How to export shared container of an iOS App with Xcode6.2?

Question

In our iOS app we utilize a shared container to share files between our main iOS app and its extension (specifically WatchKit Extension), using [NSFileManager containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:] method. For debugging purposes we need to access the content of this shared container, so we've tried to export the whole App container using the Devices window in Xcode:

But, the Shared storage is not included in the container, probably because it sits in a different path on the Device itself.

The question is how can we get the shared container, if this is even possible?

Answer 1

I've been told by Xcode team members at WWDC that this is not possible (at time of writing, Xcode 7.3 & 8 beta 1). I've filed a radar, which I recommend everyone dupe or comment on so we can get this functionality.

Answer 2

For Swift 4 - 5 add this to applicationDidEnterBackground(_ application: UIApplication)

var appGroupIdentifier = "XXXXXXX"
let fromURL = FileManager.default.containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: appGroupIdentifier)
let docURL = try! FileManager.default.url(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask, appropriateFor: nil, create: false)
let toURL = docURL.appendingPathComponent(appGroupIdentifier)
try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: toURL)
try? FileManager.default.copyItem(at: fromURL, to: toURL)

Then download the app container using xcode.