Unable to display Stickers from Documents directory in iMessage extension - ios

Question

In my app users are able to create images and then use them as stickers in iMessages.
My problem is that I can't display created images that are stored in the Documents Directory.
My issue is very similar to this question - SO Question but in my case the solution stated there didn't help.
Here's my code for fetching images:
func getImages(finished: () -> Void) {
imageData.removeAll()
let imageNames = keyboardUserDefaults!.stringArray(forKey: "Created stickers")
for imageName in imageNames! {
// let imagePath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.documentDirectory, .userDomainMask, true)[0]
let filePath = (NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.documentDirectory, .userDomainMask, true)[0] as NSString).appendingPathComponent(imageName)
// imageData.append(imagePath + "/" + imageName)
imageData.append(filePath)
}
print("Image Data - ", imageData)
finished()
}
And here is how I apply it to StickerView:
func configure(usingImageName imagePath: String) {
let urlToImage = URL(fileURLWithPath: imagePath)
do {
let description = NSLocalizedString("", comment: "")
let sticker = try MSSticker(contentsOfFileURL: urlToImage, localizedDescription: description)
print("Sicker is here - ", sticker)
stickerView.sticker = sticker
}
catch {
fatalError("Failed to create sticker: \(error)")
}
}
But I'm getting a blank view with no stickers.
Print inside cell shows:
Sicker is here - <MSSticker-<0x280393640> imageFileURL file:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/PluginKitPlugin/32AF9E44-F2F1-4FD1-80B5-E8E4B6C6E338/Documents/F54067B8-18DA-4737-8ED3-B716E368AF6E.png localizedDescription >
Images are showing when I set them from my folder inside Xcode project using Bundle.main.path, but not from the Documents Directory.

Answer 1

I have found source of my problem:
Application Extensions can't access default Documents Directory folder.
Solution:
Use App Groups and make path for image when saving and retrieving it like this:
let url = fileManager.containerURL(forSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier: "YOUR_APP_GROUP_NAME")?.appendingPathComponent("image.png")
After that you can easily access your images in Application Extensions.
Hope this helps someone in future!