App Clips

App Clips

Overview

App Clips are lightweight versions of an app for quick, focused tasks. Users launch them via NFC tags, QR codes, Maps, Safari banners, or Messages links — no App Store install required.

Setup

Requires a separate App Clip target configured as kind: "app_clip" in the plan extensions array.

Automatic Configuration

• Info.plist: NSAppClip dict with NSAppClipRequestEphemeralUserNotification and NSAppClipRequestLocationConfirmation is set automatically on the App Clip target in project.yml.
• Associated Domains: appclips:{bundleID} and parent-application-identifiers are configured automatically in project.yml entitlements.
• Experience URL: Configure in App Store Connect to define the invocation URL.

URL Handling

Receive the invocation URL via NSUserActivity:

struct AppClipApp: App {
    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup {
            ContentView()
                .onContinueUserActivity(NSUserActivityTypeBrowsingWeb) { activity in
                    guard let url = activity.webpageURL else { return }
                    // Extract parameters from URL to show relevant content
                }
        }
    }
}

Full App Promotion

Use SKOverlay to prompt users to download the full app:

import StoreKit

@Environment(\.requestAppStoreOverlay) var requestOverlay

Button("Get Full App") {
    requestOverlay(AppStoreOverlay.AppClipCompletion(appIdentifier: "YOUR_APP_ID"))
}

Constraints

• Binary size must be under 15 MB
• No access to HealthKit, CallKit, or SiriKit (use App Intents in the full app instead)
• Limited background execution modes
• Use @AppStorage for lightweight persistence — SwiftData is not available