React native - How to implement iOS Settings

Question

Wondering if someone could help me with this, or at least point me in the right direction.

I've been searching for documentation on how to get/set settings in a React Native iOS app so that those settings appear in the iOS Settings app listed under my app. I see that there is a Settings API, but it appears that the documentation is not complete. The function definitions are listed there, but that's it. No examples or anything.

Can anyone provide me with a simple example, or point me to a tutorial or something that will help me get going? I'm assuming I import Settings from react-native, just like I would do for other APIs, but beyond that I'm not sure where to go.

Thanks.

Answer 1

As stated in React Native documentation :

Settings serves as a wrapper for NSUserDefaults, a persistent key-value store available only on iOS.

If you want to add iOS Settings bundle to your app you can use this.

Answer 2

As per Chris Sheffield's comment, here is what I have succeeded with so far:

1. Add a Settings.bundle to your Xcode project
   • Highlight the project > File > New > File
   • Choose "Settings Bundle" > Next
   • I just left the default name: Settings.bundle
2. Open the Root.plist file inside of the bundle
3. Make changes based on Apple's documentation (version I'm referencing is archived here: https://web.archive.org/...)
   • The important value to keep track of is the item's Identifier
4. Save, compile, and install the app
5. You can now use Settings.get('<identifier>') like either of these:
   • const varName = Settings.get('var_name')
   • const [ varName ] = useState(Settings.get('var_name'));

Notes

I suggest using some method of watching for changes so that your app updates when the user changes settings while it's running, but these are the only parts required.

I also do not suggest since that t letting the user change those specific settings in-app since that goes against the principle of Single Source of Truth, but it's your app, you do what's best for you and your users.