Solving the Limited Access Dilemma: How to Save Photos in iOS 14

Описание: Are you struggling to save photos in iOS 14 under `.limited` access permissions? Discover effective solutions and workarounds to tackle this newly introduced privacy feature.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64361418/ asked by the user 'Max Power' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/6053524/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64480089/ provided by the user 'Akhrameev' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1735276/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Solving the Limited Access Dilemma: How to Save Photos in iOS 14

With the release of iOS 14, Apple introduced significant changes to privacy surrounding photo access. Many developers have faced challenges when trying to implement the new .limited authorization status, especially when it comes to saving photos to custom albums. If you've found yourself in a similar position, you're not alone. Let’s explore the issue and provide a solution to save photos under .limited access status effectively.

Understanding the Problem

If you're utilizing the ImagePicker in your iOS application and trying to work within the constraints of limited access, you might encounter issues when attempting to save newly taken photos to a custom album. Specifically, you may find that while you can create an album and even open the camera, saving the images into the album turns into a frustrating task.

Key Challenges:

Creation of Albums: The album may not actually be created as expected in .limited access.

PHAssetCollection Issues: The collection object returned may be nil, preventing any actions from being taken on it.

Absence of Permission Popups: Typically, a permission dialog should appear when trying to add to collections, but it might not show up in some cases.

Solution Breakdown

To effectively navigate the challenges posed by iOS 14's photo access limitations, follow these organized steps:

1. Album Creation Verification

Firstly, it's essential to verify whether the album is indeed created. Despite your code's success in creating the album, with .limited access, it might not end up in your Albums list.

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Check your Albums list on your device to confirm whether the album appears.

2. Error Handling

If you experience issues during the performChanges, check for specific errors returned in the completion handler.

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Understanding these error codes can help you diagnose the problem more effectively.

3. Understand Limited Access Restrictions

Currently, with the .addOnly access level, the creation of albums does not behave as intuitively as with .authorized access. In this case, new albums cannot be created and populated with assets.

At this point, you should reconsider user permission requests and explain clearly to users where and how their data is being stored.

Final Thoughts

While iOS 14's privacy features aim to provide better user control over photos, developers are left navigating newfound complexities. As illustrated:

You won't see the albums created if you're operating under .limited access.

Be prepared to address users' concerns regarding permissions and accessibility in your application.

The Bottom Line

Staying updated with the latest iOS developments can mean the difference between smooth deployment and frustrating hurdles. If you find yourself struggling to implement these changes, consider reaching out to Apple’s Developer Support or joining forums where fellow developers can offer their experiences and best practices.

By understanding these nuances and developing around the limitations of .limited access, you can create a more robust and user-friendly application that respects users' privacy while still providing the functionality they desire.