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Core Data: lightweight migration
Hi everyone, I’m working on an offline-first iOS app using Core Data. I have a question about safe future updates: in my project, I want to be able to add new optional fields to existing Entities or even completely new Entities in future versions — but nothing else (no renaming, deleting, or type changes). Here’s how my current PersistenceController looks: import CoreData struct PersistenceController { static let shared = PersistenceController() let container: NSPersistentContainer init(inMemory: Bool = false) { container = NSPersistentContainer(name: "MyApp") if inMemory { container.persistentStoreDescriptions.first!.url = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/dev/null") } container.loadPersistentStores(completionHandler: { (storeDescription, error) in if let error = error as NSError? { print("Core Data failed to load store: \(error), \(error.userInfo)") } }) container.viewContext.automaticallyMergesChangesFromParent = true } } Do I need to explicitly set these properties to ensure lightweight migration works? shouldMigrateStoreAutomatically = true shouldInferMappingModelAutomatically = true Or, according to the documentation, are they already true by default, so I can safely add optional fields and new Entities in future versions without breaking users’ existing data? Thanks in advance for your guidance!
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Jan ’26
CloudKit: how to handle CKError partialFailure when using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer?
I'm using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer with Core Data and I receive errors because my iCloud space is full. The errors printed are the following: <CKError 0x280df8e40: "Quota Exceeded" (25/2035); server message = "Quota exceeded"; op = 61846C533467A5DF; uuid = 6A144513-033F-42C2-9E27-693548EF2150; Retry after 342.0 seconds>. I want to inform the user about this issue, but I can't find a way to access the details of the error. I'm listening to NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventChangedNotification, I receive a error of type .partialFailure. But when I want to access the underlying errors, the partialErrorsByItemID property on the error is nil. How can I access this Quota Exceeded error? import Foundation import CloudKit import Combine import CoreData class SyncMonitor { fileprivate var subscriptions = Set<AnyCancellable>() init() { NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventChangedNotification) .sink { notification in if let cloudEvent = notification.userInfo?[NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventNotificationUserInfoKey] as? NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.Event { guard let ckerror = cloudEvent.error as? CKError else { return } print("Error: \(ckerror.localizedDescription)") if ckerror.code == .partialFailure { guard let errors = ckerror.partialErrorsByItemID else { return } for (_, error) in errors { if let currentError = error as? CKError { print(currentError.localizedDescription) } } } } } // end of sink .store(in: &subscriptions) } }
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1.5k
Aug ’25
SwiftData JSONDataStore with relationships
I am trying to add a custom JSON DataStore and DataStoreConfiguration for SwiftData. Apple kindly provided some sample code in the WWDC24 session, "Create a custom data store with SwiftData", and (once updated for API changes since WWDC) that works fine. However, when I try to add a relationship between two classes, it fails. Has anyone successfully made a JSONDataStore with a relationship? Here's my code; firstly the cleaned up code from the WWDC session: import SwiftData final class JSONStoreConfiguration: DataStoreConfiguration { typealias Store = JSONStore var name: String var schema: Schema? var fileURL: URL init(name: String, schema: Schema? = nil, fileURL: URL) { self.name = name self.schema = schema self.fileURL = fileURL } static func == (lhs: JSONStoreConfiguration, rhs: JSONStoreConfiguration) -> Bool { return lhs.name == rhs.name } func hash(into hasher: inout Hasher) { hasher.combine(name) } } final class JSONStore: DataStore { typealias Configuration = JSONStoreConfiguration typealias Snapshot = DefaultSnapshot var configuration: JSONStoreConfiguration var name: String var schema: Schema var identifier: String init(_ configuration: JSONStoreConfiguration, migrationPlan: (any SchemaMigrationPlan.Type)?) throws { self.configuration = configuration self.name = configuration.name self.schema = configuration.schema! self.identifier = configuration.fileURL.lastPathComponent } func save(_ request: DataStoreSaveChangesRequest<DefaultSnapshot>) throws -> DataStoreSaveChangesResult<DefaultSnapshot> { var remappedIdentifiers = [PersistentIdentifier: PersistentIdentifier]() var serializedData = try read() for snapshot in request.inserted { let permanentIdentifier = try PersistentIdentifier.identifier(for: identifier, entityName: snapshot.persistentIdentifier.entityName, primaryKey: UUID()) let permanentSnapshot = snapshot.copy(persistentIdentifier: permanentIdentifier) serializedData[permanentIdentifier] = permanentSnapshot remappedIdentifiers[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = permanentIdentifier } for snapshot in request.updated { serializedData[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = snapshot } for snapshot in request.deleted { serializedData[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = nil } try write(serializedData) return DataStoreSaveChangesResult<DefaultSnapshot>(for: self.identifier, remappedIdentifiers: remappedIdentifiers) } func fetch<T>(_ request: DataStoreFetchRequest<T>) throws -> DataStoreFetchResult<T, DefaultSnapshot> where T : PersistentModel { if request.descriptor.predicate != nil { throw DataStoreError.preferInMemoryFilter } else if request.descriptor.sortBy.count > 0 { throw DataStoreError.preferInMemorySort } let objs = try read() let snapshots = objs.values.map({ $0 }) return DataStoreFetchResult(descriptor: request.descriptor, fetchedSnapshots: snapshots, relatedSnapshots: objs) } func read() throws -> [PersistentIdentifier : DefaultSnapshot] { if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: configuration.fileURL.path(percentEncoded: false)) { let decoder = JSONDecoder() decoder.dateDecodingStrategy = .iso8601 let data = try decoder.decode([DefaultSnapshot].self, from: try Data(contentsOf: configuration.fileURL)) var result = [PersistentIdentifier: DefaultSnapshot]() data.forEach { s in result[s.persistentIdentifier] = s } return result } else { return [:] } } func write(_ data: [PersistentIdentifier : DefaultSnapshot]) throws { let encoder = JSONEncoder() encoder.dateEncodingStrategy = .iso8601 encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys] let jsonData = try encoder.encode(data.values.map({ $0 })) try jsonData.write(to: configuration.fileURL) } } The data model classes: import SwiftData @Model class Settings { private(set) var version = 1 @Relationship(deleteRule: .cascade) var hack: Hack? = Hack() init() { } } @Model class Hack { var foo = "Foo" var bar = 42 init() { } } Container: lazy var mainContainer: ModelContainer = { do { let url = // URL to file let configuration = JSONStoreConfiguration(name: "Settings", schema: Schema([Settings.self, Hack.self]), fileURL: url) return try ModelContainer(for: Settings.self, Hack.self, configurations: configuration) } catch { fatalError("Container error: \(error.localizedDescription)") } }() Load function, that saves a new Settings JSON file if there isn't an existing one: @MainActor func loadSettings() { let mainContext = mainContainer.mainContext let descriptor = FetchDescriptor<Settings>() let settingsArray = try? mainContext.fetch(descriptor) print("\(settingsArray?.count ?? 0) settings found") if let settingsArray, let settings = settingsArray.last { print("Loaded") } else { let settings = Settings() mainContext.insert(settings) do { try mainContext.save() } catch { print("Error saving settings: \(error)") } } } The save operation creates a JSON file, which while it isn't a format I would choose, is acceptable, though I notice that the "hack" property (the relationship) doesn't have the correct identifier. When I run the app again to load the data, I get an error (that there wasn't room to include in this post). Even if I change Apple's code to not assign a new identifier, so the relationship property and its pointee have the same identifier, it still doesn't load. Am I doing something obviously wrong, or are relationships not supported in custom data stores?
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767
Apr ’25
SwiftData with CloudKit Sync Issue
I am using SwiftData with CloudKit to synchronize data across multiple devices, and I have encountered an issue: occasionally, abnormal sync behavior occurs between two devices (it does not happen 100% of the time—only some users have reported this problem). It seems as if synchronization between the two devices completely stops; no matter what operations are performed on one end, the other end shows no response. After investigating, I suspect the issue might be caused by both devices simultaneously modifying the same field, which could lead to CloudKit's logic being unable to handle such conflicts and causing the sync to stall. Are there any methods to avoid or resolve this situation? Of course, I’m not entirely sure if this is the root cause. Has anyone encountered a similar issue?
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Jan ’26
CKSyncEngine save existing CKRecord
I have transitioned to CKSyncEngine for syncing data to iCloud, and it is working quite well. I have a question regarding best practices for modifying and saving a CKRecord which already exists in the private or shared database. In my current app, most CKRecords will never be modified after saving to the database, so I do not persist a received record locally after updating my local data model. In the rare event that the local data for that record is modified, I manually fetch the associated server record from the database, modify it, and then use CKSyncEngine to save the modified record. As an alternative method, I can create a new CKRecord locally with the corresponding recordID and the modified data, and then use CKSyncEngine to attempt to save that record to the database. Doing so generates an error in the delegate method handleSentRecordZoneChanges, where I receive the local record I tried to save back inevent.failedRecordSaves with a .serverRecordChanged error, along with the corresponding server CKRecord. I can then update that server record with the local data and re-save using CKSyncEngine. I have not yet seen any issues when doing it this way. The advantage of the latter method is that CKSyncEngine handles the entire database operation, eliminating the manual fetch step. My question is: is this an acceptable practice, or could this result in other unforeseen issues?
