PermissionKit

Note: PermissionKit APIs span multiple 26.x releases. Verify signatures and availability against the current Xcode 26 SDK before shipping.

Request permission from a parent or guardian to modify a child's communication rules. PermissionKit creates communication safety experiences that let children ask for exceptions to communication limits set by their parents. Targets Swift 6.3 / iOS 26+.

PermissionKit communication experiences are available only through iMessage. Use it for parent/guardian approval flows, not as a general in-app contact permission, moderation, or chat-safety framework.

Contents

• Setup
• Core Concepts
• Checking Communication Limits
• Creating Permission Questions
• Requesting Permission with AskCenter
• SwiftUI Integration with PermissionButton
• Handling Responses
• Significant App Update Topic
• Common Mistakes
• Review Checklist
• References

Setup

Import PermissionKit. Do not invent PermissionKit entitlement keys; verify current Apple documentation and Xcode capabilities before adding signing requirements.

import PermissionKit

Platform availability:

When reviewing or correcting code, state these exact tiers instead of collapsing PermissionKit to "iOS 26+":

• Core topic, handle, question, response, choice, and CommunicationLimits

APIs: iOS 26.0+, iPadOS 26.0+, Mac Catalyst 26.0+, macOS 26.0+, visionOS 26.0+.

• AskError: iOS 26.1+, iPadOS 26.1+, Mac Catalyst 26.1+, macOS 26.1+,

visionOS 26.1+.

• AskCenter, AskCenter.ask(_:in:), AskCenter.responses(for:),

PermissionButton, and SignificantAppUpdateTopic: iOS/iPadOS/ Mac Catalyst/macOS/visionOS 26.2+.

Core Concepts

PermissionKit manages a flow where:

1. A child encounters a communication limit in your app
2. Your app creates a PermissionQuestion describing the request
3. The system presents the question to the child for them to send to their parent
4. The parent reviews and approves or denies the request
5. Your app receives a PermissionResponse with the parent's decision

Key Types

Checking Communication Limits

Use CommunicationLimits.current to check whether the system already knows a communication handle for your app. This is not an "are communication limits enabled?" probe. If limits are not enabled, AskCenter.shared.ask(_:in:) throws AskError.communicationLimitsNotEnabled; handle that path when asking.

knownHandles(in:) also requires the calling app to have a non-nil, nonempty bundle identifier. Corrected code should guard Bundle.main.bundleIdentifier before calling it.

import PermissionKit

func needsPermissionPrompt(for handle: CommunicationHandle) async -> Bool {
    let limits = CommunicationLimits.current
    let isKnown = await limits.isKnownHandle(handle)
    return !isKnown
}

// Check multiple handles at once.
func filterKnownHandles(_ handles: Set<CommunicationHandle>) async -> Set<CommunicationHandle> {
    guard Bundle.main.bundleIdentifier?.isEmpty == false else { return [] }

    let limits = CommunicationLimits.current
    return await limits.knownHandles(in: handles)
}

Creating Communication Handles

let phoneHandle = CommunicationHandle(
    value: "+1234567890",
    kind: .phoneNumber
)

let emailHandle = CommunicationHandle(
    value: "friend@example.com",
    kind: .emailAddress
)

let customHandle = CommunicationHandle(
    value: "user123",
    kind: .custom
)

Creating Permission Questions

Build a PermissionQuestion with the contact information and communication action type.

// Question for a single contact
let handle = CommunicationHandle(value: "+1234567890", kind: .phoneNumber)
let question = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(handle: handle)

// Question for multiple contacts
let handles = [
    CommunicationHandle(value: "+1234567890", kind: .phoneNumber),
    CommunicationHandle(value: "friend@example.com", kind: .emailAddress)
]
let multiQuestion = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(handles: handles)

Using CommunicationTopic with Person Information

Provide display names and avatars for a richer permission prompt.

let personInfo = CommunicationTopic.PersonInformation(
    handle: CommunicationHandle(value: "+1234567890", kind: .phoneNumber),
    nameComponents: {
        var name = PersonNameComponents()
        name.givenName = "Alex"
        name.familyName = "Smith"
        return name
    }(),
    avatarImage: nil
)

let topic = CommunicationTopic(
    personInformation: [personInfo],
    actions: [.message, .audioCall]
)

let question = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(communicationTopic: topic)

