How can I offer the system’s setup experience for my accessories?

To offer the system’s setup experience for your accessories, you can use the new AccessorySetupKit introduced in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how it works:

1. Overview: AccessorySetupKit provides a streamlined and privacy-friendly approach to set up and manage accessories with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Simply call an API, and the accessory picker will appear with any nearby accessories that your app wants to pair with. The picker displays high-fidelity artwork and friendly names for the accessories, making it easy for users to identify and authenticate them before setup.

2. Setup Process:

   • API Call: Call the API to show the accessory picker.
   • Accessory Picker: The picker will display nearby accessories based on the discovery rules and assets your app provides. These rules can include Bluetooth services, Wi-Fi SSIDs, or company identifiers.
   • One-Tap Pairing: Users can pair the accessory with your app with just one tap, granting your app both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi access if the accessory supports both.

3. Configuration:

   • Info.plist Entries: Add entries in your app's Info.plist to support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi under AccessorySetupKit.
   • Discovery Rules: Define the rules for discovering accessories, such as Bluetooth services and Wi-Fi SSIDs.

4. Managing Accessories:

   • Accessory Page: The newly designed accessory page in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings allows users to modify the accessory name, toggle access for paired apps, or remove the accessory from the system.
   • Events Handling: Handle events such as accessoryAdded, accessoryChanged, and accessoryRemoved to manage the accessory lifecycle within your app.

5. Migration: If your app already manages existing accessories using system access, you can use ASMigrationDisplayItem to migrate these accessories to AccessorySetupKit.

For a detailed walkthrough, you can refer to the session Meet AccessorySetupKit (02:49).

Relevant Sessions

• Meet AccessorySetupKit
• What’s new in privacy (05:44)

These sessions provide comprehensive information on how to implement and utilize AccessorySetupKit in your app.