Hello, I have an iOS camera app that captures exposure brackets and performs custom HDR processing. On iOS 26, I’m observing a visual difference between: a single photo captured at –2 EV, and the –2 EV frame from an exposure bracket (–2 / 0 / +2 EV). On iOS 26: The single –2 EV image looks natural and consistent. The –2 EV image from the bracket appears clamped / distorted, most noticeably in high dynamic range scenes (highlight compression and loss of detail). On iOS 18, both approaches produce visually identical and correct –2 EV images. The issue only appears for bracketed captures on iOS 26. Attachments (examples) iOS 26 Single capture –2 EV (JPEG): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/ios26SingleImage/JPEG image-4006-8B77-51-0.jpeg Single capture –2 EV — Capture report (dumped settings): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/ios26SingleImage/UnderExposureDebug_CaptureReport_2026-01-09T15-59-20Z.md Bracket capture –2 EV frame (JPEG): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/bracket_iOS26/JPEG image-45CE-9793-A5-0.jpeg Bracket capture — Capture report (dumped settings): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/bracket_iOS26/UnderExposureDebug_CaptureReport_2026-01-09T15-55-42Z.md iOS 18 Single capture –2 EV (JPEG): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/ios18SingleImage/JPEG image-47FD-AF73-28-0.jpeg Single capture –2 EV — Capture report: /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/ios18SingleImage/UnderExposureDebug_CaptureReport_2026-01-09T16-25-27Z.md Bracket capture — –2 EV frame (JPEG): /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/bracket_iOS18/JPEG image-4A4C-9E93-46-0.jpeg Bracket capture — Capture report: /Users/danilobudimir/Downloads/bracket_iOS18/UnderExposureDebug_CaptureReport_2026-01-09T16-27-23Z.md Question Is there any new behavior in iOS 26 AVFoundation related to: AVCapturePhotoBracketSettings, tone mapping / HDR preprocessing, or internal image processing applied specifically to bracketed frames? Is there a new flag, format requirement or opt-out mechanism required to preserve linear underexposed frames in exposure brackets?

I’m evaluating a simple iOS application that would perform real-time beat detection and audio analysis. My question is: Can an App Store-compliant iOS application access or analyze audio that is being played by other applications on the same device (e.g. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, Safari, etc.) in real time, without using the microphone? Specifically: Is there any Apple-supported framework that allows access to system audio for real-time beat detection or frequency analysis? Can ReplayKit be used to analyze audio buffers from other applications in real time without recording or saving the audio? If direct access is not permitted, what Apple-approved architecture would be recommended for synchronizing external hardware with music being played on the iPhone? Would such an implementation be acceptable under App Store Review Guidelines? I am trying to determine whether real-time beat detection from audio played by other apps is technically and policy-wise supported on iOS. Thank you.

Hi everyone, I'm running into an issue with AVAudioRecorder when handling interruptions such as phone calls or alarms. Problem: When the app is recording audio and an interruption occurs: I handle the interruption with audioRecorder?.pause() inside AVAudioSession.interruptionNotification (on .began). On .ended, I check for .shouldResume and call audioRecorder?.record() again. The recorder resumes successfully, but only the audio recorded after the interruption is saved. The audio recorded before the interruption is lost, even though I'm using the same file URL and not recreating the recorder. Repro: Start a recording with AVAudioRecorder Simulate a system interruption (e.g., incoming call) Resume recording after the interruption Stop and inspect the output audio file Expected: Full audio (before and after interruption) should be saved. Actual: Only the audio after interruption is saved; the earlier part is missing Notes: According to the documentation, calling .record() after .pause() should resume recording into the same file. I confirmed that the file URL does not change, and I do not recreate the recorder instance. No error is thrown by the system during this process. This behavior happens consistently when the app is interrupted and resumed. Question: Is this a known issue? Is there a recommended workaround for preserving the full recording when interruptions happen? Thanks in advance!

