Network Instability in TestFlight Builds When Using Xcode 16+

We are experiencing networking issues in our iOS application when it is built with Xcode 16 or later. Our app includes a video conferencing feature that works reliably when built with Xcode 15 or earlier — we can sustain hour-long video sessions without interruption.

However, when the app is built using Xcode 16 or higher, network connections drop after 2–3 minutes during a session. This triggers an auto-reconnect, which succeeds, but the connection drops again after another 2–3 minutes. This loop continues indefinitely.

Key Details:

  • The issue only occurs in TestFlight builds.
  • When running the app via Xcode debugger, the issue does not occur.
  • The issue is consistently reproducible in TestFlight builds created with Xcode 16 or later.
  • TestFlight builds created with Xcode 15 do not exhibit this issue.
  • All the videoconferencing runs on C and C++ code

What We’ve Tried:

  • Reviewed Xcode 16+ release notes but found no relevant changes or deprecations.
  • Verified app configuration and entitlements.
  • Confirmed that no app-side changes occurred between the working and broken builds.

Request:

We’re seeking guidance on what changes in Xcode 16+ could be affecting networking behavior in release/TestFlight builds. Any insight into relevant build settings, compiler changes, or runtime behavior differences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Network Instability in TestFlight Builds When Using Xcode 16+
 
 
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