Presenting camera permission dialog in iOS 8

IosPermissionsCameraIos8Ios Permissions

Ios Problem Overview

When my app tries to access the camera for the first time on iOS 8, the user is presented with a camera permission dialog, much like the microphone one for microphone access in iOS 7.

In iOS 7, it was possible to invoke the microphone permission dialog beforehand and see if the permission was granted (see this question, for example). Is there a similar way to invoke the camera permission dialog in iOS 8? Can the dialog be combined for microphone AND camera access permission?

Ios Solutions

Solution 1 - Ios

Here is the approach we ended up using:

if ([AVCaptureDevice respondsToSelector:@selector(requestAccessForMediaType: completionHandler:)]) {
    [AVCaptureDevice requestAccessForMediaType:AVMediaTypeVideo completionHandler:^(BOOL granted) {
        // Will get here on both iOS 7 & 8 even though camera permissions weren't required 
        // until iOS 8. So for iOS 7 permission will always be granted.
        if (granted) {
            // Permission has been granted. Use dispatch_async for any UI updating
            // code because this block may be executed in a thread.
            dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
                [self doStuff];
            });                
        } else {
            // Permission has been denied.
        }
    }];
} else {
    // We are on iOS <= 6. Just do what we need to do.
    [self doStuff];
}

Solution 2 - Ios

I'm running into a similar issue, if the user has denied camera access when they are first prompted, pressing the button to take snapshot results in a black screen in the camera mode.

However I want to detect that the user has declined access and prompt them it must be turned on but I can't find any functions to check the current user camera access, is there such a function?

EDIT: The following check will let you know in IOS 8 about camera access:

#import <AVFoundation/AVFoundation.h>

AVAuthorizationStatus status = [AVCaptureDevice authorizationStatusForMediaType:AVMediaTypeVideo];
    
    if(status == AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized) { // authorized
        
    }
    else if(status == AVAuthorizationStatusDenied){ // denied
        
    }
    else if(status == AVAuthorizationStatusRestricted){ // restricted
        
        
    }
    else if(status == AVAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined){ // not determined
        
        [AVCaptureDevice requestAccessForMediaType:AVMediaTypeVideo completionHandler:^(BOOL granted) {
            if(granted){ // Access has been granted ..do something
               
            } else { // Access denied ..do something
               
            }
        }];
    }

This information was found on the following question (https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24651863/how-to-know-that-application-have-camera-access-or-not-pragmatically-in-ios8):

Solution 3 - Ios

Here is my Swift Solution (iOS 8), I needed the camera for QR scanning so really had to prompt its use.

This provides

  1. Encourage the user to select allow if prior to the default allow camera access question

  2. Easy way to access settings if the user denied the first request.

To get it running call check camera in ViewDidAppear / or ViewDidLoad etc. I needed to use viewDidAppear so my custom camera views constraints were set up.

func checkCamera() {
    let authStatus = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo)
    switch authStatus {
    case .authorized: break // Do your stuff here i.e. allowScanning()
    case .denied: alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially()
    case .notDetermined: alertPromptToAllowCameraAccessViaSetting()
    default: alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially()
    }
}

func alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially() {
    let alert = UIAlertController(
        title: "IMPORTANT",
        message: "Camera access required for QR Scanning",
        preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.alert
    )
    alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Cancel", style: .default, handler: nil))
    alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Allow Camera", style: .cancel, handler: { (alert) -> Void in
        UIApplication.shared.openURL(URL(string: UIApplicationOpenSettingsURLString)!)
    }))
    present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
}

func alertPromptToAllowCameraAccessViaSetting() {
    
    let alert = UIAlertController(
        title: "IMPORTANT",
        message: "Please allow camera access for QR Scanning",
        preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.alert
    )
    alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Dismiss", style: .cancel) { alert in
        if AVCaptureDevice.devices(withMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo).count > 0 {
            AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo) { granted in
                DispatchQueue.main.async() {
                    self.checkCamera() } }
        }
        }
    )
    present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
}

Thanks to jamix above for the tip for using dispatch_async - makes the response to show the newly set camera function so much faster.

