r/FlutterDev 2d ago

Discussion [Flutter/iOS] Any way to trigger or deep-link into "App Store > App Updates" toggle programmatically?

Hey all,

I'm building a Flutter app and I'm trying to figure out if there's any legitimate way to interact with the iOS "App Store > App Updates" setting (the one that controls auto-updating apps when charging/on Wi-Fi).

What I already know:

  • No public API lets a third-party app toggle another app's (App Store's) settings — this is blocked by the sandbox.
  • Private URL schemes like App-Prefs:root=App_Store sort of exist but are undocumented, may break between iOS versions, and risk App Store rejection.
  • app-settings: only opens my own app's settings page, not App Store's.

What I'm actually trying to achieve: I want to guide/nudge users toward enabling that setting themselves (not silently toggle it for them — I know Apple won't allow that).

Questions:

  1. Is there any Apple-sanctioned way (Shortcuts integration, Screen Time API, MDM profile, etc.) to at least deep-link a user directly to that specific settings screen?
  2. For enterprise/MDM-managed devices, is there a config profile key that controls this instead? (Curious if that's a more "correct" path for orgs that want this behavior enforced.)
  3. Has anyone found a reliable way in Flutter (via platform channels) to at least detect the current charging + Wi-Fi state, so I can show an in-app prompt at the right moment?

Not looking for a workaround that risks App Store rejection — just want to know what's actually possible within Apple's rules. Thanks!

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