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115
Apr ’25
Safari App Extension fails to connect to CloudKit daemon (cloudd) with XPC communication errors -- CKErrorDomain Code=6 / NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 – Unable to connect to CloudKit daemon
I'm working on a macOS app with a Safari web extension. I'm trying to share a SwiftData model between devices using CloudKit synchronization. I am able to get synchronization in the main app on the same device, CloudKit sync works correctly — changes appear in the CloudKit Dashboard under com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone. However, in the Safari App Extension, data is saved locally and persists across launches, but never syncs to CloudKit. I have followed the recommended practices for configuring the App Group and entitlements, but the issue persists. Questions: Is there an official limitation preventing Safari App Extensions from connecting to the CloudKit daemon (cloudd)? If not, what entitlements or configuration changes are required for a Safari App Extension to successfully sync with CloudKit? Is the xpc_error=159 from bootstrap_look_up() a known sandbox restriction for this extension type? Any guidance from Apple engineers or others who have successfully used CloudKit from a Safari App Extension would be appreciated. What I’ve confirmed: The extension’s .entitlements includes: com.apple.security.app-sandbox com.apple.developer.icloud-services CloudKit com.apple.developer.icloud-container-identifiers iCloud.dev.example.myapp Same iCloud container ID for both app and extension CloudKit container exists and is initialized in CloudKit Console Running in :Sandbox environment during development Database name in SwiftData matches container identifier (without the iCloud. prefix) The extension’s codesign output shows correct entitlements App Group is configured (although in this case, extension and app use separate stores intentionally) Observed behavior in Console.app logs: CloudKit sync engine initializes in the extension XPC activities are registered for import/export: _xpc_activity_register: com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.activity.export. xpc_activity_set_criteria: ... import. Then a bootstrap lookup fails: failed to do a bootstrap look-up: xpc_error=[159: Unknown error: 159] CloudKit daemon connection error: CKErrorDomain Code=6 "Error connecting to CloudKit daemon" NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 There is no “Will attempt to upload transactions” or “Upload succeeded” logs are ever seen. Symptoms When the extension is run, I see logs like the following in Console.app: [0x13e215820] failed to do a bootstrap look-up: xpc_error=[159: Unknown error: 159] CoreData+CloudKit: -[PFCloudKitSetupAssistant _checkAccountStatus:]_block_invoke(342): Fetched account info for store : (null) Error Domain=CKErrorDomain Code=6 "Error connecting to CloudKit daemon. This could happen for many reasons..."
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Aug ’25
How to import large data from Server and save it to Swift Data
Here’s the situation: • You’re downloading a huge list of data from iCloud. • You’re saving it one by one (sequentially) into SwiftData. • You don’t want the SwiftUI view to refresh until all the data is imported. • After all the import is finished, SwiftUI should show the new data. The Problem If you insert into the same ModelContext that SwiftUI’s @Environment(.modelContext) is watching, each insert may cause SwiftUI to start reloading immediately. That will make the UI feel slow, and glitchy, because SwiftUI will keep trying to re-render while you’re still importing. How to achieve this in Swift Data ?
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147
Apr ’25
SwiftData public sharing
I have an Apple app that uses SwiftData and icloud to sync the App's data across users' devices. Everything is working well. However, I am facing the following issue: SwiftData does not support public sharing of the object graph with other users via iCloud. How can I overcome this limitation without stopping using SwiftData? Thanks in advance!
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730
Jun ’25
Extreme increase in app storage size after enabling CloudKit
I have a SwiftData flashcard app which I am syncing with CloudKit using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer. While syncing itself is working perfectly, I have noticed a dramatic increase in the app size after enabling sync. Specifically, without CloudKit, 15k flashcards results in the default.store file being about 4.5 MB. With CloudKit, default.store is about 67 MB. I have inspected the store and found that most of this increase is due to the ANSCKRECORDMETADATA table. My question is, does implementing CloudKit normally cause this magnitude of increase in storage? If it doesn’t, is there something in my model, schema, implementation, etc. that could be causing it? Below are two other posts describing a similar issue, but neither with a solution. I replied to the first one about a month ago. I then submitted this to Developer Technical Support, but was asked to post my question in the forums, so here it is. Strange behavior with 100k+ records in NSPersistentCloudKitContainer Huge increase in sqlite file size after adopting CloudKit
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Jan ’26
Is a 3-way merge possible when resolving CloudKit conflicts?
I'm trying to handle the serverRecordChanged return code you get in CKError when you have a conflict and your using the savePolicy of ifServerRecordUnchanged. According to the CKError.Code.serverRecordChanged documentation, I should be receiving all three records that I need to do a 3-way merge. The problem is that the ancestorRecord (CKRecordChangedErrorAncestorRecordKey can also be used to look it up in the userInfo) doesn't actually contain a record. It only contains the record metadata. Is there something I need to be doing to get the full ancestorRecord in the CKError? If not is it possible to query iCloud for the ancestorRecord? Given that iCloud has the change history (as I understand it), then it is theoretically possible. I just don't know how to do it if it is possible. Are 3-way merges even possible? The design of the serverRecordChanged looks like that is the intent, but I can't see how to do it with the data that CloudKit is providing.
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858
Oct ’25
How to get PersistentIdentifier from a model created in a transaction?
I have a ModelActor that creates a hierarchy of models and returns a PersistentIdentifier for the root. I'd like to do that in a transaction, but I don't know of a good method of getting that identifier if the models are created in a transaction. For instance, an overly simple example: func createItem(timestamp: Date) throws -> PersistentIdentifier { try modelContext.transaction { let item = Item(timestamp: timestamp) modelContext.insert(item) } // how to return item.persistentModelID? } I can't return the item.persistentModelID from the transaction closure and even if I could, it will be a temporary ID until after the transaction is executed. I can't create the Item outside the transaction and just have the transaction do an insert because swift will raise a data race error if you then try to return item.persistentModelID. Is there any way to do this besides a modelContext.fetch* with separate unique identifiers?