Sorry for a mix of trailing closures.. wanted to try them out.

Solution 4 - Ios

None of the answers seem to check for both microphone and camera permissions. Our code checks against the scenario where camera permissions are granted but microphone access is denied.

Since we're new to Swift, it's unlikely the gnarly nested closures and if statements are optimal. Please share suggestions for improving the code! But at least it works so far in testing.

    AVCaptureDevice.requestAccessForMediaType(AVMediaTypeVideo, completionHandler: { (videoGranted: Bool) -> Void in
        if (videoGranted) {
            AVCaptureDevice.requestAccessForMediaType(AVMediaTypeAudio, completionHandler: { (audioGranted: Bool) -> Void in
                if (audioGranted) {
                    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue()) {
                        // Both video & audio granted
                    }
                } else {
                    // Rejected audio
                }
            })
        } else {
            // Rejected video
        }
    })

Solution 5 - Ios

  • Swift 3.0 Solution

    import AVFoundation

Note: add Privacy - Camera Usage Description key on your Info.plist

//MARK: Camera Handling

        func callCamera(){
            let myPickerController = UIImagePickerController()
            myPickerController.delegate = self;
            myPickerController.sourceType = UIImagePickerControllerSourceType.camera
            
            self.present(myPickerController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            NSLog("Camera");
        }
        func checkCamera() {
            let authStatus = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo)
            switch authStatus {
            case .authorized: callCamera() // Do your stuff here i.e. callCameraMethod()
            case .denied: alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially()
            case .notDetermined: alertPromptToAllowCameraAccessViaSetting()
            default: alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially()
            }
        }
        
        func alertToEncourageCameraAccessInitially() {
            let alert = UIAlertController(
                title: "IMPORTANT",
                message: "Camera access required for capturing photos!",
                preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.alert
            )
            alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Cancel", style: .default, handler: nil))
            alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Allow Camera", style: .cancel, handler: { (alert) -> Void in
                UIApplication.shared.openURL(URL(string: UIApplicationOpenSettingsURLString)!)
            }))
            present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
        }
        
        func alertPromptToAllowCameraAccessViaSetting() {
            
            let alert = UIAlertController(
                title: "IMPORTANT",
                message: "Camera access required for capturing photos!",
                preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.alert
            )
            alert.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Dismiss", style: .cancel) { alert in
                if AVCaptureDevice.devices(withMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo).count > 0 {
                    AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo) { granted in
                        DispatchQueue.main.async() {
                            self.checkCamera() } }
                }
                }
            )
            present(alert, animated: true, completion: nil)
        }

Solution 6 - Ios

For Swift 3, you can add this on your viewWillAppear method of your first view controller:

First import the AVFoundation framework

import AVFoundation

Then:

override func viewWillAppear(_ animated: Bool) {
    super.viewWillAppear(animated)

    let authorizationStatus = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo)
    
    switch authorizationStatus {
    case .notDetermined:
        AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(forMediaType: AVMediaTypeVideo) { granted in
            if granted {
                print("access granted")
            }
            else {
                print("access denied")
            }
        }
    case .authorized:
        print("Access authorized")
    case .denied, .restricted:
        print("restricted")
    
    }
}

Don't forget to add Privacy - Camera Usage Description key on your Info.plist

Solution 7 - Ios

For me this work on iOS7 and iOS8:

    ALAuthorizationStatus status = [ALAssetsLibrary authorizationStatus];

    switch (status) {
        case ALAuthorizationStatusAuthorized:
            break;
            
        case ALAuthorizationStatusRestricted:
        case ALAuthorizationStatusDenied:
            break;
            
        case ALAuthorizationStatusNotDetermined:
            break;
    }

Solution 8 - Ios

I make an access check on the app delegate.

