Why won't app groups work inside my WatchKit extension?

Question

I've seen all the other posts of SO about sharing NSUserDefaults data between host apps and app extensions, but mine still doesn't work. Here's everything I've done:

Enable App Groups on Xcode's "Capabilities" tab for the extension and host app.
Set the group name to "group.com.mycompany.foo" and confirmed the extension and host app are added to the group.
Confirmed an entitlements file exists for both with the "com.apple.security.application-groups" key set to my app group name. (For what it's worth, I'm also using the shared keychain capabilities between extension and host app and that is working -- so I don't believe this is an issue with entitlements)
Regenerated all provisioning profiles. In fact, I even revoked all my certificates and regenerated all profiles fresh after setting up the app group.

And after all of that, this code still doesn't work:

// in the host app
NSUserDefaults *testDefaults = [[NSUserDefaults alloc] initWithSuiteName:@"group.com.mycompany.foo"];
[testDefaults setObject:@"TEST" forKey:@"foo"];
[testDefaults synchronize];

and then:

// in the extension
NSUserDefaults *testDefaults = [[NSUserDefaults alloc] initWithSuiteName:@"group.com.mycompany.foo"];
NSLog(@"%@", [testDefaults objectForKey:@"foo"]);

which results in:

(null)

When I look in Xcode preferences, I notice these icons, none of which have the "App Group" icon: Xcode Preferences - Entitlements

But as I stated before, I went as far as clearing out my keychain, certs, and provisioning profiles after setting up the app group. So if this is in fact the problem, how do I add the entitlement to the profiles?

What am I missing? I'm fresh out of ideas.

Help?

EDIT: Access groups are working in my Today & Safari extension, just not in the WatchKit extension. I have no idea why, and all the build settings appear to be configured the same way.

EDIT 2: For those insisting that my capabilities aren't setup properly, here's a screenshot:

Have you tried clicking the "refresh" button at the bottom left corner of Xcode's list of provisioning profiles? — Tom Harrington
There is no App Groups icon in Entitlements column in view you attached (at least I don't have it and appgroups works for me). Back to the problem: are you 100% sure that both host app and extension target are signed with correct provisioning profile and code sign identity? And by correct I mean com.mycompany.foo.myapp and com.mycompany.foo.myapp.myappwatchkitextension. Wildcard will not work here. — lvp
FWIW, none of my profiles include the app group icon, even those that do actually work with app groups. I wouldn't pay attention to whether the icon shows in that list. If the "capabilities" section of the app target settings shows app groups enabled, that should be all that's needed. — Tom Harrington
Okay, I will disregard the icons. Capabilities are definitely enabled. And the provision profiles are set explicitly, without wildcards (com.myapp and com.myextension). I'm pulling my hair out, and I don't have much hair left to begin with. — user2393462435

kelin kelin · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-13T13:40:51

I had the similar problem. What I noticed, that my WatchKit Extension and WatchKit App had equal bundle identifiers. I changed bundle id of my WatchKit App. Also I didn't forgot to change NSExtensionAttributes/WKAppBundleIdentifier in the info.plist of Extension to match that id. Now everything works. I hope this will help you!

Shortly: Bundle identifiers of WatchKit App and Extension should be different!

Why won't app groups work inside my WatchKit extension?

3 Answers