UNNotificationSound not playing custom sound

Question

I can't seem to get custom sounds to play on iOS 10, even though the same sounds played on iOS 9 using the old APIs

UNMutableNotificationContent *content = [[UNMutableNotificationContent alloc] init];
content.body = ...
content.categoryIdentifier = ...
content.userInfo = ...
content.badge = ...
UNNotificationSound *bell = [UNNotificationSound soundNamed:soundName];
content.sound = bell;
UNTimeIntervalNotificationTrigger *trigger = [UNTimeIntervalNotificationTrigger triggerWithTimeInterval:[date timeIntervalSinceNow] repeats:NO];
UNNotificationRequest *request = [UNNotificationRequest requestWithIdentifier:[[NSUUID UUID] UUIDString] content:content trigger:trigger];
[[UNUserNotificationCenter currentNotificationCenter] addNotificationRequest:request withCompletionHandler:^(NSError * _Nullable error) {
    NSLog(@"error scheduling %@", error);
}];

I haven't seen an reference to there being an issue in the release notes. Anyone else having this issue?

Beta
iOS

16k

Posted by

Chad S.

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Answer 1

UNNotificationSound is available on watchOS, but the soundNamed: method is iOS-only: https://developer.apple.com/reference/usernotifications/unnotificationsound/1649031-soundnamed?language=objc So on watchOS, defaultSound is the only option.

Posted by

robotspacer

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Answer 2

The problem also happens if the app reload is from TestFlight, so I suspect that it would happen with a "real" App Store update as well, not just Xcode.

Posted by

3no

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Answer 3

Filed a radar report also (rdar://28385625). Hopefully it'll be tackled sooner rather than later.

Posted by

shepandren

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Answer 4

My two cents. 🙂

I have the same problem after migration my app to iOS 10.

After the installazione via Xcode, my app set the notification but custom sound not work. If I set the notification again (without install), it works well.

Posted by

alessiofrompescantina

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Answer 5

Please explain exactly your meaning "If I set the notification again". Is this a practical workaround?

Posted by

3no

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Answer 6

Fixed in iOS 10.1 beta 2.

Posted by

3no

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Answer 7

It is great to hear that it will be fixed in 10.2, but does it mean that a custom sound does not work when it is built from Xcode , but that it WILL work when it is downloaded from App Store, even On iOS 10.0 (as long as under 30 seconds, correct file type etc.)?

Posted by

karlml

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Answer 8

Clarification/Correction: It is great to hear that it will be fixed in 10.1 beta 2. But does it mean that a custom sound only do not work when it is built from Xcode , but that it WILL work when it is downloaded from the App Store, even on iOS 10.0 (as long as under 30 seconds, correct file type etc.)? How can I be sure that the custom ring tone will work on iOS 10 for users that download from the App Store ?

Posted by

karlml

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Answer 9

It will NOT work for App Store downloads for users running iOS 10.0.x

Posted by

3no

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Answer 10

What is the recommended workaround for this?
I have the same issue with UILocalNotification and it becomes very difficult for the user to realize someone is calling if all they get is a "ding"..

I tested the Skype iOS app, and they are able to have their custom sound, but I also noticed that they have implemented CallKit
Does that mean this bug does not impact CallKit ?

My worry is that we will be in December before the great majority has updated to 10.1, is there anything we can do in the meantime to have a 30 second ringtone with a local notification ?

Posted by

karlml

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Answer 11

You can check if you are an update running 10.0.x and alert the user to reboot the device one time (or update iOS when 10.1+ is available). It's not a pretty workaround, especially if it takes an update to add. I'm holding off until 10.1 is released for my next update of the affected app just so I don't hurt users who are not experiencing the problem.

Posted by

3no

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Answer 12

It does seem to be fixed in 10.1 in that the custom sounds now play (and don't crash the device!), but they still stop after 5 seconds when the alert disappears.

If we're able to set 30 second sound files, then there must be a way of allowing them to play for 30 seconds? Does anyone have the solution to that?

Posted by

siburb2

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Answer 13

I am running xocde 8.0 (8A218a), and this post saved my day.

I included file suffix e.g. "ForElise.caf" in sound name (it did not work without the suffix).

Deleted the app from iPhone and re-installed.

Detached it from XCode (that is also essential)

The notification then did play the custom sound. So far consistently, as long as the app is not launched from XCode.

I guessed it took me 2 hours to test all possibilities (and 20 minutes after hitting this post)

Posted by

SfwCoder

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Answer 14

Were you able to play a custom sound for longer than 5 seconds?

Posted by

3no

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Answer 15

I have the same issue. The sound stops after 5 seconds when alert disappears.

I'm using iOS 10.2.1 and XCode 8.2.1.

Is it a ios bug or there's a solution for that?

Posted by

tzant

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Answer 16

Please file a bug report.

Posted by

3no

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UNNotificationSound not playing custom sound

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