Hello, I have a CarPlay Navigation app and utilize the AVSpeechSynthesizer to speak directions to a user. Everything works great on my CarPlay simulator as well as when plugged into my GMC truck. However, I found out yesterday that one of my users with a Ford truck the audio would cut in an out. After much troubleshooting, I was able to replicate this on my own truck when using Bluetooth to connect to CarPlay. My user was also utilizing Bluetooth. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a fix to the problem? import SwiftUI import AVFoundation class TextToSpeechService: NSObject, ObservableObject, AVSpeechSynthesizerDelegate { private var speechSynthesizer = AVSpeechSynthesizer() static let shared = TextToSpeechService() override init() { super.init() speechSynthesizer.delegate = self } func configureAudioSession() { speechSynthesizer.delegate = self do { try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback, mode: .voicePrompt, options: [.mixWithOthers, .allowBluetooth]) } catch { print("Failed to set audio session category: \(error.localizedDescription)") } } func speak(_ text: String) { Task(priority: .high) { let speechUtterance = AVSpeechUtterance(string: text) speechUtterance.voice = AVSpeechSynthesisVoice(language: AVSpeechSynthesisVoice.currentLanguageCode()) try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation) speechSynthesizer.speak(speechUtterance) } } func speechSynthesizer(_ synthesizer: AVSpeechSynthesizer, didFinish utterance: AVSpeechUtterance) { Task { stopSpeech() try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(false) } } func stopSpeech() { speechSynthesizer.stopSpeaking(at: .immediate) } }

I am using https://developer.apple.com/documentation/applemusicapi/add-tracks-to-a-library-playlist to add tracks to playlists. This endpoint works fine for all playlists except for collaborative playlists. For collaborative playlist I get the following 500 error as a response: "errors": [ { "id": "<some id>", "title": "Upstream Service Error", "detail": "Unable to update tracks", "status": "500", "code": "50001" } ] } Steps to reproduce: Create a playlist in your library. Use the api to add a song. Confirm that it works. Make that same playlist collaborative. Update the playlist ID in your api request (as making a playlist collaborative changes its id) Confirm that you get the 500 error.

Hi all, I've been working on some personal programming projects and have gotten into using the Apple Music API. I'm currently looking to get a list of recent songs using the /v1/me/recent/played/tracks endpoint and it's working well. However, I know there are some songs I've listened to multiple times in a row, and those are not showing up as unique tracks when querying this endpoint. I'm only seeing a list of the different songs I've listened to lately, not a true list of the most recent plays on my account. Is this intended behavior or am I going about something incorrectly here? My query is using that endpoint & specifying the types to be only [songs]. Thanks in advance for any ideas or insight.

This is kind of related to my other question, where I think AUv3's KVO to AUv2 C API notification mapping doesn't seem to work. For example, Reaper supports AUv3 plug-ins but I think it uses AUv2 APIs, and the developer told me that they observe these: kAudioUnitEvent_PropertyChange / kAudioUnitScope_Global / kAudioUnitProperty_ParameterList If one of them changes, they will rescan the parameter list/tree. My AUv3 Mela has a dynamic parameter tree, and changes based on the preset loaded, and it works well enough in Logic Pro for iPad/Mac and AUM on iOS. I know it sends out KVOs for the parameterTree property and I've also tried sending out allParameterValues KVOs but it seems Reaper is not getting these notifications. Anything I can do? (Reaper forum discussion, check last few messages https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=300840)

Is it possible to perform speech-to-text using AVAudioEngine to capture microphone input while being on a FaceTime call at the same time? I tried implementing this, but whenever I attempt to start the  AVAudioEngine  while a FaceTime call is active, I get the following error: “The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error 2003329396)” I assume this might be due to microphone resource restrictions during FaceTime, but I’d like to confirm whether this limitation is at the system level or if there’s any possible workaround or entitlement that allows concurrent microphone access. Has anyone encountered this issue or found a solution?

