Background Processing

Background Processing

Register, schedule, and execute background work on iOS using the BackgroundTasks framework, background URLSession, and background push notifications.

Contents

• Info.plist Configuration
• BGTaskScheduler Registration
• BGAppRefreshTask Patterns
• BGProcessingTask Patterns
• BGContinuedProcessingTask (iOS 26+)
• Background URLSession Downloads
• Background Push Triggers
• Common Mistakes
• Review Checklist
• References

Info.plist Configuration

Every task identifier must be declared in Info.plist under BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers, or submit(_:) throws BGTaskScheduler.Error.Code.notPermitted.

<key>BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers</key>
<array>
    <string>com.example.app.refresh</string>
    <string>com.example.app.db-cleanup</string>
    <string>com.example.app.export</string>
</array>

Also enable the required UIBackgroundModes:

<key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
<array>
    <string>fetch</string>       <!-- Required for BGAppRefreshTask -->
    <string>processing</string>  <!-- Required for BGProcessingTask -->
</array>

In Xcode: target > Signing & Capabilities > Background Modes > enable "Background fetch" and "Background processing".

BGTaskScheduler Registration

Register handlers before app launch completes. In UIKit, register in application(_:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:). In SwiftUI, register in the App initializer.

UIKit Registration

import BackgroundTasks

@main
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {
    func application(
        _ application: UIApplication,
        didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?
    ) -> Bool {
        BGTaskScheduler.shared.register(
            forTaskWithIdentifier: "com.example.app.refresh",
            using: nil  // nil = main queue
        ) { task in
            self.handleAppRefresh(task: task as! BGAppRefreshTask)
        }

        BGTaskScheduler.shared.register(
            forTaskWithIdentifier: "com.example.app.db-cleanup",
            using: nil
        ) { task in
            self.handleDatabaseCleanup(task: task as! BGProcessingTask)
        }

        return true
    }
}

SwiftUI Registration

import SwiftUI
import BackgroundTasks

@main
struct MyApp: App {
    init() {
        BGTaskScheduler.shared.register(
            forTaskWithIdentifier: "com.example.app.refresh",
            using: nil
        ) { task in
            BackgroundTaskManager.shared.handleAppRefresh(
                task: task as! BGAppRefreshTask
            )
        }
    }

    var body: some Scene {
        WindowGroup { ContentView() }
    }
}

BGAppRefreshTask Patterns

Short-lived tasks (~30 seconds) for fetching small data updates. The system decides when to launch based on usage patterns.

func scheduleAppRefresh() {
    let request = BGAppRefreshTaskRequest(
        identifier: "com.example.app.refresh"
    )
    request.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 15 * 60)

    do {
        try BGTaskScheduler.shared.submit(request)
    } catch {
        print("Could not schedule app refresh: \(error)")
    }
}

func handleAppRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
    // Schedule the next refresh before doing work
    scheduleAppRefresh()

    let fetchTask = Task {
        do {
            let data = try await APIClient.shared.fetchLatestFeed()
            await FeedStore.shared.update(with: data)
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: true)
        } catch {
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
        }
    }

    // CRITICAL: Handle expiration -- system can revoke time at any moment
    task.expirationHandler = {
        fetchTask.cancel()
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
    }
}

BGProcessingTask Patterns

Long-running tasks (minutes) for maintenance, data processing, or cleanup. Runs only when device is idle and (optionally) charging.

func scheduleProcessingTask() {
    let request = BGProcessingTaskRequest(
        identifier: "com.example.app.db-cleanup"
    )
    request.requiresNetworkConnectivity = false
    request.requiresExternalPower = true
    request.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 60 * 60)

    do {
        try BGTaskScheduler.shared.submit(request)
    } catch {
        print("Could not schedule processing task: \(error)")
    }
}

func handleDatabaseCleanup(task: BGProcessingTask) {
    scheduleProcessingTask()

    let cleanupTask = Task {
        do {
            try await DatabaseManager.shared.purgeExpiredRecords()
            try await DatabaseManager.shared.rebuildIndexes()
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: true)
        } catch {
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
        }
    }

    task.expirationHandler = {
        cleanupTask.cancel()
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
    }
}

BGContinuedProcessingTask (iOS 26+)

A task initiated in the foreground by a user action that continues running in the background. The system displays progress via a Live Activity. Conforms to ProgressReporting.

