Kiosk mode: iOS kiosk mode brightness persisting after leaving the app

[Macstar1601]

iOS device model, version and app version
iPad Air 5th gen, iOS 26.4.1

Model Name:
Software Version:
App version: 2026.4.1 (Build 2026.1873)

Home Assistant Core Version
2026.5.3

Describe the bug
iOS beta 2026.5.0 (2026.1984) was released yesterday, and the changelog states that this fix is included (‘fixed Kiosk Mode brightness persisting after leaving the app’). The issue should have been fixed in this PR: #4532

Unfortunately, the fix does not seem to work; if you open another app via, for example, a push notification, the dimmed brightness remains and does not increase. I am testing this via an automation where I send a push notification with ‘data: url: Welcome://’ and, when I click on it, the iOS Welcome app opens. The same happens if you open another app via the app switcher, it doesn’t work

To Reproduce
Open the home assistant iOS App in Kiosk Mode and wait for Screensaver with dimmed brightness. Wait for an notification from another app and press on it.

Expected behavior
The brightness should come back when switching to another app.

Screenshots

Additional context

[nstefanelli]

Thanks @Macstar1601 - I will take a look

[nstefanelli]

Hi @Macstar1601. I think it's a timing issue: the restore in #4532 happens on didEnterBackground, but iOS appears to drop UI writes from apps that are already mid-transition to background. Fix is to move the restore to willResignActive, while the app is still active. This may have other unintended consequences though, so I need to test more thoroughly.

Could you grab your HA app logs from when you reproduce (Companion app settings → Help → Open Logs)? A sysdiagnose right after a repro would help too if you can swing it.

Planning to revisit this properly after the camera/motion detection PR lands - that change masks the issue end-to-end for most setups since motion wakes the screen before you interact with a notification. Touch-only use still hits it, which is why we'll come back.

Try this workaround for now: switch screensaver Mode to Blank instead of Dim. The bug is specific to the dim path; Blank uses a different code path and shouldn't leak.

[Macstar1601]

Hi @nstefanelli
Thank you very much for your message and the explanation.
I’m really looking forward to the camera/motion function in Kiosk mode, and that should sort out most of the problem.

Do you mean this log file?

Unfortunately, the workaround doesn’t work. It was previously set to Clock, and the same problem occurs even when set to Dim or Blank.

[bgoncal]

I removed the link from your comment @Macstar1601 , please do not post companion app logs publicly since they may contain personal information.

[Macstar1601]

@bgoncal Thank you very much. I had my doubts yesterday too, but I couldn't think of any other solution. Is there a safer way?

[bgoncal]

@Macstar1601 You can share it directly via discord DM for example or any upload service you like then DM to @nstefanelli

[Macstar1601]

@bgoncal Thanks for the solution. I signed up on discord but cannot find @nstefanelli there.

[bgoncal]

@nstefanelli Please let @Macstar1601 the best way to reach out to you