Will ios terminate the app running in background after a specific time?

Question

I am using core location framework inside my application and I set the location string in UIBackgroundMode or Required background modes(in Xcode 4.2) for getting the updated location from didUpdateToLocation method when app is running in background and also sending this updated location to server by hitting the specific link inside didUpdateToLocation method of core location framework.

My question is that will the app be terminated after some time when running in background or not?

Answer 1

No, there is no specific time defined for this.But app will definitely terminate based upon certain parameter - battery drain, memory footprint issue etc.

In developer documentation it is clearly mentioned - "The system keeps suspended apps in memory for as long as possible, removing them only when the amount of free memory gets low. Remaining in memory means that subsequent launches of your app are much faster."

Go through this for complete details - http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#DOCUMENTATION/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/ManagingYourApplicationsFlow/ManagingYourApplicationsFlow.html

Answer 2

I am sure it is not useful for the author because the question was asked in June 2012 and I am giving an answer in June 2019. This answer maybe is useful for other users.

I am posting this answer because Everyone is said that it is OS default behaviour, We can not change it....bla....bla.

Recently, I was working with the same requirement. After 2-3 week hard work, I did it. For other users, I create a helper class for it. My app will never be killed by OS until the location tracking enabled.

You can also verify that OS will never kill this app tracking app

Use HSLocationManager for infinite location tracking in the active and inactive state.

Refer my app which is available in the app store(App will never kill by OS if location tracking is enabled)

Location manager that allows getting background location updates every n seconds with desired location accuracy.

Advantage:

• OS will never kill our app if the location manager is currently running.

• Give periodically location update when it required(range is between 2 - 170 seconds (limited by max allowed background task time))

• Customizable location accuracy and time period.

• Low memory consumption(Singleton class)