Background GPU Access availability

Question

mac_cain13 OP

Created Jul ’25

Replies 7

Boosts 0

Views 1.5k

Participants 7

I would love to use Background GPU Access to do some video processing in the background.

However the documentation of BGContinuedProcessingTaskRequest.Resources.gpu clearly states:

Not all devices support background GPU use. For more information, see Performing long-running tasks on iOS and iPadOS.

Is there a list available of currently released devices that do (or don't) support GPU background usage? That would help to understand what part of our user base can use this feature. (And what hardware we need to test this on as developers.)

For example it seems that it isn't supported on an iPad Pro M1 with the current iOS 26 beta. The simulators also seem to not support the background GPU resource. So would be great to understand what hardware is capable of using this feature!

Answered by DTS Engineer in 850825022

The gist of the feedback is that this is still in beta, and transcends GPU usage, so therefore there isn't a specific list to consult.

Instead you'll need to check supportedResources on device.

Please consider sending us an enhancement request to provide feedback on the types of devices you'd like to use this feature for w.r.t. video processing in the background.

Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Jul ’25

Hello,

Beyond using this API call I'm not aware of any predefined list. Nonetheless I'm enquiring now and will let you know what I find.

BGTaskScheduler.supportedResources.contains(.gpu)

Answer 2

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Jul ’25

Recommended

The gist of the feedback is that this is still in beta, and transcends GPU usage, so therefore there isn't a specific list to consult.

Instead you'll need to check supportedResources on device.

Please consider sending us an enhancement request to provide feedback on the types of devices you'd like to use this feature for w.r.t. video processing in the background.

Answer 3

mac_cain13 OP

Jul ’25

Thanks for looking into this. I've created a feedback requesting to enhance the documentation of the device support for the background GPU usage.

The feedback number is FB19124775

Answer 4

plinth OP

Jul ’25

background GPU also doesn't seem to work on the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max. I added all the entitlements but get a false on gpu.

what devices do support this ? do we need to wait until September for the new iPhones in order to use this?

Answer 5

Bonogul OP

2w

any update on this? I am trying to have Gemma use gpu when backgrounded on iOS 26

Answer 6

therysin OP

2w

Is there any update to this? I see Apple did the same for the neural engine now, and I still don’t know what devices actually support background GPU usage. Testing on a 16 pro max and requested resources never contains GPU. I don’t know how Apple treats their developers like this.

Answer 7

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

1w

Thanks for writing.

There is no published list of devices that support background GPU use. Whether a device supports it is reported at runtime by BGTaskScheduler.supportedResources. If that value does not contain .gpu, the device does not offer background GPU use. The Background GPU Access entitlement is separately required to use the GPU where the device supports it.

If you need background GPU use on a device that does not currently report support, the right step is to file a Feedback report requesting that functionality, and to include your device model and OS version.

Please let me know if there are any questions.