We're building a Screen Time / mindful-pause app for iOS 26–27. The user adds a Shortcuts personal automation "When <App> is Opened" that runs our App Intent. The intent passes the trigger app's Bundle Identifier (from the trigger output) and shows a short pause screen. When the user taps "Continue", we want to take them back into that app — only the one app they chose, only after they tap.
- Is there a supported API to open another installed app when the user taps Continue, given its bundle identifier from the Shortcuts trigger? A DTS reply in 2024 said there was no supported way (thread 740707). Has anything changed in iOS 26/27? (Related feedback: FB15500695.)
- If not, is it acceptable to open the chosen app via a URL scheme it registers in its Info.plist, including a third-party sign-in callback scheme, purely to bring it to the foreground?
- Many apps register no URL scheme. Is there a recommended pattern — e.g. handing control back to Shortcuts so the automation or the "Open App" action opens the trigger app — without the "App is Opened" automation firing again in a loop?
- What's the recommended way to avoid that re-fire? We currently ignore it for a short time window.
A minimal sample project reproduces this (App Intent, pause screen, Continue using UIApplication.open). Happy to share it.
Xcode 27.0 (27A266a), iOS 27.0 (24A446).