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Aug ’25
Core Data complaining about store being opened without persistent history tracking... but I don't think that it has been
Since running on iOS 14b1, I'm getting this in my log (I have Core Data logging enabled): error: Store opened without NSPersistentHistoryTrackingKey but previously had been opened with NSPersistentHistoryTrackingKey - Forcing into Read Only mode store at 'file:///private/var/mobile/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/415B75A6-92C3-45FE-BE13-7D48D35909AF/StoreFile.sqlite' As far as I can tell, it's impossible to open my store without that key set - it's in the init() of my NSPersistentContainer subclass, before anyone calls it to load stores. Any ideas?
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1.2k
May ’25
Why is CKModifyRecordsOperation to batch delete records in CloudKit not deleting records?
My Code: let op = CKModifyRecordsOperation(recordIDsToDelete:recordIDsToDelete) op.modifyRecordsCompletionBlock = { _, deleteRecordIDs, error in if error == nil { print("successful delete deleteRecordIDS = \(deleteRecordIDs)") } else { print("delete error = \(error?.localizedDescription)") } } op.database = CKContainer.default().privateCloudDatabase op.qualityOfService = .userInitiated CKContainer.default().privateCloudDatabase.add(op) My problem is that CKRecord are not deleted once I reinstall the app: when I reinstall the app and try to delete a CloudKit record, the method is executed successfully (error is nil) but the records are still in CloudKit Dashboards.
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Aug ’25
How is Record Zone Sharing done?
My use case is the following: Every user of my app can create as an owner a set of items.  These items are private until the owner invites other users to share all of them as participant. The participants can modify the shared items and/or add other items. So, sharing is not done related to individual items, but to all items of an owner. I want to use CoreData & CloudKit to have local copies of private and shared items. To my understanding, CoreData & CloudKit puts all mirrored items in a special zone „com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone“. So, this zone should be shared, i.e. all items in it. In the video it is said that NSPersistentCloudKitContainer uses Record Zone Sharing optionally in contrast to hierarchically record sharing using a root record. But how is this done? Maybe I can declare zone „com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone“ as a shared zone?
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1.1k
Apr ’25
Core Data initialization causes app to deadlock on startup
Users have been reporting that the TestFlight version of my app (compiled with Xcode 26 Beta 6 17A5305f) is sometimes crashing on startup. Upon investigating their ips files, it looks like Core Data is locking up internally during its initialization, resulting in iOS killing my app. I have not recently changed my Core Data initialization logic, and it's unclear how I should proceed. Is this a known issue? Any recommended workaround? I have attached the crash stack below. Thanks! crash_log.txt
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Sep ’25
Cannot create new CloudKit container after deleting all containers - need help
I accidentally deleted all CloudKit containers from the CloudKit Database console, and now I'm unable to create new containers. Both the CloudKit Console website and Xcode are not allowing me to create any new containers. Is there a way to restore the deleted containers? How can I create a new CloudKit container if the console website is not responding? Thank you.
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1w
Help Rescuing SwiftData Schema with Non-Optional Transformables
I currently have a schema in production (cloudKit and local files) containing non-optional transformable values, e.g. @Attribute(.transformable(by: TestTransformer.self)) var number: TestTransformable = TestTransformable.init(value: 100) Unfortunately, this is preventing any migration from succeeding (documented at length in FB22151570). Briefly summarized, any migration from a Schema containing non-optional transformable values fails between willMigrate and didMigrate with the error "Can't find model for source store". This occurs for all migrations, including lightweight with a migration plan, lightweight without a plan, and custom migrations. Worst of all, this also prevents migration to optional transformable values, or the elimination of the transformable value entirely, leaving us completely stuck. (note: optional transformable values only work when they have a default value set to nil, otherwise even these have issues migrating) We already have features being blocked by this issue, and would like to preserve user-data while restoring our ability to move forwards with database. Are there any known workarounds for using SwiftData (+CloudKit) when schema migration is non-operational?
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NSPersistentCloudKitContainer - Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864
The NSPersistentCloudKitContainer synchronization between core data and iCloud was working fine with phone 15.1. Connected a new iPhone iOS 15.5, it gives error: CoreData: debug: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate managedObjectContextSaved:](2504): <NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate: 0x28198c000>: Observed context save: <NSPersistentStoreCoordinator: 0x2809c9420> - <NSManagedObjectContext: 0x2819ad520> 2022-12-05 13:32:28.377000-0600 r2nr[340:6373] [error] error: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate _importFinishedWithResult:importer:](1245): <PFCloudKitImporter: 0x2837dd740>: Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864 "*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)} CoreData: error: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate _importFinishedWithResult:importer:](1245): <PFCloudKitImporter: 0x2837dd740>: Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864 "*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)} I go back and try with my old iPhone iOS 15.1, gives same error.
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1.1k
Aug ’25
Core Data: lightweight migration
Hi everyone, I’m working on an offline-first iOS app using Core Data. I have a question about safe future updates: in my project, I want to be able to add new optional fields to existing Entities or even completely new Entities in future versions — but nothing else (no renaming, deleting, or type changes). Here’s how my current PersistenceController looks: import CoreData struct PersistenceController { static let shared = PersistenceController() let container: NSPersistentContainer init(inMemory: Bool = false) { container = NSPersistentContainer(name: "MyApp") if inMemory { container.persistentStoreDescriptions.first!.url = URL(fileURLWithPath: "/dev/null") } container.loadPersistentStores(completionHandler: { (storeDescription, error) in if let error = error as NSError? { print("Core Data failed to load store: \(error), \(error.userInfo)") } }) container.viewContext.automaticallyMergesChangesFromParent = true } } Do I need to explicitly set these properties to ensure lightweight migration works? shouldMigrateStoreAutomatically = true shouldInferMappingModelAutomatically = true Or, according to the documentation, are they already true by default, so I can safely add optional fields and new Entities in future versions without breaking users’ existing data? Thanks in advance for your guidance!
