[Bug]: AppStore Connect Upload issue: ITMS-90683: Missing purpose string in Info.plist (NSLocationAlwaysAndWhenInUseUsageDescription)

[stonemaster]

Please check the following before submitting a new issue.

• I have searched the existing issues.
• I have carefully read the documentation and verified I have added the required platform specific configuration.

Please select affected platform(s)

• Android
• iOS
• Windows

Steps to reproduce

Since we upgraded to Flutter 3.44 and also subsequently upgraded permission_handler we encountered issues after uploading the build to App Store Connect, although this error didn't show prior to the update

ITMS-90683: Missing purpose string in Info.plist - Your app’s code references one or more APIs that access sensitive user data, or the app has one or more entitlements that permit such access. The Info.plist file for the “Runner.app” bundle should contain a NSLocationAlwaysAndWhenInUseUsageDescription key with a user-facing purpose string explaining clearly and completely why your app needs the data. If you’re using external libraries or SDKs, they may reference APIs that require a purpose string. While your app might not use these APIs, a purpose string is still required. For details, visit: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/protecting_the_user_s_privacy/requesting_access_to_protected_resources.

The app uses a webview and only relies on the locationWhenInUse (NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription) permission which should already by handled by the webview. This upload issues just started with the Flutter upgrade (and probably the move to SwiftPM?).

Expected results

The upload should just work fine.

Actual results

The Build is rejected by Apple.

Code sample

This is a false alarm by AppStore that can be circumvented by a hacky override of the permission_handler_apple plugin:

diff --git a/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.h b/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.h
index d929a6d..c57fa3a 100644
--- a/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.h
+++ b/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.h
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #import "BluetoothPermissionStrategy.h"
 #import "ContactPermissionStrategy.h"
 #import "EventPermissionStrategy.h"
-#import "LocationPermissionStrategy.h"
 #import "MediaLibraryPermissionStrategy.h"
 #import "PermissionStrategy.h"
 #import "PhonePermissionStrategy.h"
diff --git a/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.m b/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.m
index 6bba48c..ad92bac 100644
--- a/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.m
+++ b/permission_handler_apple/ios/permission_handler_apple/Sources/permission_handler_apple/PermissionManager.m
@@ -100,11 +100,7 @@
         case PermissionGroupLocation:
         case PermissionGroupLocationAlways:
         case PermissionGroupLocationWhenInUse:
-            #if PERMISSION_LOCATION || PERMISSION_LOCATION_WHENINUSE || PERMISSION_LOCATION_ALWAYS
-            return [[LocationPermissionStrategy alloc] initWithLocationManager];
-            #else
-            return [LocationPermissionStrategy new];
-            #endif
+            return [UnknownPermissionStrategy new];
         case PermissionGroupMediaLibrary:
             return [MediaLibraryPermissionStrategy new];
         case PermissionGroupMicrophone:

Screenshots or video

No response

Version

12.0.2

Flutter Doctor output

[✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.44.1, on macOS 15.7 24G222 darwin-x64, locale en-US) [3.9s]
• Flutter version 3.44.1 on channel stable at /Users/andre/bin/flutter
• Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
• Framework revision 924134a44c (11 days ago), 2026-05-29 12:13:22 -0400
• Engine revision c416acfeb8
• Dart version 3.12.1
• DevTools version 2.57.0
• Feature flags: enable-web, enable-linux-desktop, enable-macos-desktop, enable-windows-desktop, enable-android, enable-ios, cli-animations, enable-native-assets, enable-swift-package-manager, omit-legacy-version-file, enable-lldb-debugging, enable-uiscene-migration

[✗] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices [3.6s]
✗ Unable to locate Android SDK.
Install Android Studio from: https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
On first launch it will assist you in installing the Android SDK components.
(or visit https://flutter.dev/to/macos-android-setup for detailed instructions).
If the Android SDK has been installed to a custom location, please use
flutter config --android-sdk to update to that location.

[✓] Xcode - develop for iOS and macOS (Xcode 26.3) [11.5s]
• Xcode at /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
• Build 17C529
• CocoaPods version 1.16.2

[✗] Chrome - develop for the web (Cannot find Chrome executable at /Applications/Google Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome) [49ms]
! Cannot find Chrome. Try setting CHROME_EXECUTABLE to a Chrome executable.

[✓] Connected device (1 available) [14.6s]
• macOS (desktop) • macos • darwin-x64 • macOS 15.7 24G222 darwin-x64
! Error: Browsing on the local area network for stone pro phone. Ensure the device is unlocked and attached with a cable or associated with the same local area network as this Mac.
The device must be opted into Developer Mode to connect wirelessly. (code -27)

[✓] Network resources [1,627ms]
• All expected network resources are available.

! Doctor found issues in 2 categories.

[mvanbeusekom]

Thank you for reporting this issue. Thanks to @olekeke999 and @TheoGermain this should now be resolved with #1542.

Version 9.4.10 of the permission_handler_apple package has just been released, please run flutter pub upgrade to make sure you pull in the latest dependencies.

[stonemaster]

Thank you very much for the quick fix!