WKWebView can't connect to external content in iOS 17.5+

Here's a link to a sample project demonstrating the issue. (You may need to create a certificate/profile with the required entitlements.) Just build and run on an older device (pre iOS 17.5) to see the expected behavior, or on a newer device (iOS 17.5+) to see the problematic behavior and console messages.

Our engineering teams need to investigate this issue, as resolution may involve changes to Apple's software. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could open a bug report, include sample project and log info, and post the FB number here once you do. Bug Reporting: How and Why? has tips on creating your bug report.

Same issue here: https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/issues/7631

You can always load content with WKURLSchemeHandler.

First you set the WKURLSchemeHandler:

enum LocalObjectType: String {
    case html = "html"
    case css = "css"
    case javascript = "javascript"
    case png = "png"
    case https = "https"
    case pdf = "pdf"
}

class ViewController: UIViewController {
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        let config = WKWebViewConfiguration()
        config.setURLSchemeHandler(LocalLoaderCustomSchemeHandler(), forURLScheme: scheme)
        let webView = WKWebView(frame: view.frame, configuration: config)
        webView.autoresizingMask = [.flexibleWidth, .flexibleHeight]
        view.addSubview(webView)
        webView.load(URLRequest(url: URL(string: scheme + ":\(LocalObjectType.html)" )!))
    }

}

Then handle the types as they come:

    
    func webView(_ webView: WKWebView, start urlSchemeTask: WKURLSchemeTask) {
        guard let url = urlSchemeTask.request.url else {
            return
        }
        let type = url.lastPathComponent 
        var response: URLResponse?
        var data: Data?
        if type == LocalObjectType.html.rawValue { ...} else if type == LocalObjectType.png.rawValue {
            if let resource = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "image", withExtension: "png"),
               let resourceData = try? Data(contentsOf: resource) {
                data = resourceData
                response = URLResponse(
                    url: url,
                    mimeType: "image/png",
                    expectedContentLength: data!.count,
                    textEncodingName: nil)
            }
        } else if type == LocalObjectType.https.rawValue {
            if let resource = URL(string: "https://pngimg.com/uploads/frisbee/frisbee_PNG21.png"),
               let resourceData = try? Data(contentsOf: resource) {
                data = resourceData
                response = URLResponse(
                    url: url,
                    mimeType: "image/png",
                    expectedContentLength: data!.count,
                    textEncodingName: nil)
            }
        } else if type == LocalObjectType.pdf.rawValue {
            if let resource = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "image", withExtension: "pdf"),
               let resourceData = try? Data(contentsOf: resource) {
                data = resourceData
                response = URLResponse(
                    url: url,
                    mimeType: "application/pdf",
                    expectedContentLength: data!.count,
                    textEncodingName: nil)
            }
        }
        if let response = response, let data = data {
            urlSchemeTask.didReceive(response)
            urlSchemeTask.didReceive(data)
            urlSchemeTask.didFinish()
        }

Rico

WWDR - DTS - Software Engineer

Just for visibility - some links to potentially related issues:

• https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/app-restart-on-take-photo/243310
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78677064/cordova-based-app-not-working-after-updating-ios-to-17-5-1
• https://github.com/ionic-team/capacitor/issues/7522
• https://github.com/apache/cordova-ios/issues/1440
• https://forum.ionicframework.com/t/experiencing-errors-lately/241278
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78765347/xcode-ios-app-will-not-load-necp-client-action-get-signed-client-id-80-aut
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78735508/is-there-any-way-to-resolve-host-network-app-id-in-xcode
• https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255647899?sortBy=best
• https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenCoreLegacyPatcher/comments/1dz7f05/xcode_errors_with_opencore_mac_61_sonoma/

@iter9_dev did you get any resolution to this issue?

The separate ticket you created isn't visible to the rest of us (https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/feedback/14966935).

A lot of devs seem to be struggling with this issue.

Finally solved: it turned out I just needed to set the 'customUserAgent' property of the WKWebView. It's not clear why this wasn't required in iOS versions prior to iOS 17.5, but in any case the behavior seems to be working correctly again with this fix!