import UIKit
import AVFoundation
import Photos
    
        func applicationDidBecomeActive(application: UIApplication) {
            cameraAllowsAccessToApplicationCheck()
            internetAvailabilityOnApplicationCheck()
            photoLibraryAvailabilityCheck()
        }
    
    //MARK:- CAMERA ACCESS CHECK
        func cameraAllowsAccessToApplicationCheck()
        {
            let authorizationStatus = AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatusForMediaType(AVMediaTypeVideo)
            switch authorizationStatus {
            case .NotDetermined:
                // permission dialog not yet presented, request authorization
                AVCaptureDevice.requestAccessForMediaType(AVMediaTypeVideo,
                    completionHandler: { (granted:Bool) -> Void in
                        if granted {
                            print("access granted")
                        }
                        else {
                            print("access denied")
                        }
                })
            case .Authorized:
                print("Access authorized")
            case .Denied, .Restricted:
            alertToEncourageCameraAccessWhenApplicationStarts()
            default:
                print("DO NOTHING")
            }
        }
        //MARK:- PHOTO LIBRARY ACCESS CHECK
        func photoLibraryAvailabilityCheck()
        {
            if PHPhotoLibrary.authorizationStatus() == PHAuthorizationStatus.Authorized
            {
    
            }
            else
            {
                var cameraUnavailableAlertController = UIAlertController (title: "Photo Library Unavailable", message: "Please check to see if device settings doesn't allow photo library access", preferredStyle: .Alert)
    
                var settingsAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Settings", style: .Destructive) { (_) -> Void in
                    let settingsUrl = NSURL(string:UIApplicationOpenSettingsURLString)
                    if let url = settingsUrl {
                        UIApplication.sharedApplication().openURL(url)
                    }
                }
                var cancelAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Okay", style: .Default, handler: nil)
                cameraUnavailableAlertController .addAction(settingsAction)
                cameraUnavailableAlertController .addAction(cancelAction)
                self.window?.rootViewController!.presentViewController(cameraUnavailableAlertController , animated: true, completion: nil)
            }
        }
        func internetAvailabilityOnApplicationCheck()
        {
            //MARK:- INTERNET AVAILABLITY
            if InternetReachability.isConnectedToNetwork() {
    
            }
            else
            {
                dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), {
    
                    //INTERNET NOT AVAILABLE ALERT
                    var internetUnavailableAlertController = UIAlertController (title: "Network Unavailable", message: "Please check your internet connection settings and turn on Network Connection", preferredStyle: .Alert)
    
                    var settingsAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Settings", style: .Destructive) { (_) -> Void in
                        let settingsUrl = NSURL(string:UIApplicationOpenSettingsURLString)
                        if let url = settingsUrl {
                            UIApplication.sharedApplication().openURL(url)
                        }
                    }
                    var cancelAction = UIAlertAction(title: "Okay", style: .Default, handler: nil)
                    internetUnavailableAlertController .addAction(settingsAction)
                    internetUnavailableAlertController .addAction(cancelAction)
                    self.window?.rootViewController!.presentViewController(internetUnavailableAlertController , animated: true, completion: nil)
                })
            }
        }

*

Solution 9 - Ios

The issue for me was that Bundle name and Bundle Display Name were not getting set in my Info.plist due to some recent build configuration changes. Kind of an unlikely case... But it took me a few hours to nail this down. Hopefully it helps for someone else.

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Attributions

All content for this solution is sourced from the original question on Stackoverflow.

The content on this page is licensed under the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license.

Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionjamixView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - IosjamixView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - IosSmokersCoughView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - IosDogCoffeeView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - IosCrashalotView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - IosSourabh SharmaView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 6 - IospableirosView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 7 - IosconfileView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 8 - IosAlvin GeorgeView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 9 - IosChris WagnerView Answer on Stackoverflow