Communication Actions

Requesting Permission with AskCenter

Use AskCenter.shared to request that the child send the permission question to their parent or guardian. The async ask call starts the send flow; parent decisions arrive later through responses(for:). If the child cancels the send flow, the system does not deliver a PermissionResponse for that question.

import PermissionKit

func requestPermission(
    for question: PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>,
    in viewController: UIViewController
) async {
    do {
        try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
        // Question send flow was started; wait for responses(for:) separately.
    } catch let error as AskError {
        switch error {
        case .communicationLimitsNotEnabled:
            // Communication limits not active -- continue with normal app flow.
            break
        case .contactSyncNotSetup:
            // Contact sync not configured
            break
        case .invalidQuestion:
            // Question is malformed
            break
        case .notAvailable:
            // PermissionKit not available on this device
            break
        case .systemError(let underlying):
            print("System error: \(underlying)")
        case .unknown:
            break
        @unknown default:
            break
        }
    }
}

SwiftUI Integration with PermissionButton

PermissionButton is a SwiftUI view that triggers the permission flow when tapped. It uses the same response model as AskCenter: observe responses and model a pending/canceled state instead of assuming every tap produces a parent decision.

import SwiftUI
import PermissionKit

struct ContactPermissionView: View {
    let handle = CommunicationHandle(value: "+1234567890", kind: .phoneNumber)

    var body: some View {
        let question = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(handle: handle)

        PermissionButton(question: question) {
            Label("Ask to Message", systemImage: "message")
        }
    }
}

For richer SwiftUI flows, custom topics, and long-lived managers, read references/permissionkit-patterns.md.

Handling Responses

Listen for permission responses asynchronously. Track pending questions by question.id, and give the UI a retry or expiration path because a child can cancel the iMessage send flow without producing a response. When combining known-handle checks with response handling, carry forward the bundle-identifier guard from knownHandles(in:).

enum PermissionRequestState {
    case pending, approved, denied, expired
}

var requestStates: [UUID: PermissionRequestState] = [:]

func expireIfStillPending(_ id: UUID) {
    guard requestStates[id] == .pending else { return }
    requestStates[id] = .expired
    // Re-enable asking or show retry/canceled UI.
}

func observeResponses() async {
    let responses = AskCenter.shared.responses(for: CommunicationTopic.self)

    for await response in responses {
        let choice = response.choice
        let question = response.question

        switch choice.answer {
        case .approval:
            // Parent approved -- enable communication
            requestStates[question.id] = .approved
            print("Approved for topic: \(question.topic)")
        case .denial:
            // Parent denied -- keep restriction
            requestStates[question.id] = .denied
            print("Denied")
        @unknown default:
            break
        }
    }
}

PermissionChoice Properties

let choice: PermissionChoice = response.choice
print("Answer: \(choice.answer)")  // .approval or .denial
print("Choice ID: \(choice.id)")
print("Title: \(choice.title)")

// Convenience statics
let approved = PermissionChoice.approve
let declined = PermissionChoice.decline

Significant App Update Topic

Request permission for significant app updates that require parental approval. Your app determines what counts as significant based on applicable regulations and should consult qualified legal counsel for compliance interpretation. Use concise, understandable descriptions that state the concrete change parents are approving.

let updateTopic = SignificantAppUpdateTopic(
    description: "This update adds multiplayer chat features"
)

let question = PermissionQuestion<SignificantAppUpdateTopic>(
    significantAppUpdateTopic: updateTopic
)

// Present the question
try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
requestStates[question.id] = .pending
scheduleExpiration(for: question.id)

// Listen for responses
for await response in AskCenter.shared.responses(for: SignificantAppUpdateTopic.self) {
    switch response.choice.answer {
    case .approval:
        // Proceed with update
        requestStates[response.question.id] = .approved
    case .denial:
        // Skip update
        requestStates[response.question.id] = .denied
    @unknown default:
        break
    }
}

// If no response arrives before your pending window expires, keep the update
// blocked or offer a retry. Child cancellation produces no denial response.

