig | grep -E "utun|ipsec|tap|tun" xcrun devicectl device info details --device MY_DEVICE_ID xcrun devicectl manage pair --device MY_DEVICE_ID I keep obtain this type of error: Unable to copy shared cache files Domain: com.apple.dt.deviceprep Code: -33 User Info: { DVTErrorCreationDateKey = "2026-05-20 23:41:00 +0000"; NSLocalizedRecoverySuggestion = ""; "com.apple.dt.DVTCoreDevice.operationName" = dtfetchsymbols; } -- The operation couldn’t be completed. No route to host Domain: NSPOSIXErrorDomain Code: 65 Failure Reason: No route to host -- System Information macOS Version 26.5 (Build 25F71) Xcode 26.5 (24943) (Build 17F42) Timestamp: 2026-05-20T16:41:00-07:00 Does anyone have ideas to help me overcome this nightmare?

We are seeing a reproducible process termination involving a companion watchOS app and its paired iOS companion app when Motion & Fitness authorization is requested from the watchOS app. Context: iOS app bundle identifier: com.alpha.golfbird watchOS app bundle identifier: com.alpha.golfbird.watchkitapp The watchOS app has WKCompanionAppBundleIdentifier set to the iOS app bundle identifier. Both the iOS app and the watchOS app include NSMotionUsageDescription in their Info.plist files. The watchOS app uses CMAltimeter to read barometric altitude changes for slope-adjusted golf distance calculations. The authorization flow checks CMAltimeter.authorizationStatus(). If the status is notDetermined, it uses CMMotionActivityManager.queryActivityStarting(from:to:to:) before starting CMAltimeter updates, following the known iOS 17.4+ Core Motion authorization behavior. Observed behavior: Install or launch the watchOS companion app for the first time. Open the paired iOS companion app and keep it in the foreground. In the watchOS app, enter the feature that starts the slope/altimeter flow. watchOS shows the Motion & Fitness permission prompt. After the user grants permission, the watchOS app continues normally and CMAltimeter authorization succeeds. At approximately the same time, the foreground iOS app process is terminated. In debug builds, Xcode reports: Debug session ended with code 9: Terminated due to signal 9 In TestFlight builds, users observe that the iOS app closes and relaunches. We do not get a normal iOS crash stack trace for the iOS app, which makes this look like a system termination rather than an application exception. Expected behavior: Granting Motion & Fitness authorization from the watchOS companion app should not terminate the foreground paired iOS companion app, or there should be documented lifecycle behavior and a recommended state-restoration strategy for this case. Question: Is it expected system behavior for a watchOS companion app's Motion & Fitness / Core Motion authorization change to terminate the paired foreground iOS companion app process? If it is expected, is there any documented notification, lifecycle callback, or recommended workaround so the iOS app can preserve and restore user state without looking like a crash? If it is not expected, should this be filed as a Core Motion / watchOS / WatchKit privacy authorization bug via Feedback Assistant, and what diagnostic logs would Apple recommend attaching?

Hi everyone, I'm submitting my watchOS-only app and its In-App Purchase for the very first time (both app and IAP submitted simultaneously). After multiple rejections, I still can't resolve the issue and would appreciate any guidance. Environment: App type: watchOS-only (no iOS companion app) First submission of both the app and IAP IAP type: Non-Consumable, Product Apple ID: 6770497337 The problem: The reviewer (App Review) states that the IAP product information cannot be retrieved in the review environment. According to the reviewer, they are testing in the production environment, not the sandbox. However: In my TestFlight build, the app correctly retrieves the IAP product I have successfully completed the full purchase flow using a sandbox account All business agreements (including Paid Apps Agreement) are accepted and active in The Bundle ID and Product ID are correctly configured in both Xcode and App Store Connect Current IAP status in App Store Connect: Overall status: "Developer Action Needed" All localizations (English US/UK/AU/CA, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese): "Rejected" No specific rejection reason is shown anywhere in App Store Connect Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 🙏

I'm building a sleep tracker for couples — the headline feature is a notification to your partner the moment you fall asleep (and another when you wake up), detected on the Apple Watch from accelerometer and heart-rate data. The detection has to happen within minutes of onset for the product to make sense. My setup HKObserverQuery on heart rate with enableBackgroundDelivery(.immediate), re-registered on foreground. WKApplicationRefreshBackgroundTask rescheduled every 15 minutes. CMSensorRecorder.recordAccelerometer(forDuration: 12 * 3600) re-armed on every wake. A van Hees-style stillness classifier reading the last ~35 minutes of the buffer, with heart rate as a soft confirmer. HealthKit and Motion & Fitness authorized on both iPhone and watch. The observer's completionHandler() is called on every branch and the handler stays well under the 15-second watchdog. No HKWorkoutSession as my app is not a workout. Questions Is CMSensorRecorder paused or deprioritized while the Apple Watch's automatic sleep detection has classified the user as asleep? On a worn watch with the recorder armed for 12 hours, accelerometerData(from:to:) over a 35-minute window inside the auto-detected sleep period returns zero samples. The exact same call an hour later, once the watch has decided the user is awake, returns roughly ten thousand samples for an equivalent window. The user never activated Sleep Focus or Theater Mode — the only sleep-related state at play is the watch's own automatic detection, the same one that writes Core / REM / Deep stages into Apple Health. Is this documented power management I missed, or is it unexpected? Happy to file Feedback with a sysdiagnose during the window if you confirm it shouldn't behave this way. Is there a sanctioned non-workout path on current watchOS for detecting sleep onset within a few minutes of it happening? A full night recently produced a five-hour stretch with zero observer callbacks and zero background-refresh deliveries between bedtime and wake. The historical guidance to third-party sleep apps has been to reconstruct nights post-hoc from sleepAnalysis samples rather than attempt live detection. Is that still the recommendation today, or is there an API I've missed that would give an onset-focused app tighter wakes around bedtime? What is the current App Store review stance on HKWorkoutSession for sleep tracking? Would an app that auto-starts a .other / indoor workout only when its own classifier detects pre-sleep signals at the user's typical bedtime, ends the session as soon as onset is confirmed, never starts one outside that gated condition, and explicitly discloses "sleep tracking via workout session" in the App Store metadata — be an acceptable pattern, or grounds for rejection regardless of disclosure?