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223
Activity
Jan ’26
CloudKit: how to handle CKError partialFailure when using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer?
I'm using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer with Core Data and I receive errors because my iCloud space is full. The errors printed are the following: <CKError 0x280df8e40: "Quota Exceeded" (25/2035); server message = "Quota exceeded"; op = 61846C533467A5DF; uuid = 6A144513-033F-42C2-9E27-693548EF2150; Retry after 342.0 seconds>. I want to inform the user about this issue, but I can't find a way to access the details of the error. I'm listening to NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventChangedNotification, I receive a error of type .partialFailure. But when I want to access the underlying errors, the partialErrorsByItemID property on the error is nil. How can I access this Quota Exceeded error? import Foundation import CloudKit import Combine import CoreData class SyncMonitor { fileprivate var subscriptions = Set<AnyCancellable>() init() { NotificationCenter.default.publisher(for: NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventChangedNotification) .sink { notification in if let cloudEvent = notification.userInfo?[NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.eventNotificationUserInfoKey] as? NSPersistentCloudKitContainer.Event { guard let ckerror = cloudEvent.error as? CKError else { return } print("Error: \(ckerror.localizedDescription)") if ckerror.code == .partialFailure { guard let errors = ckerror.partialErrorsByItemID else { return } for (_, error) in errors { if let currentError = error as? CKError { print(currentError.localizedDescription) } } } } } // end of sink .store(in: &subscriptions) } }
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2
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1.5k
Activity
Aug ’25
SwiftData JSONDataStore with relationships
I am trying to add a custom JSON DataStore and DataStoreConfiguration for SwiftData. Apple kindly provided some sample code in the WWDC24 session, "Create a custom data store with SwiftData", and (once updated for API changes since WWDC) that works fine. However, when I try to add a relationship between two classes, it fails. Has anyone successfully made a JSONDataStore with a relationship? Here's my code; firstly the cleaned up code from the WWDC session: import SwiftData final class JSONStoreConfiguration: DataStoreConfiguration { typealias Store = JSONStore var name: String var schema: Schema? var fileURL: URL init(name: String, schema: Schema? = nil, fileURL: URL) { self.name = name self.schema = schema self.fileURL = fileURL } static func == (lhs: JSONStoreConfiguration, rhs: JSONStoreConfiguration) -> Bool { return lhs.name == rhs.name } func hash(into hasher: inout Hasher) { hasher.combine(name) } } final class JSONStore: DataStore { typealias Configuration = JSONStoreConfiguration typealias Snapshot = DefaultSnapshot var configuration: JSONStoreConfiguration var name: String var schema: Schema var identifier: String init(_ configuration: JSONStoreConfiguration, migrationPlan: (any SchemaMigrationPlan.Type)?) throws { self.configuration = configuration self.name = configuration.name self.schema = configuration.schema! self.identifier = configuration.fileURL.lastPathComponent } func save(_ request: DataStoreSaveChangesRequest<DefaultSnapshot>) throws -> DataStoreSaveChangesResult<DefaultSnapshot> { var remappedIdentifiers = [PersistentIdentifier: PersistentIdentifier]() var serializedData = try read() for snapshot in request.inserted { let permanentIdentifier = try PersistentIdentifier.identifier(for: identifier, entityName: snapshot.persistentIdentifier.entityName, primaryKey: UUID()) let permanentSnapshot = snapshot.copy(persistentIdentifier: permanentIdentifier) serializedData[permanentIdentifier] = permanentSnapshot remappedIdentifiers[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = permanentIdentifier } for snapshot in request.updated { serializedData[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = snapshot } for snapshot in request.deleted { serializedData[snapshot.persistentIdentifier] = nil } try write(serializedData) return DataStoreSaveChangesResult<DefaultSnapshot>(for: self.identifier, remappedIdentifiers: remappedIdentifiers) } func fetch<T>(_ request: DataStoreFetchRequest<T>) throws -> DataStoreFetchResult<T, DefaultSnapshot> where T : PersistentModel { if request.descriptor.predicate != nil { throw DataStoreError.preferInMemoryFilter } else if request.descriptor.sortBy.count > 0 { throw DataStoreError.preferInMemorySort } let objs = try read() let snapshots = objs.values.map({ $0 }) return DataStoreFetchResult(descriptor: request.descriptor, fetchedSnapshots: snapshots, relatedSnapshots: objs) } func read() throws -> [PersistentIdentifier : DefaultSnapshot] { if FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: configuration.fileURL.path(percentEncoded: false)) { let decoder = JSONDecoder() decoder.dateDecodingStrategy = .iso8601 let data = try decoder.decode([DefaultSnapshot].self, from: try Data(contentsOf: configuration.fileURL)) var result = [PersistentIdentifier: DefaultSnapshot]() data.forEach { s in result[s.persistentIdentifier] = s } return result } else { return [:] } } func write(_ data: [PersistentIdentifier : DefaultSnapshot]) throws { let encoder = JSONEncoder() encoder.dateEncodingStrategy = .iso8601 encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys] let jsonData = try encoder.encode(data.values.map({ $0 })) try jsonData.write(to: configuration.fileURL) } } The data model classes: import SwiftData @Model class Settings { private(set) var version = 1 @Relationship(deleteRule: .cascade) var hack: Hack? = Hack() init() { } } @Model class Hack { var foo = "Foo" var bar = 42 init() { } } Container: lazy var mainContainer: ModelContainer = { do { let url = // URL to file let configuration = JSONStoreConfiguration(name: "Settings", schema: Schema([Settings.self, Hack.self]), fileURL: url) return try ModelContainer(for: Settings.self, Hack.self, configurations: configuration) } catch { fatalError("Container error: \(error.localizedDescription)") } }() Load function, that saves a new Settings JSON file if there isn't an existing one: @MainActor func loadSettings() { let mainContext = mainContainer.mainContext let descriptor = FetchDescriptor<Settings>() let settingsArray = try? mainContext.fetch(descriptor) print("\(settingsArray?.count ?? 0) settings found") if let settingsArray, let settings = settingsArray.last { print("Loaded") } else { let settings = Settings() mainContext.insert(settings) do { try mainContext.save() } catch { print("Error saving settings: \(error)") } } } The save operation creates a JSON file, which while it isn't a format I would choose, is acceptable, though I notice that the "hack" property (the relationship) doesn't have the correct identifier. When I run the app again to load the data, I get an error (that there wasn't room to include in this post). Even if I change Apple's code to not assign a new identifier, so the relationship property and its pointee have the same identifier, it still doesn't load. Am I doing something obviously wrong, or are relationships not supported in custom data stores?