Availability: iOS 26.0+, iPadOS 26.0+

Unlike BGAppRefreshTask and BGProcessingTask, this task starts immediately from the foreground. The system can terminate it under resource pressure, prioritizing tasks that report minimal progress first.

import BackgroundTasks

func startExport() {
    let request = BGContinuedProcessingTaskRequest(
        identifier: "com.example.app.export",
        title: "Exporting Photos",
        subtitle: "Processing 247 items"
    )
    // .queue: begin as soon as possible if can't run immediately
    // .fail: fail submission if can't run immediately
    request.strategy = .queue

    BGTaskScheduler.shared.register(
        forTaskWithIdentifier: "com.example.app.export",
        using: nil
    ) { task in
        let continuedTask = task as! BGContinuedProcessingTask

        Task {
            await self.performExport(task: continuedTask)
        }
    }

    do {
        try BGTaskScheduler.shared.submit(request)
    } catch {
        print("Could not submit continued processing task: \(error)")
    }
}

func performExport(task: BGContinuedProcessingTask) async {
    let items = await PhotoLibrary.shared.itemsToExport()
    let progress = task.progress
    progress.totalUnitCount = Int64(items.count)

    for (index, item) in items.enumerated() {
        if Task.isCancelled { break }

        await PhotoExporter.shared.export(item)
        progress.completedUnitCount = Int64(index + 1)

        // Update the user-facing title/subtitle
        task.updateTitle(
            "Exporting Photos",
            subtitle: "\(index + 1) of \(items.count) complete"
        )
    }

    task.setTaskCompleted(success: !Task.isCancelled)
}

Check whether the system supports the resources your task needs:

let supported = BGTaskScheduler.shared.supportedResources
if supported.contains(.gpu) {
    request.requiredResources = .gpu
}

Background URLSession Downloads

Use URLSessionConfiguration.background for downloads that continue even after the app is suspended or terminated. The system handles the transfer out of process.

class DownloadManager: NSObject, URLSessionDownloadDelegate {
    static let shared = DownloadManager()

    private lazy var session: URLSession = {
        let config = URLSessionConfiguration.background(
            withIdentifier: "com.example.app.background-download"
        )
        config.isDiscretionary = true
        config.sessionSendsLaunchEvents = true
        return URLSession(configuration: config, delegate: self, delegateQueue: nil)
    }()

    func startDownload(from url: URL) {
        let task = session.downloadTask(with: url)
        task.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 60)
        task.resume()
    }

    func urlSession(
        _ session: URLSession,
        downloadTask: URLSessionDownloadTask,
        didFinishDownloadingTo location: URL
    ) {
        // Move file from tmp before this method returns
        let dest = FileManager.default.urls(
            for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask
        )[0].appendingPathComponent("download.dat")
        try? FileManager.default.moveItem(at: location, to: dest)
    }

    func urlSession(
        _ session: URLSession,
        task: URLSessionTask,
        didCompleteWithError error: (any Error)?
    ) {
        if let error { print("Download failed: \(error)") }
    }
}

Handle app relaunch — store and invoke the system completion handler:

// In AppDelegate:
func application(
    _ application: UIApplication,
    handleEventsForBackgroundURLSession identifier: String,
    completionHandler: @escaping () -> Void
) {
    backgroundSessionCompletionHandler = completionHandler
}

// In URLSessionDelegate — call stored handler when events finish:
func urlSessionDidFinishEvents(forBackgroundURLSession session: URLSession) {
    Task { @MainActor in
        self.backgroundSessionCompletionHandler?()
        self.backgroundSessionCompletionHandler = nil
    }
}

Background Push Triggers

Silent push notifications wake your app briefly to fetch new content. Set content-available: 1 in the push payload.