Hello everyone, I'm working on implementing a screen sharing feature using RPSystemBroadcastPickerView and a Broadcast Upload Extension to share the entire app screen in an iOS application. The Broadcast Upload Extension is set up following Apple's ReplayKit guidelines. However, I’m encountering an issue during the broadcast startup sequence: ❗ Problem Description The Screen Broadcast UI appears as expected I tap “Start Broadcast” The countdown (3 → 2 → 1) completes Then it immediately reverts to the "Start Broadcast" screen, and screen sharing does not begin No error messages are displayed None of the extension lifecycle methods (broadcastStarted(withSetupInfo:), processSampleBuffer, etc.) are called There are no logs or crash reports, neither in the main app nor in the extension ✅ What Has Been Verified Info.plist of the Broadcast Upload Extension includes: NSExtensionPointIdentifier = com.apple.broadcast-services-upload NSExtensionPrincipalClass set correctly RPBroadcastProcessMode = RPBroadcastProcessModeSampleBuffer preferredExtension is set properly to the extension’s bundle identifier Extension is listed in the main app's build settings under "Frameworks, Libraries, and Embedded Content" ⚠️ Additional Concern We noticed that in Xcode (latest version), the Broadcast Upload Extension is listed under "Embedded Frameworks" with the setting "Embed Without Signing", and there is no option to change it to "Embed & Sign". We're wondering if this could be the reason the extension fails to launch correctly at runtime, despite being detected by the broadcast picker. ❓ Questions Has anyone faced similar issues where the broadcast never starts despite correct setup? Could the "Embed Without Signing" be causing the system to silently cancel or ignore the extension at runtime? Are there any provisioning profile or entitlement requirements specific to Broadcast Upload Extensions that might trigger this behavior silently? Any insights, suggestions, or workarounds would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

let authStatus = PHPhotoLibrary.authorizationStatus(for: .readWrite) let fetchResult = PHAsset.fetchAssets(withLocalIdentifiers: selectedAssetIDs, options: nil) print("[AlbumCreation] authStatus=\(authStatus.rawValue) IDs=\(selectedAssetIDs.count) PHAsset匹配=\(fetchResult.count)") // result is: [AlbumCreation] authStatus=3 IDs=3 PHAsset匹配=3 var config = PHPickerConfiguration(photoLibrary: .shared()) config.preselectedAssetIdentifiers = selectedAssetIDs config.selectionLimit = 0 let picker = PHPickerViewController(configuration: config) picker.delegate = self present(picker, animated: true)

I'm developing a PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension and finding it difficult to debug because the system controls when the extension launches. Current experience: The extension starts at unpredictable times (anywhere from 1 minute to several hours after photos are added) By the time I attach the debugger, the upload may have already completed or failed Breakpoints in init() or early lifecycle methods are often missed Questions: Is there a way to force-launch the extension during development (similar to how we can manually trigger Background App Refresh in Xcode)? Are there any launch arguments or environment variables that put the extension in a debug/eager mode? I tried taking photos/videos, but this doesn't trigged app extension in all cases. Any tips for improving the debug cycle would be greatly appreciated. Environment: iOS 26, Xcode 18

I'm implementing a PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension to back up photos and videos from the user's library to our cloud storage service. Our existing upload infrastructure uses chunked uploads for large files (splitting videos into smaller byte ranges and uploading each chunk separately). This approach: Allows resumable uploads if interrupted Stays within server-side request size limits Provides granular progress tracking Looking at the PHAssetResourceUploadJobChangeRequest.createJob(destination:resource:) API, I don't see a way to specify byte ranges or create multiple jobs for chunks of the same resource. Questions: Does the system handle large files (1GB+) automatically under the hood, or is there a recommended maximum file size for a single upload job? Is there a supported pattern for chunked/resumable uploads, or should the destination URL endpoint handle the entire file in one request? If our server requires chunked uploads (e.g., BITS protocol with CreateSession → Fragment → CloseSession), is this extension the right mechanism, or should we use a different approach for large videos? Any guidance on best practices for large asset uploads would be greatly appreciated. Environment: iOS 26, Xcode 18

I have a question regarding the behavior of AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().outputVolume. Observed behavior: When the app is in the foreground, I read audioSession.outputVolume (for example, 0.1). The app is then moved to the background. While the app is in the background, the user changes the system volume using the hardware buttons (for example, to 0.5). When the app returns to the foreground, audioSession.outputVolume still reports the previous value (0.1). From my testing, outputVolume only seems to update when the system volume is changed while the app is in the foreground. Volume changes made while the app is in the background are not reflected when the app returns to the foreground. Questions: According to Apple’s documentation for AVAudioSession.outputVolume: “The systemwide output volume set by the user.” https://developer.apple.com/documentation/avfaudio/avaudiosession/outputvolume However, based on our testing on iOS 18.6.2 and iOS 18.1, the observed behavior seems to differ from this description. Questions: The documentation states that outputVolume represents the system-wide volume set by the user. In our testing, the value does not reflect volume changes made while the app is in the background and only updates when the app is in the foreground.Is this the expected behavior of AVAudioSession.outputVolume? Is there any other recommended way in Swift to retrieve the current system volume that reflects user changes made both while the app is in the foreground and while it is in the background? Any clarification on the intended behavior or recommended handling would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, when using ApplicationMusicPlayer from MusicKit my app automatically gets the media controls on the lock screen: Play/ Pause, Skip Buttons, Playback Position etc. I would like to customize these. Tried a bunch of things, e.g. using MPRemoteCommandCenter. So far I haven't had any success. Does anyone know how I can customize the media controls of ApplicationMusicPlayer. Thank you.

