Configure Audio Session for background audio mode (iOS Project)

We use AVPlayer from AVFoundation to play audio in our applications. The moment we send the application to back ground mode, audio stops playing.

To fix this, we will need to configure AVAudioSession properly. We start by importing AVFoundation in AppDelegate or our iOS Project.

import AVFoundation

Next, add the following code in application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:

func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {

    // enable playback category: this is required for background audio to function normally
    let audioSession = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
    try? audioSession.setCategory(AVAudioSessionCategoryPlayback, mode: AVAudioSessionModeDefault)
    try? audioSession.setActive(true, with: [])
    
    return true
}

Finally, enable Background Audio Mode in Project Settings.

Here is gist for the example