I am implementing same-platform phone migration for a consumer health-journal app built with Flutter and native Swift integration. Written journal records and profile settings are stored locally in the app’s Documents directory. The app does not use HealthKit, CloudKit or an app-managed iCloud database.
The required outcome is:
- Records transfer during normal direct iPhone-to-iPhone Quick Start.
- The app keeps those records excluded from iCloud Backup.
- This does not depend on users manually changing their iCloud Backup settings.
We use the public file resource setting:
var values = URLResourceValues()
values.isExcludedFromBackup = true
var directoryURL = journalDirectoryURL
try directoryURL.setResourceValues(values)
Apple’s Quick Start instructions distinguish direct device-to-device transfer from an iCloud restore. The backup-exclusion documentation describes isExcludedFromBackup as system guidance, but does not clearly state its effect on direct Quick Start migration.
Could an Apple engineer please clarify:
- Does direct Quick Start migrate files inside a directory marked
isExcludedFromBackup = true? Is this supported behaviour developers can rely on, and are there relevant iOS-version limitations or requirements to reapply the exclusion after migration? - If excluded files do not reliably migrate, is there a public API, entitlement or supported configuration that includes local records in direct Quick Start migration while retaining their exclusion from iCloud Backup?
- If there is no supported way to achieve this separation within normal Quick Start, could you confirm that limitation so we can provide a separate secure transfer within the app?
The health-data context explains the backup restriction; this question concerns supported migration behaviour rather than a request for App Review pre-approval. We have not established a reproducible migration defect.
References:
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102659
- https://developer.apple.com/documentation/foundation/optimizing-your-app-s-data-for-icloud-backup
Thank you.