macOS App Groups / transition to profile based groups

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Created 5d

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Hi, I have a macOS app distributed through the App Store that uses an app group to share data with app extensions. The group identifier has the form: <Team ID>.group.<Reverse DNS>

In Xcode 26 I am now asked to convert the project to profile based app groups (like on iOS).

My question is: Can I convert the project to profile based app groups and will the existing app group (which is prefixed with the Team ID) continue to work (and will exiting users still be able to access their data). If yes, should I add the app group with or without the Team ID prefix to the profile.

Answered by DTS Engineer in 862986022

If you have existing users without data stored in an app group container that uses a macOS-style app group ID, you should continue to use that macOS-style group ID. There’s no mechanism to, say, move content from that app app group container to a different app group container associated with an iOS-style app group ID.

The good news is that, as of Jun 2025, these macOS-style app group IDs are authorised by your provisioning profile, which avoids a number of headaches. App Groups: macOS vs iOS: Working Towards Harmony has the details.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

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Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

1d

Recommended

If you have existing users without data stored in an app group container that uses a macOS-style app group ID, you should continue to use that macOS-style group ID. There’s no mechanism to, say, move content from that app app group container to a different app group container associated with an iOS-style app group ID.

The good news is that, as of Jun 2025, these macOS-style app group IDs are authorised by your provisioning profile, which avoids a number of headaches. App Groups: macOS vs iOS: Working Towards Harmony has the details.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

0

Answer 2

Brian4711 OP

20h

I am a little bit confused: Since our users have(!) their app data in the app group container we should:

not switch to a profile based app group

or 2. switch to a profile based app group (and omitting the Team ID prefix, since it is automatically added) ?

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Answer 3

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

4h

You are indeed confused (-:

You use the term profile based app group, which is problematic. As of Jun 2025, the Developer website issues Mac provisioning profiles that authorise the use of both iOS- and macOS-style app group IDs. So the phrase profile based app group doesn’t really mean anything. That’s why I use the terms iOS-style app group ID and macOS-style style app group ID.

If you have an existing app that uses a macOS-style app group ID then:

Switching to an iOS-style app group ID is a lot of work.
And it has very few benefits [1].

Given that, I recommend that you not switch unless there’s a compelling reason to do so.

OTOH, if you’re starting from scratch then I recommend that you use an iOS-style app group ID. It’s most definitely the future.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"

[1] One of the few benefits I can think of is that it allows you to share state with other apps from your team that can only use iOS-style app group IDs, for example, an iOS app running on the Mac.

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