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2
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767
Activity
Apr ’25
SwiftData with CloudKit Sync Issue
I am using SwiftData with CloudKit to synchronize data across multiple devices, and I have encountered an issue: occasionally, abnormal sync behavior occurs between two devices (it does not happen 100% of the time—only some users have reported this problem). It seems as if synchronization between the two devices completely stops; no matter what operations are performed on one end, the other end shows no response. After investigating, I suspect the issue might be caused by both devices simultaneously modifying the same field, which could lead to CloudKit's logic being unable to handle such conflicts and causing the sync to stall. Are there any methods to avoid or resolve this situation? Of course, I’m not entirely sure if this is the root cause. Has anyone encountered a similar issue?
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2
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294
Activity
Jan ’26
SwiftData
Is there a way to view the data saved when using swiftdata? Even after deleting all models, the storage space taken up by the app in Settings is too large.
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2
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0
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744
Activity
Dec ’25
CKSyncEngine save existing CKRecord
I have transitioned to CKSyncEngine for syncing data to iCloud, and it is working quite well. I have a question regarding best practices for modifying and saving a CKRecord which already exists in the private or shared database. In my current app, most CKRecords will never be modified after saving to the database, so I do not persist a received record locally after updating my local data model. In the rare event that the local data for that record is modified, I manually fetch the associated server record from the database, modify it, and then use CKSyncEngine to save the modified record. As an alternative method, I can create a new CKRecord locally with the corresponding recordID and the modified data, and then use CKSyncEngine to attempt to save that record to the database. Doing so generates an error in the delegate method handleSentRecordZoneChanges, where I receive the local record I tried to save back inevent.failedRecordSaves with a .serverRecordChanged error, along with the corresponding server CKRecord. I can then update that server record with the local data and re-save using CKSyncEngine. I have not yet seen any issues when doing it this way. The advantage of the latter method is that CKSyncEngine handles the entire database operation, eliminating the manual fetch step. My question is: is this an acceptable practice, or could this result in other unforeseen issues?
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2
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115
Activity
Apr ’25
Safari App Extension fails to connect to CloudKit daemon (cloudd) with XPC communication errors -- CKErrorDomain Code=6 / NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 – Unable to connect to CloudKit daemon
I'm working on a macOS app with a Safari web extension. I'm trying to share a SwiftData model between devices using CloudKit synchronization. I am able to get synchronization in the main app on the same device, CloudKit sync works correctly — changes appear in the CloudKit Dashboard under com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone. However, in the Safari App Extension, data is saved locally and persists across launches, but never syncs to CloudKit. I have followed the recommended practices for configuring the App Group and entitlements, but the issue persists. Questions: Is there an official limitation preventing Safari App Extensions from connecting to the CloudKit daemon (cloudd)? If not, what entitlements or configuration changes are required for a Safari App Extension to successfully sync with CloudKit? Is the xpc_error=159 from bootstrap_look_up() a known sandbox restriction for this extension type? Any guidance from Apple engineers or others who have successfully used CloudKit from a Safari App Extension would be appreciated. What I’ve confirmed: The extension’s .entitlements includes: com.apple.security.app-sandbox com.apple.developer.icloud-services CloudKit com.apple.developer.icloud-container-identifiers iCloud.dev.example.myapp Same iCloud container ID for both app and extension CloudKit container exists and is initialized in CloudKit Console Running in :Sandbox environment during development Database name in SwiftData matches container identifier (without the iCloud. prefix) The extension’s codesign output shows correct entitlements App Group is configured (although in this case, extension and app use separate stores intentionally) Observed behavior in Console.app logs: CloudKit sync engine initializes in the extension XPC activities are registered for import/export: _xpc_activity_register: com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.activity.export. xpc_activity_set_criteria: ... import. Then a bootstrap lookup fails: failed to do a bootstrap look-up: xpc_error=[159: Unknown error: 159] CloudKit daemon connection error: CKErrorDomain Code=6 "Error connecting to CloudKit daemon" NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 There is no “Will attempt to upload transactions” or “Upload succeeded” logs are ever seen. Symptoms When the extension is run, I see logs like the following in Console.app: [0x13e215820] failed to do a bootstrap look-up: xpc_error=[159: Unknown error: 159] CoreData+CloudKit: -[PFCloudKitSetupAssistant _checkAccountStatus:]_block_invoke(342): Fetched account info for store : (null) Error Domain=CKErrorDomain Code=6 "Error connecting to CloudKit daemon. This could happen for many reasons..."
