App's Document directory not listed in Files app after iOS 18 update

Question

michaelbrown OP

Created Oct ’24

Replies 2

Boosts 2

Participants 2

Our app has these settings configured in its Info.plist:

<key>LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace</key>
<true/>
<key>UIFileSharingEnabled</key>
<true/>

We have an Enterprise app, distributed via MDM, that was created approximately 6 years ago in Xcode 9 or 10.

In iOS 17 the app's Document directory is correctly listed as a folder in the Files app under "On My iPhone".

After updating a device to iOS 18, the app's Document directory is no longer listed under "On My iPhone". However, if you search for the app's name the search results does show the app's folder.

If I then run the app from Xcode directly on to an iOS 18 device, the app's Document directory folder is not listed under "On My iPhone" in the Files app and searching for it no longer finds it. If run the app directly on to an iOS 17 device, the app's Document directory is, correctly, listed as before.

I created a new test project in Xcode 15 and ran it on an ISO 18 device, but it works as expected, so it seems to have affected older projects.

This is the exact same problem, occurring for other developers: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/79025597/ios-apps-document-folder-no-longer-accessible-from-files-app-after-ios-18-updat

Boost

Answer 1

DTS Engineer OP

Apple

Oct ’24

The folder should appear if the following conditions are met:

LSSupportsOpeningDocumentsInPlace is true.
UIFileSharingEnabled is true.
The Documents folder, which is associated with .documentsDirectory. has at least one file.

You didn't mention #3, and so might give it a check.

You can also try to increase your app's bundle version (the CFBundleVersion entry in the Info.plist file), then install and run your app again to see if that changes anything. Reinstalling a higher version tells the system to update the metadata of the app.

Other than the above, given that the problem only happens on iOS 18, I’d suggest that you file a feedback report for the relevant team to investigate – If you do so, please share your report ID here.

Best,
——
Ziqiao Chen
 Worldwide Developer Relations.

0

Answer 2

michaelbrown OP

Oct ’24

Yes, I am aware that the Document directory needs at least one file, apologies for not mentioning that. I incremented the bundle version number but that did not help.

As advised, I submitted a Feedback report. ID# FB15380714

0