registerUserNotificationSettings not showing prompt iOS 8

Question

I can't seem to get a prompt to show for registerUserNotificationSettings in iOS 8.1 or 8.2.

Here is what I'm doing in didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:

  if ([application respondsToSelector:@selector(registerUserNotificationSettings:)]) {
       #ifdef __IPHONE_8_0
        UIUserNotificationSettings *settings = [UIUserNotificationSettings settingsForTypes:(UIUserNotificationTypeAlert
                                                                                             |UIUserNotificationTypeSound | UIUserNotificationTypeBadge) categories:nil];
        NSLog(@"Reg settings %@", settings);
        [application registerUserNotificationSettings:settings];
    #endif
    }

Also getting the correct call back here:

- (void)application:(UIApplication *)application
didRegisterUserNotificationSettings:(UIUserNotificationSettings *)notificationSettings{
    NSLog(@"Did register - %@", notificationSettings);
}

Yet no prompt is ever displayed. What's even more annoying is that an alert will display when the device is locked, but won't give the notification alert sound. Any ideas on a work around?

Answer 1

Update for iOS 11+:

Since iOS 11 Resetting the Push Notifications Permissions Alert on iOS procedure seems not to be necessary anymore. Just un-/reinstall the app.

---

Using your code, I get the prompt on the first app launch, and only on the first launch. But afaik, that's the expected behavior in iOS. At least it's the same for photo library, microphone access etc:

Permissions Prompt Behavior

1. Popup on first usage (or at least the request to use it)
2. Apple adds an entry in settings (e.g. Privacy, or just under Settings for notifications)

First usage

In the Settings App you can configure Notifications for each app

1. Scroll down, select your app
2. Select Notifications
3. Enable/Disable them, or adjust their behavior

Resetting the Push Notifications Permissions Alert on iOS

The first time a push-enabled app registers for push notifications, iOS asks the user if they wish to receive notifications for that app. Once the user has responded to this alert it is not presented again unless the device is restored or the app has been uninstalled for at least a day.

If you want to simulate a first-time run of your app, you can leave the app uninstalled for a day. You can achieve the latter without actually waiting a day by following these steps:

1. Delete your app from the device.
2. Turn the device off completely and turn it back on.
3. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and set the date ahead a day or more.
4. Turn the device off completely again and turn it back on.

Source: https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/technotes/tn2265/_index.html