Implement VoIP calling with CallKit and PushKit. Use when building incoming/outgoing call flows, registering for VoIP push notifications, configuring CXProvider and CXCallController, handling call actions, coordinating audio sessions, or creating Call Directory extensions for caller ID and call blocking.
SKILL.md
CallKit
Build VoIP calling features that integrate with the native iOS call UI using
CallKit and PushKit. Covers incoming/outgoing call flows, VoIP push
registration, audio session coordination, and call directory extensions.
Handles system call actions and audio session events
PKPushRegistry
Registers for and receives VoIP push notifications
PKVoIPPushMetadata
iOS 26.4+ metadata that says whether a VoIP push must be reported
Provider Configuration
Create a single CXProvider at app launch and keep it alive for the app
lifetime. Configure it with a CXProviderConfiguration that describes your
calling capabilities.
import CallKit
/// CXProvider dispatches all delegate calls to the queue passed to `setDelegate(_:queue:)`.
/// The `let` properties are initialized once and never mutated, making this type
/// safe to share across concurrency domains despite @unchecked Sendable.
final class CallManager: NSObject, @unchecked Sendable {
static let shared = CallManager()
let provider: CXProvider
let callController = CXCallController()
private override init() {
let config = CXProviderConfiguration()
config.localizedName = "My VoIP App"
config.supportsVideo = true
config.maximumCallsPerCallGroup = 1
config.maximumCallGroups = 2
config.supportedHandleTypes = [.phoneNumber, .emailAddress]
config.includesCallsInRecents = true
provider = CXProvider(configuration: config)
super.init()
provider.setDelegate(self, queue: nil)
}
}
Incoming Call Flow
When a required VoIP call push arrives, report the incoming call to CallKit
immediately. The system displays the native call UI. You must report required
calls before the PushKit completion handler returns -- failure to do so causes
the system to terminate your app.
Register for VoIP pushes at every app launch and send token changes to your
server. For iOS 13 SDK+ apps, every report-required VoIP call push must be
reported before PushKit completion using CallKit, or LiveCommunicationKit for
apps built on that framework. On iOS 26.4+, PKVoIPPushMetadata.mustReport is
the gate: true means report before completion; false means no CallKit or
LiveCommunicationKit report is required. Missing a required report before
completion can terminate the app, and repeated failures may stop VoIP delivery.
Path
Report decision
Completion timing
iOS 26.4+ mustReport == true
Report with CallKit or LiveCommunicationKit
After report callback
iOS 26.4+ mustReport == false
No CallKit/LiveCommunicationKit report required
After local handling
Older delegate
iOS 13 SDK+ treats VoIP call pushes as report-required
After report callback
import PushKit
final class PushManager: NSObject, PKPushRegistryDelegate {
let registry: PKPushRegistry
override init() {
registry = PKPushRegistry(queue: .main)
super.init()
registry.delegate = self
registry.desiredPushTypes = [.voIP]
}
func pushRegistry(
_ registry: PKPushRegistry,
didUpdate pushCredentials: PKPushCredentials,
for type: PKPushType
) {
let token = pushCredentials.token
.map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }
.joined()
// Send token to your server
sendTokenToServer(token)
}
@available(iOS 26.4, *)
func pushRegistry(
_ registry: PKPushRegistry,
didReceiveIncomingVoIPPushWith payload: PKPushPayload,
metadata: PKVoIPPushMetadata,
withCompletionHandler completion: @escaping @Sendable () -> Void
) {
guard metadata.mustReport else {
completion()
return
}
handleIncomingVoIPPush(payload, completion: completion)
}
// Keep the older callback for iOS 26.0-26.3 and older deployment targets.
func pushRegistry(
_ registry: PKPushRegistry,
didReceiveIncomingPushWith payload: PKPushPayload,
for type: PKPushType,
completion: @escaping () -> Void
) {
guard type == .voIP else {
completion()
return
}
handleIncomingVoIPPush(payload, completion: completion)
}
private func handleIncomingVoIPPush(
_ payload: PKPushPayload,
completion: @escaping () -> Void
) {
let callUUID = UUID()
let handle = payload.dictionaryPayload["handle"] as? String ?? "Unknown"
Task {
do {
try await CallManager.shared.reportIncomingCall(
uuid: callUUID,
handle: handle,
hasVideo: false
)
} catch {
// Call was filtered by DND or block list
}
completion()
}
}
}
Server-side VoIP pushes should use a short lifetime: set apns-expiration to
0 or only a few seconds. After the initial push wakes the app, send hangups
and call-detail changes over the app-server connection instead of sending more
VoIP pushes.
