BLE Broadcast Cannot Relaunch User-Force-Quit App via AccessorySetupKit (iOS 26+)

Hi everyone,

I am trying to wake up/relaunch an app that was force-quit by the user via a BLE advertisement packet.

According to TN3115 ("App Force Quit by the user" section), an app generally cannot be woken up after a user force-quit. However, Note 5 states that starting in iOS 26, an app authorized via AccessorySetupKit can indeed be relaunched.

Environment

• iOS Version: iOS 26.5 (Note: revised to standard versioning)
• Xcode Version: Xcode 26.3

Implementation Details

1. Info.plist Configuration

<key>NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription</key>
<string>We need Bluetooth to discover and connect to your accessory.</string>

<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
<array>
    <string>bluetooth-central</string>
</array>

<key>NSAccessorySetupKitSupports</key>
<array>
    <string>Bluetooth</string>
</array>

<key>NSAccessorySetupBluetoothServices</key>
<array>
    <string>0000XXXX-0000-1000-8000-00805F9B34FB</string>
</array>

<key>NSAccessorySetupBluetoothNames</key>
<array>
    <string>MyDeviceName</string>
</array>

2. Workflow & Code Steps

1. Initialize ASAccessorySession and call activate().
2. Pair/authorize the BLE peripheral using ASPickerDisplayItem.
3. Initialize CBCentralManager with state restoration:

let options: [String: Any] = [
    CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey: restoreIdentifier,
    CBCentralManagerOptionShowPowerAlertKey: true
]
centralManager = CBCentralManager(delegate: self, queue: nil, options: options)

1. Start scanning:

let scanOptions = [CBCentralManagerScanOptionAllowDuplicatesKey: true]
centralManager?.scanForPeripherals(withServices: serviceUUIDs, options: scanOptions)

1. Handle state restoration:

func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, willRestoreState dict: [String : Any]) {
    if let services = dict[CBCentralManagerRestoredStateScanServicesKey] as? [CBUUID],
       let options = dict[CBCentralManagerRestoredStateScanOptionsKey] as? [String : Any] {
        central.scanForPeripherals(withServices: services, options: options)
    }
}

1. Receive discovery callback:

func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, didDiscover peripheral: CBPeripheral, advertisementData: [String : Any], rssi RSSI: NSNumber) {
    if peripheral.name == "MyDeviceName" {
        // Send a local notification
    }
}

Current Behavior

• Foreground: Local notification triggers as expected.
• Background: Local notification triggers as expected.
• Force Quit by User: No notification is received / App is not relaunched.

Issue

The app fails to relaunch when force-quit by the user, which seems to contradict the behavior described in TN3115 Note 5.

Is there a specific configuration, entitlement, or additional CBCentralManager setup required to allow BLE advertisements to relaunch the app after a user force-quit via AccessorySetupKit?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!