Common Mistakes

DON'T: Treat known-handle checks as enabled-limits checks

isKnownHandle(_:) and knownHandles(in:) only classify handles. They do not replace handling .communicationLimitsNotEnabled from ask(_:in:).

// WRONG: Assuming a handle lookup proves active limits
let isKnown = await CommunicationLimits.current.isKnownHandle(handle)
if !isKnown {
    try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
}

// CORRECT: Handle the case where limits are not enabled
do {
    try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
} catch AskError.communicationLimitsNotEnabled {
    // Communication limits not active -- continue with normal app flow.
    allowCommunication()
} catch {
    handleError(error)
}

DON'T: Ignore AskError cases

Each error case requires different handling.

// WRONG: Catch-all with no user feedback
do {
    try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
} catch {
    print(error)
}

// CORRECT: Handle each case
do {
    try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)
} catch let error as AskError {
    switch error {
    case .communicationLimitsNotEnabled:
        allowCommunication()
    case .contactSyncNotSetup:
        showContactSyncPrompt()
    case .invalidQuestion:
        showInvalidQuestionAlert()
    case .notAvailable:
        showUnavailableMessage()
    case .systemError(let underlying):
        showSystemError(underlying)
    case .unknown:
        showGenericError()
    @unknown default:
        break
    }
}

DON'T: Create questions with empty handles

A question with no handles or person information is invalid.

// WRONG: Empty handles array
let question = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(handles: [])  // Invalid

// CORRECT: Provide at least one handle
let handle = CommunicationHandle(value: "+1234567890", kind: .phoneNumber)
let question = PermissionQuestion<CommunicationTopic>(handle: handle)

DON'T: Forget to observe responses and pending states

Presenting a question without listening for the response means you never know if the parent approved. A child can also cancel the send flow, so do not wait forever for a response to every question.

// WRONG: Fire and forget
try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)

// CORRECT: Observe responses
Task {
    for await response in AskCenter.shared.responses(for: CommunicationTopic.self) {
        handleResponse(response)
    }
}
try await AskCenter.shared.ask(question, in: viewController)

DON'T: Use deprecated CommunicationLimitsButton

Use PermissionButton instead of the deprecated CommunicationLimitsButton.

// WRONG: Deprecated
CommunicationLimitsButton(question: question) {
    Text("Ask Permission")
}

// CORRECT: Use PermissionButton
PermissionButton(question: question) {
    Text("Ask Permission")
}

Review Checklist

• [ ] iMessage-only routing understood before choosing PermissionKit
• [ ] Corrected guidance states exact availability tiers: core communication

types/limits 26.0+, AskError 26.1+, and AskCenter/PermissionButton/ responses/significant-update topics 26.2+

• [ ] AskError.communicationLimitsNotEnabled handled to allow fallback
• [ ] AskError cases handled individually with appropriate user feedback
• [ ] CommunicationHandle created with correct Kind (phone, email, custom)
• [ ] Known-handle examples guard a non-nil, nonempty bundle identifier before

knownHandles(in:)

• [ ] Known-handle checks are not treated as active-limits checks
• [ ] PermissionQuestion includes at least one handle or person information
• [ ] AskCenter.shared.responses(for:) observed to receive parent decisions
• [ ] PermissionButton used instead of deprecated CommunicationLimitsButton
• [ ] Person information includes name components for a clear permission prompt
• [ ] Communication actions match the app's actual communication capabilities
• [ ] Pending/canceled/expired question states handled when no response arrives
• [ ] Response handling updates UI on the main actor
• [ ] Error states provide clear guidance to the user

References

• Extended patterns (response handling, multi-topic, UIKit): references/permissionkit-patterns.md
• PermissionKit framework
• AskCenter
• PermissionQuestion
• PermissionButton
• PermissionResponse
• CommunicationTopic
• CommunicationHandle
• CommunicationLimits
• SignificantAppUpdateTopic
• AskError
• Creating a communication experience