iOS 26.0+: sceneDidBecomeActive / applicationDidBecomeActive fires during Lock button press while app is active

Question

stopthatnoise OP

Created 2d

Replies 1

Boosts 2

Participants 2

Hi all,

I’m seeing a lifecycle behavior change on iOS 26.0 (and up).

While my app is in the foreground and active, pressing the hardware Lock button triggers didBecomeActive callbacks/notifications even though the app is transitioning away from active state.

I’m observing this sequence: willResignActive didBecomeActive willResignActive didEnterBackground

This happens for: • UISceneDelegate.sceneDidBecomeActive(:) • UIApplicationDelegate.applicationDidBecomeActive(:) • UIApplication.didBecomeActiveNotification

On iOS 18 (same app, same code) I do not see didBecomeActive in the middle of locking/backgrounding.

Problem is reproduced on totally new project.

I would expect a normal transition to background: • willResignActive → didEnterBackground …and no extra didBecomeActive between them.

I have “became active” logic (refresh UI/state, resume timers, analytics). On iOS 26.0 this logic runs unexpectedly during locking, causing unnecessary work and incorrect state transitions.

Is this callback ordering expected on iOS 26.0 when pressing the Lock button?
If expected, what’s the recommended way to detect a “real” activation (and avoid transient didBecomeActive during locking/backgrounding)?
If this is a regression, is there a known workaround or best practice?

Boost

Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

2d

Hello @stopthatnoise

Can you share that new project with me to investigate?

If so, please share a link to your test project. That'll help us better understand what's going on. If you're not familiar with preparing a test project, take a look at Creating a test project.

If this is a bug, you can file a bug report here and attach the project there, and I will escalate as needed. Feel free to file now and reply with the FB number in this thread, so we can get a head start on the investigation.

 Travis Trotto - DTS Engineer

0