Revamp background backup on iOS 26.1 with Background Resource Upload

[Zk2u]

Apologies for the AI written issue but it is in good faith. I'm short of time and this should be enough to kickstart the discussion. Thanks to the Ente team for an awesome product.

Overview

iOS 26.1 introduces a new PhotoKit Background Resource Upload extension that enables photo backup apps to perform seamless background uploads managed by the system itself. ¹² This would significantly improve Ente's iOS backup experience by allowing uploads to continue even when the app is closed or the device is locked.

Technical Details

API Information:

• Extension Point: com.apple.photos.background-upload ³
• Main Protocol: PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension ⁴
• Key Classes:
  • PHAssetResourceUploadJob - Represents upload requests ⁴
  • PHAssetResourceUploadJobChangeRequest - Manages upload job records ⁴⁵
• Minimum Requirements: iOS 26.1+ / iPadOS 26.1+ ⁴⁶

Core Functionality:

protocol PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension : AppExtension {
    func process() -> PHBackgroundResourceUploadProcessingResult  // Required
    func notifyTermination()  // Handle suspension/termination
}

Benefits for Ente Users

• Seamless Background Uploads: Photos continue uploading when app is closed or device locked
• System Optimization: iOS handles network conditions, power management, and timing automatically ⁷
• Improved Reliability: Reduces failed uploads due to app backgrounding limitations
• Better User Experience: No need to keep app open for backups to complete

Flutter Implementation Considerations

Based on Flutter's iOS app extension documentation ⁸, implementing this would require:

1. Native iOS Extension: The background upload extension must be written in Swift/Objective-C, not Dart ⁹
2. App Extension Target: Add a new iOS app extension target in Xcode ⁸
3. Shared Data: Use App Groups to share data between main app and extension ⁸
4. Plugin Integration: May require custom Flutter plugin to bridge communication

Technical Approach:

• Create iOS app extension target implementing PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension
• Use shared preferences/files via App Groups for coordination ⁸
• Extension handles PhotoKit integration while main Flutter app manages UI/logic
• Similar pattern to existing Flutter iOS extensions (Share, Widget, etc.) ⁸

Additional Context

This feature addresses a common user frustration with photo backup apps needing to remain open. Apple's system-managed approach should provide better battery efficiency and reliability compared to current background upload workarounds.

References:

• Apple PhotoKit Background Resource Upload Documentation
• Flutter iOS App Extensions Guide ⁸

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Would implementing this iOS 26.1 PhotoKit Background Resource Upload extension be something the Ente team would consider for improving the iOS backup experience?

Footnotes

1. iOS 26 is now available, here's what's new for iPhone - 9to5Mac (8%) ↩

2. Uploading asset resources in the background | Apple Developer... (7%) ↩

3. Uploading asset resources in the background | Apple Developer... (5%) ↩

4. PHBackgroundResourceUploadExtension | Apple Developer... (13%) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. PHAssetResourceUploadJobChangeRequest - Apple Developer (5%) ↩

6. PHAssetResourceUploadJob | Apple Developer Documentation (4%) ↩

7. Uploading asset resources in the background (9%) ↩

8. Adding iOS app extensions (39%) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

9. ios - Is it possible to use Flutter in Apple's Application Extensions? (10%) ↩

[bamboo0850]

I would really like to see background backups if they're possible now. I've introduced Ente to my family and the first question each of them asked without fail was if they had to open the app to backup their pictures.

[Jip-Hop]

A POC Photo Uploader iOS app using the PhotoKit Background Resource Upload extension has been posted in a similar discussion in the Immich repo: immich-app/immich#23245 (comment)

I haven’t decided on self hosting or cloud with client side encryption, but reliable background sync would be a major deciding factor for me.

The new BGContinuedProcessingTask might be of interest too.