Extension question -

Reality_Bytes · January 18, 2026, 3:26pm

I'm using your "copy to clipboard" extension currently -
right now, I am reworking a version of my app for iOS - do you have a version of this extension that works for iOS?

Taifun · January 18, 2026, 3:47pm

Taifun · January 18, 2026, 3:49pm

You can't use extensions in iOS
If you can't do something with available blocks then it is not possible to do it currently in iOS

Taifun

Reality_Bytes · January 18, 2026, 3:52pm

ah, thanks for the heads up.

does that include the BLE extension?

(I have been trying to get a straight answer on this for awhile now)

Taifun · January 18, 2026, 4:51pm

Yes
However see again this thread

Taifun

SteveJG · January 18, 2026, 4:54pm

Yes, BLE is an extension only for Android at present.

Peter · January 18, 2026, 5:20pm

Didn't see the message from @taifun before posting this.

I can not test it, but I know the MicroBlocks extension is implemented in the iOS version.

github.com

mit-cml/appinventor-sources/blob/master/appinventor/components-ios/src/MicroBlocks.swift

// -*- mode: swift; swift-mode:basic-offset: 2; -*-
// Copyright 2025 MIT, All rights reserved
// Released under the Apache License, Version 2.0
// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

import Foundation

let MB_SERVICE_UUID = "BB37A001-B922-4018-8E74-E14824B3A638"
let MB_UUID_RX = "BB37A002-B922-4018-8E74-E14824B3A638"
let MB_UUID_TX = "BB37A003-B922-4018-8E74-E14824B3A638"

@objc public class MicroBlocks: NonvisibleComponent, BluetoothConnectionListener {
  private var bleDevice: BluetoothLE? = nil

  @objc public override init(_ container: ComponentContainer) {
    super.init(container)
  }

  @objc public func Connect(_ bleExtension: BluetoothLE?, _ name: String) {
    bleDevice?.removeConnectionListener(self)

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Implement MicroBlocks extension for iOS

github.com

mit-cml/appinventor-sources/blob/master/appinventor/components-ios/src/BluetoothLE.swift

// -*- mode: swift; swift-mode:basic-offset: 2; -*-
// Copyright © 2022-2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, All rights reserved.

import Foundation
import CoreBluetooth

/**
 * The error code to report when a given BLE operation is not supported.
 */
fileprivate let ERROR_OPERATION_NOT_SUPPORTED = 9012

/**
 * The error code to report when an error occurs reading a BLE characteristic.
 */
fileprivate let ERROR_BLE_READ_ERROR = 9013

/**
 * The `BluetoothConnectionListener` protocol defines a means by which other components can
 * receive information about a `BluetoothLE` instance's connection status.
 */

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Implement some BLE and Micro:bit support for iOS

github.com

mit-cml/appinventor-sources/blob/master/appinventor/components-ios/src/Microbit_Uart_Simple.swift

// -*- mode: swift; swift-mode:basic-offset: 2; -*-
// Copyright © 2022-2024 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. All rights reserved.

import Foundation
import CoreBluetooth

fileprivate let kMicrobitUartService = "6E400001-B5A3-F393-E0A9-E50E24DCCA9E"
fileprivate let kMicrobitTxCharacteristic = "6E400002-B5A3-F393-E0A9-E50E24DCCA9E"
fileprivate let kMicrobitRxCharacteristic = "6E400003-B5A3-F393-E0A9-E50E24DCCA9E"

/**
 * The `Microbit_Uart_Simple` component implments the UART protocol for the BBC micro:bit.
 */
@objc public class Microbit_Uart_Simple : NonvisibleComponent, BluetoothConnectionListener, BleDevice {

  private unowned var bleConnection: BluetoothLE? = nil

  @objc public override init(_ container: ComponentContainer) {
    super.init(container)
  }

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Reality_Bytes · January 18, 2026, 5:23pm

running it, but I'm not sure how that plays into getting onto the actual app store with something I create utilizing the BLE extension.

Peter · January 18, 2026, 5:24pm

I see Evan answered on the 4th of January.

Reality_Bytes · January 18, 2026, 5:32pm

He did, but perhaps I dont understand the answer -
If I convert this app over to BLE, when I go to try and put this on the apple app store, will it be allowed on?

I have a lot of folks telling me extensions wont work for apple, I'm largely around all those issues aside from the BLE extension right now (and I have to do a lot of work yet to "find out the hard way" - so, preferably I know beforehand if its worth the work)

Reality_Bytes · January 18, 2026, 6:12pm

you can see my "yes, but no, but yes" conundrum here - including right in this post.

I had to develope a standalone display last year to support apple people - works extremely well, but there are some absolute hold outs that are iPhone users and only want to use their phone.

I'm trying to finally pull off the apple version of the app on the app store.
app communicates over BT - I'm converting from BT classic solely for the sake of iPhone, which includes changing my code on the standalone display as well as on the main brain box.

One of those things where I wont convert all that if I cant get the app I make here onto the apple app store itself like I have the android app now.

BLE is the only extension I am running now - I have created workarounds for the other extensions to accomodate apple.