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2
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0
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146
Activity
Aug ’25
How to import large data from Server and save it to Swift Data
Here’s the situation: • You’re downloading a huge list of data from iCloud. • You’re saving it one by one (sequentially) into SwiftData. • You don’t want the SwiftUI view to refresh until all the data is imported. • After all the import is finished, SwiftUI should show the new data. The Problem If you insert into the same ModelContext that SwiftUI’s @Environment(.modelContext) is watching, each insert may cause SwiftUI to start reloading immediately. That will make the UI feel slow, and glitchy, because SwiftUI will keep trying to re-render while you’re still importing. How to achieve this in Swift Data ?
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2
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0
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147
Activity
Apr ’25
icloud imap lsub not following rfc 3501
LSUB always returns all the subscribed folders. For example lsub "" "test/*" returns a list of all the folders and not just subscribed folders that are subfolders of test. I.e, it returns the same folder list as lsub "" "*". For more details please see https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1817707#c15
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2
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0
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126
Activity
Aug ’25
SwiftData public sharing
I have an Apple app that uses SwiftData and icloud to sync the App's data across users' devices. Everything is working well. However, I am facing the following issue: SwiftData does not support public sharing of the object graph with other users via iCloud. How can I overcome this limitation without stopping using SwiftData? Thanks in advance!
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2
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7
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730
Activity
Jun ’25
Extreme increase in app storage size after enabling CloudKit
I have a SwiftData flashcard app which I am syncing with CloudKit using NSPersistentCloudKitContainer. While syncing itself is working perfectly, I have noticed a dramatic increase in the app size after enabling sync. Specifically, without CloudKit, 15k flashcards results in the default.store file being about 4.5 MB. With CloudKit, default.store is about 67 MB. I have inspected the store and found that most of this increase is due to the ANSCKRECORDMETADATA table. My question is, does implementing CloudKit normally cause this magnitude of increase in storage? If it doesn’t, is there something in my model, schema, implementation, etc. that could be causing it? Below are two other posts describing a similar issue, but neither with a solution. I replied to the first one about a month ago. I then submitted this to Developer Technical Support, but was asked to post my question in the forums, so here it is. Strange behavior with 100k+ records in NSPersistentCloudKitContainer Huge increase in sqlite file size after adopting CloudKit
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2
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0
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202
Activity
Jan ’26
Is a 3-way merge possible when resolving CloudKit conflicts?
I'm trying to handle the serverRecordChanged return code you get in CKError when you have a conflict and your using the savePolicy of ifServerRecordUnchanged. According to the CKError.Code.serverRecordChanged documentation, I should be receiving all three records that I need to do a 3-way merge. The problem is that the ancestorRecord (CKRecordChangedErrorAncestorRecordKey can also be used to look it up in the userInfo) doesn't actually contain a record. It only contains the record metadata. Is there something I need to be doing to get the full ancestorRecord in the CKError? If not is it possible to query iCloud for the ancestorRecord? Given that iCloud has the change history (as I understand it), then it is theoretically possible. I just don't know how to do it if it is possible. Are 3-way merges even possible? The design of the serverRecordChanged looks like that is the intent, but I can't see how to do it with the data that CloudKit is providing.
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2
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2
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858
Activity
Oct ’25
How to get PersistentIdentifier from a model created in a transaction?
I have a ModelActor that creates a hierarchy of models and returns a PersistentIdentifier for the root. I'd like to do that in a transaction, but I don't know of a good method of getting that identifier if the models are created in a transaction. For instance, an overly simple example: func createItem(timestamp: Date) throws -> PersistentIdentifier { try modelContext.transaction { let item = Item(timestamp: timestamp) modelContext.insert(item) } // how to return item.persistentModelID? } I can't return the item.persistentModelID from the transaction closure and even if I could, it will be a temporary ID until after the transaction is executed. I can't create the Item outside the transaction and just have the transaction do an insert because swift will raise a data race error if you then try to return item.persistentModelID. Is there any way to do this besides a modelContext.fetch* with separate unique identifiers?
