How to prevent music apps from pausing when my app plays audio?

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1

Hey everyone,

I’m working on an app that plays MP3 sounds, but I’ve run into a problem. Whenever I start playing audio in my app, it causes other music apps like Spotify to pause. This is really annoying for users who want to listen to their own music while using my app.

I’m sure there’s a way to fix this, but I can’t figure it out. Does anyone know how to keep other music apps playing in the background while my app’s audio is active? I’ve looked through the documentation and searched online, but I’m still stuck.

Here’s a simple example of what I’m doing now:

import AVFoundation

class AudioPlayer {
    var audioPlayer: AVAudioPlayer?
    
    func playSound() {
        guard let soundURL = Bundle.main.url(forResource: "mySound", withExtension: "mp3") else { return }
        
        do {
            audioPlayer = try AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf: soundURL)
            audioPlayer?.play()
        } catch {
            print("Error playing sound: \(error.localizedDescription)")
        }
    }
}

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

2

I encountered a similar issue in a project I worked on recently. The solution that worked for me was to configure the audio session appropriately. Specifically, you need to set the audio session category to .ambient and include the .mixWithOthers option.

Here’s the code snippet that resolved the problem:

do {
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.ambient, mode: .default, options: [.mixWithOthers])
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
} catch {
    print("Audio session configuration error: \(error)")
}

Place this code before initializing your AVAudioPlayer. This setup allows your app’s audio to coexist with background music from other apps. Remember to import AVFoundation at the top of your file.

One caveat: while this approach works in most cases, it’s always a good idea to test on various devices and iOS versions to ensure consistent behavior across different environments.

3

I’ve been in your shoes, mate. Spent hours banging my head against the wall trying to figure this out for a game I was developing. The trick is in how you set up your AVAudioSession. You want to use the .playback category with the .mixWithOthers option.

Here’s what finally worked for me:

do {
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback, mode: .default, options: [.mixWithOthers, .defaultToSpeaker])
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
} catch {
    print("Audio session setup failed: \(error)")
}

Pop this in before you initialize your AVAudioPlayer. The .defaultToSpeaker option is handy if you want the sound to come out of the speaker even when headphones are plugged in.

One word of caution though - make sure you test this thoroughly. I found that some older iOS versions can be a bit finicky with audio sessions. Good luck with your app!

4

yo, i had the same issue. try this:

import AVFoundation

AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback, mode: .default, options: [.mixWithOthers])

put that before u play ur sound. it lets ur audio mix with other apps. worked 4 me, hope it helps u too!

5

I’ve dealt with this exact issue in one of my apps. The key is to use the AVAudioSession correctly. You need to set the audio session category to ‘ambient’ or ‘playback’ with the ‘mixWithOthers’ option. This tells iOS that your audio should coexist with other audio.

Here’s what worked for me:

do {
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.ambient, mode: .default, options: [.mixWithOthers])
    try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
} catch {
    print("Failed to set audio session category: \(error)")
}

Add this code before you initialize your AVAudioPlayer. It should allow your app’s audio to play without interrupting background music. Just remember to test thoroughly, as audio behavior can sometimes vary between devices and iOS versions.

Hope this helps you out! Let me know if you run into any other issues.