Audio Session Coordination
CallKit owns the audio activation boundary: start media only in
provider(_:didActivate:), and stop or tear it down in
provider(_:didDeactivate:) and reset paths.
Use Call Directory for preloaded caller ID/blocking, not per-call API lookup.
The extension loads sorted bulk data in beginRequest(with:); the main app uses
CXCallDirectoryManager to check enabled status, open Call Blocking &
Identification settings when disabled, and reload after data changes. Store
CXCallDirectoryPhoneNumber as country code plus digits in ascending order
(for example 18005551234), not a formatted string.
import CallKit
final class CallDirectoryHandler: CXCallDirectoryProvider {
override func beginRequest(
with context: CXCallDirectoryExtensionContext
) {
if context.isIncremental {
addOrRemoveIncrementalEntries(to: context)
} else {
addAllEntries(to: context)
}
context.completeRequest()
}
private func addAllEntries(
to context: CXCallDirectoryExtensionContext
) {
// Country code + digits, sorted in ascending order
let blockedNumbers: [CXCallDirectoryPhoneNumber] = [
18005551234, 18005555678
]
for number in blockedNumbers {
context.addBlockingEntry(
withNextSequentialPhoneNumber: number
)
}
let identifiedNumbers: [(CXCallDirectoryPhoneNumber, String)] = [
(18005551111, "Local Pizza"),
(18005552222, "Dentist Office")
]
for (number, label) in identifiedNumbers {
context.addIdentificationEntry(
withNextSequentialPhoneNumber: number,
label: label
)
}
}
}
Main-App Manager: Status, Settings, Reload
let manager = CXCallDirectoryManager.sharedInstance
manager.getEnabledStatusForExtension(withIdentifier: extensionID) { status, _ in
guard status == .enabled else {
manager.openSettings { _ in } // Call Blocking & Identification
return
}
manager.reloadExtension(withIdentifier: extensionID) { _ in }
}
Check getEnabledStatusForExtension(...) before assuming the extension is
active, use openSettings(...) for Call Blocking & Identification when
disabled, and call reloadExtension(...) after data changes. Route APNs
auth-key rotation and normal remote-notification setup to push-notifications.
Common Mistakes
Mistake
Fix
Required VoIP push is treated as data-only
Apply the version-specific report rule, report before completion, then invoke the PushKit completion handler.
Answer action is fulfilled before media/server readiness
Keep it pending while connecting; fulfill on readiness or fail and report .failed.
Media starts before provider(_:didActivate:)
Prepare earlier if needed, but start only after activation and stop on deactivation/reset.
An action path never calls fulfill() or fail()
Give success, cancellation, timeout, and network-error paths one terminal action.
Token refresh is ignored
Send every didUpdate pushCredentials token to the server.
Call Directory performs per-call networking
Preload sorted entries and reload the extension.
Review Checklist
VoIP background mode enabled in capabilities
Single CXProvider instance created at app launch and retained
CXProviderDelegate set before reporting any calls
iOS 26.4+ PushKit path reports when mustReport is true and may skip when false
iOS 13 SDK+ PushKit VoIP call pushes report to CallKit before completion
VoIP APNs requests use apns-expiration of 0 or only a few seconds
Hangups and detail updates use the app-server connection after the initial push
action.fulfill() or action.fail() called for every provider delegate action
CXAnswerCallAction fulfilled only after the call server/media connection is ready
Audio engine started only after provider(_:didActivate:) callback
Audio engine stopped in provider(_:didDeactivate:) callback
Audio session category set to .playAndRecord with .voiceChat mode
VoIP push token sent to server on every didUpdate pushCredentials callback
PKPushRegistry created at every app launch (not lazily)
Call Directory data is preloaded, not fetched per incoming call
CXCallDirectoryPhoneNumber documented as country calling code + digits
CXCallDirectoryManager names status check, reload, and settings-opening APIs
CXCallUpdate populated with localizedCallerName and remoteHandle
Outgoing calls report startedConnectingAt and connectedAt timestamps
iOS 26 call translation keeps upstream audio active during mute
Encrypted metadata filtering mentions the notification service extension entitlement