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2
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247
Activity
Aug ’25
Core Data complaining about store being opened without persistent history tracking... but I don't think that it has been
Since running on iOS 14b1, I'm getting this in my log (I have Core Data logging enabled): error: Store opened without NSPersistentHistoryTrackingKey but previously had been opened with NSPersistentHistoryTrackingKey - Forcing into Read Only mode store at 'file:///private/var/mobile/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/415B75A6-92C3-45FE-BE13-7D48D35909AF/StoreFile.sqlite' As far as I can tell, it's impossible to open my store without that key set - it's in the init() of my NSPersistentContainer subclass, before anyone calls it to load stores. Any ideas?
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2
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0
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1.2k
Activity
May ’25
Why is CKModifyRecordsOperation to batch delete records in CloudKit not deleting records?
My Code: let op = CKModifyRecordsOperation(recordIDsToDelete:recordIDsToDelete) op.modifyRecordsCompletionBlock = { _, deleteRecordIDs, error in if error == nil { print("successful delete deleteRecordIDS = \(deleteRecordIDs)") } else { print("delete error = \(error?.localizedDescription)") } } op.database = CKContainer.default().privateCloudDatabase op.qualityOfService = .userInitiated CKContainer.default().privateCloudDatabase.add(op) My problem is that CKRecord are not deleted once I reinstall the app: when I reinstall the app and try to delete a CloudKit record, the method is executed successfully (error is nil) but the records are still in CloudKit Dashboards.
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2
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0
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240
Activity
Aug ’25
How is Record Zone Sharing done?
My use case is the following: Every user of my app can create as an owner a set of items.  These items are private until the owner invites other users to share all of them as participant. The participants can modify the shared items and/or add other items. So, sharing is not done related to individual items, but to all items of an owner. I want to use CoreData & CloudKit to have local copies of private and shared items. To my understanding, CoreData & CloudKit puts all mirrored items in a special zone „com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone“. So, this zone should be shared, i.e. all items in it. In the video it is said that NSPersistentCloudKitContainer uses Record Zone Sharing optionally in contrast to hierarchically record sharing using a root record. But how is this done? Maybe I can declare zone „com.apple.coredata.cloudkit.zone“ as a shared zone?
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2
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0
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1.1k
Activity
Apr ’25
Core Data initialization causes app to deadlock on startup
Users have been reporting that the TestFlight version of my app (compiled with Xcode 26 Beta 6 17A5305f) is sometimes crashing on startup. Upon investigating their ips files, it looks like Core Data is locking up internally during its initialization, resulting in iOS killing my app. I have not recently changed my Core Data initialization logic, and it's unclear how I should proceed. Is this a known issue? Any recommended workaround? I have attached the crash stack below. Thanks! crash_log.txt
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2
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0
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221
Activity
Sep ’25
Cannot create new CloudKit container after deleting all containers - need help
I accidentally deleted all CloudKit containers from the CloudKit Database console, and now I'm unable to create new containers. Both the CloudKit Console website and Xcode are not allowing me to create any new containers. Is there a way to restore the deleted containers? How can I create a new CloudKit container if the console website is not responding? Thank you.
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2
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0
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81
Activity
1w
Help Rescuing SwiftData Schema with Non-Optional Transformables
I currently have a schema in production (cloudKit and local files) containing non-optional transformable values, e.g. @Attribute(.transformable(by: TestTransformer.self)) var number: TestTransformable = TestTransformable.init(value: 100) Unfortunately, this is preventing any migration from succeeding (documented at length in FB22151570). Briefly summarized, any migration from a Schema containing non-optional transformable values fails between willMigrate and didMigrate with the error "Can't find model for source store". This occurs for all migrations, including lightweight with a migration plan, lightweight without a plan, and custom migrations. Worst of all, this also prevents migration to optional transformable values, or the elimination of the transformable value entirely, leaving us completely stuck. (note: optional transformable values only work when they have a default value set to nil, otherwise even these have issues migrating) We already have features being blocked by this issue, and would like to preserve user-data while restoring our ability to move forwards with database. Are there any known workarounds for using SwiftData (+CloudKit) when schema migration is non-operational?
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2
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0
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117
Activity
1w
NSPersistentCloudKitContainer - Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864
The NSPersistentCloudKitContainer synchronization between core data and iCloud was working fine with phone 15.1. Connected a new iPhone iOS 15.5, it gives error: CoreData: debug: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate managedObjectContextSaved:](2504): <NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate: 0x28198c000>: Observed context save: <NSPersistentStoreCoordinator: 0x2809c9420> - <NSManagedObjectContext: 0x2819ad520> 2022-12-05 13:32:28.377000-0600 r2nr[340:6373] [error] error: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate _importFinishedWithResult:importer:](1245): <PFCloudKitImporter: 0x2837dd740>: Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864 "*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)} CoreData: error: CoreData+CloudKit: -[NSCloudKitMirroringDelegate _importFinishedWithResult:importer:](1245): <PFCloudKitImporter: 0x2837dd740>: Import failed with error: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4864 "*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=*** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver _initForReadingFromData:error:throwLegacyExceptions:]: incomprehensible archive (0x53, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x20, 0x65, 0x78, 0x61)} I go back and try with my old iPhone iOS 15.1, gives same error.
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2
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1
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1.1k
Activity
Aug ’25