{ "aps": { "content-available": 1 }, "custom-data": "new-messages" }

Handle in AppDelegate:

func application(
    _ application: UIApplication,
    didReceiveRemoteNotification userInfo: [AnyHashable: Any],
    fetchCompletionHandler completionHandler:
        @escaping (UIBackgroundFetchResult) -> Void
) {
    Task {
        do {
            let hasNew = try await MessageStore.shared.fetchNewMessages()
            completionHandler(hasNew ? .newData : .noData)
        } catch {
            completionHandler(.failed)
        }
    }
}

Enable "Remote notifications" in Background Modes and register:

UIApplication.shared.registerForRemoteNotifications()

Common Mistakes

1. Missing Info.plist identifiers

// DON'T: Submit a task whose identifier isn't in BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers
let request = BGAppRefreshTaskRequest(identifier: "com.example.app.refresh")
try BGTaskScheduler.shared.submit(request)  // Throws .notPermitted

// DO: Add every identifier to Info.plist BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers
// <string>com.example.app.refresh</string>

2. Not calling setTaskCompleted(success:)

// DON'T: Return without marking completion -- system penalizes future scheduling
func handleRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
    Task {
        let data = try await fetchData()
        await store.update(data)
        // Missing: task.setTaskCompleted(success:)
    }
}

// DO: Always call setTaskCompleted on every code path
func handleRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
    let work = Task {
        do {
            let data = try await fetchData()
            await store.update(data)
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: true)
        } catch {
            task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
        }
    }
    task.expirationHandler = {
        work.cancel()
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
    }
}

3. Ignoring the expiration handler

// DON'T: Assume your task will run to completion
func handleCleanup(task: BGProcessingTask) {
    Task { await heavyWork() }
    // No expirationHandler -- system terminates ungracefully
}

// DO: Set expirationHandler to cancel work and mark completed
func handleCleanup(task: BGProcessingTask) {
    let work = Task { await heavyWork() }
    task.expirationHandler = {
        work.cancel()
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
    }
}

4. Scheduling too frequently

// DON'T: Request refresh every minute -- system throttles aggressively
request.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 60)

// DO: Use reasonable intervals (15+ minutes for refresh)
request.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 15 * 60)
// earliestBeginDate is a hint -- the system chooses actual launch time

5. Over-relying on background time

// DON'T: Start a 10-minute operation assuming it will finish
func handleRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
    Task { await tenMinuteSync() }
}

// DO: Design work to be incremental and cancellable
func handleRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
    let work = Task {
        for batch in batches {
            try Task.checkCancellation()
            await processBatch(batch)
            await saveBatchProgress(batch)
        }
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: true)
    }
    task.expirationHandler = {
        work.cancel()
        task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
    }
}

Review Checklist

• All task identifiers listed in BGTaskSchedulerPermittedIdentifiers
• Required UIBackgroundModes enabled (fetch, processing)
• Tasks registered before app launch completes
• setTaskCompleted(success:) called on every code path
• expirationHandler set and cancels in-flight work
• Next task scheduled inside the handler (re-schedule pattern)
• earliestBeginDate uses reasonable intervals (15+ min for refresh)
• Background URLSession uses delegate (not async/closures)
• Background URLSession file moved in didFinishDownloadingTo before return
• handleEventsForBackgroundURLSession stores and calls completion handler
• Background push payload includes content-available: 1
• fetchCompletionHandler called promptly with correct result
• BGContinuedProcessingTask reports progress via ProgressReporting
• Work is incremental and cancellation-safe (Task.checkCancellation())
• No blocking synchronous work in task handlers

References

• See references/background-task-patterns.md for extended patterns, background URLSession edge cases, debugging with simulated launches, and background push best practices.
• BGTaskScheduler
• BGAppRefreshTask
• BGProcessingTask
• BGContinuedProcessingTask (iOS 26+)
• BGContinuedProcessingTaskRequest (iOS 26+)
• Using background tasks to update your app
• Performing long-running tasks on iOS and iPadOS