How to implement the force update app in Swift and SwiftUI?

In today’s fast-paced world, keeping your mobile app up-to-date is crucial for ensuring its functionality and security. A force update feature is an effective way to ensure that your users are always running the latest version of your app. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to implement a force update feature in a Swift app and the benefits it brings to your users and your business.

Implementing a force update feature in a Swift app is relatively simple. The basic idea is to create a version endpoint on your server that returns the current version of your app. This endpoint should be called by the app every time it starts. In the app, you can create a function that calls the version endpoint and compares the version returned by the server with the current version of the app. If the server version is higher, prompt the user to update the app.

In Swift

There are different ways to implement a force update feature in a Swift app, but one common approach is to use a combination of server-side logic and client-side code.

1. Server-side logic: On your server, create a version endpoint that returns the current version of your app. This endpoint should be called by the app every time it starts.
2. Client-side code: In your app, create a function that calls the version endpoint and compares the version returned by the server with the current version of the app. If the server version is higher, prompt the user to update the app.

Here is some sample Swift code that demonstrates the basic idea:

func checkAppVersion() {
    // Call the version endpoint
    let url = URL(string: "https://yourserver.com/version")!
    URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in
        if let data = data {
            let serverVersion = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
            // Compare the server version with the current app version
            let currentVersion = Bundle.main.infoDictionary?["CFBundleShortVersionString"] as? String
            if serverVersion != currentVersion {
                // Prompt the user to update the app
                DispatchQueue.main.async {
                    let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "New Update Available", message: "Please update the app to the latest version.", preferredStyle: .alert)
                    let updateAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Update", style: .default) { _ in
                        // Open the App Store to update the app
                        if let url = URL(string: "itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/idAPP_ID"), UIApplication.shared.canOpenURL(url) {
                            UIApplication.shared.open(url, options: [:], completionHandler: nil)
                        }
                    }
                    alertController.addAction(updateAction)
                    self.present(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
                }
            }
        }
    }.resume()
}

In SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    @State var isUpdateAvailable: Bool = false
    var body: some View {
        // Your main content here
        .onAppear(perform: checkAppVersion)
        .alert(isPresented: $isUpdateAvailable) {
            Alert(title: Text("New Update Available"), message: Text("Please update the app to the latest version."), primaryButton: .default(Text("Update"), action: {
                // Open the App Store to update the app
                if let url = URL(string: "itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/idAPP_ID"), UIApplication.shared.canOpenURL(url) {
                    UIApplication.shared.open(url)
                }
            }), secondaryButton: .cancel())
        }
    }
    func checkAppVersion() {
        let url = URL(string: "https://yourserver.com/version")!
        URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: url) { (data, response, error) in
            if let data = data {
                let serverVersion = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
                let currentVersion = Bundle.main.infoDictionary?["CFBundleShortVersionString"] as? String
                if serverVersion != currentVersion {
                    DispatchQueue.main.async {
                        self.isUpdateAvailable = true
                    }
                }
            }
        }.resume()
    }
}

In the above example, the ContentView struct has a @State variable isUpdateAvailable which is used to present an alert if a new update is available. The checkAppVersion function is called in the onAppear modifier, which will be called when the view appears on the screen. The function calls the server-side version endpoint and compares the version returned by the server with the current version of the app. If the server version is higher, the isUpdateAvailable variable is set to true, which will present the alert to the user.

✍️ Written by Ishtiak Ahmed

👉 Follow me on X ● LinkedIn

---

Get Ready to Shine: Mastering the iOS Interview

• Ace iOS Coding Interview
• Uplift iOS Interview - A Comprehensive Guide to iOS Interview

---

Enjoying the articles? Get the inside scoop by subscribing to my newsletter.

Get access to exclusive iOS development tips, tricks, and insights when you subscribe to my newsletter. You'll also receive links to new articles, app development ideas, and an interview preparation mini book.