It's been well over a year since Apple added favoriting of artists back to Apple Music (the little star icon on an artist page), but yet I still haven't seen a way to get this data from an authenticated user from Music API. I was expecting to hear something about this during the WWDC, but there have been no announcements that I've caught. Has anyone else heard anything? People assume when they provide access to their Apple Music account that we can actually get to the data in their Apple Music account, and we end up looking a little dumb not being able to get this core data.

I'm working on a project to support spatial audio editing, using this sample project as a reference: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cinematic/editing-spatial-audio-with-an-audio-mix This sample works well on an unedited capture, but does not work for a capture that has already been edited. The failure is occurring at "let audioInfo = try await CNAssetSpatialAudioInfo(asset: myAsset)", which is throwing "no eligible audio tracks in asset". I also find that for already edited captures, if i use CNAssetSpatialAudioInfo.assetContainsSpatialAudio, it returns false. What i mean by "already edited" is that if I take a spatial capture with my iPhone 16, and then edit that capture in the Photos app using the Cinematic effect, and then save the edited output (e.g. edited_capture.mov), I can't import that edited_capture.mov into my project as a spatial audio asset. Is this intentional behavior or a bug? If it's intentional, can you describe why?

I'm working on a photo app and I want to allow the user to display, edit and delete photos. I can fetch all photos using PHAsset.fetchAssets(with: options). This works as intended. However, I can't seem to find a way to prevent the user from seeing photos from a Shared Library. The PHAssetSourceType only contains typeCloudShared to only show items from a specific album; not library. How can I filter by iCloud Shared Library?

Hello, Starting in iOS 17, our application started having some issue publishing to our video session. More specifically the video capture seems to be broken in some, but not all sessions. What's troubling is that we're seeing that it fails consistently every 4 sessions. It also fails silently, without reporting any problems to the app. We only notice that there are no frames being rendered or sent to the remote devices. Here's what shows-up in the console: <<<< FigCaptureSourceRemote >>>> Fig assert: "! storage->connectionDied" at bail (FigCaptureSourceRemote.m:235) - (err=0) <<<< FigCaptureSourceRemote >>>> Fig assert: "err == 0 " at bail (FigCaptureSourceRemote.m:253) - (err=-16453) Anyone seeing this? Any idea what could be the cause? Our sessions work perfectly on iOS16 and below. Thanks

I am working on offline license support for FairPlay. I am trying to identify offline vs. live streaming requests. How do I do that? Is there any way to identify the request type (offline or streaming) from SPC?

The documentation for AVAudioEngineConfigurationChangeNotification states When the audio engine’s I/O unit observes a change to the audio input or output hardware’s channel count or sample rate, the audio engine stops, uninitializes itself, and issues this notification. A user of my framework has reported a crash during notification processing on iOS 26.4 when the main mixer node is disconnected from the output node in order to reestablish the connection with a different format. The failing precondition is com.apple.coreaudio.avfaudio: required condition is false: !IsRunning(). The report was observed on iPhone 16 / iOS 26.4.2, ARM64, TestFlight build. The backtrace contains: [Last Exception Backtrace] 3 AVFAudio AVAudioEngineGraph::_DisconnectInput AVAudioEngineGraph.mm:2728 4 AVFAudio -[AVAudioEngine disconnectNodeInput:bus:] AVAudioEngine.mm:155 5 SFB sfb::AudioPlayer::handleAudioEngineConfigurationChange AudioPlayer.mm:2247 [Thread 18 Crashed] 9 SFB sfb::AudioPlayer::handleAudioEngineConfigurationChange AudioPlayer.mm:2212 … 14 AVFAudio IOUnitConfigurationChanged Has the behavior for AVAudioEngineConfigurationChangeNotification changed in iOS 26.4? It's simple enough to call [engine_ stop] in the notification handler but the documentation states this shouldn't be necessary. I've not observed a similar crash on previous iOS versions.