What is an NSxUsageDescription key?

It is a privacy usage-description string explaining why your app needs a protected resource such as the camera or location. iOS shows this text in the permission prompt, and App Review rejects builds that access the resource without the corresponding key set.

What is the difference between CFBundleShortVersionString and CFBundleVersion?

CFBundleShortVersionString is the public marketing version users see, like 2.1.0. CFBundleVersion is the build number, an internal counter that must increase with every upload to App Store Connect even if the marketing version stays the same.

Which keys are required for every app?

CFBundleIdentifier, CFBundleShortVersionString, CFBundleVersion and CFBundleExecutable are required, and most apps also set CFBundleDisplayName and UILaunchStoryboardName. Xcode populates several automatically from build settings.

What happens if I request a permission without its usage key?

The app crashes at runtime the moment it accesses the resource, because iOS deliberately terminates apps that touch protected data without a declared purpose string. Always pair an API like the camera with its NSCameraUsageDescription key.

Where do I edit Info.plist in modern Xcode?

Recent Xcode projects manage many keys under the target's Info tab and build settings rather than a standalone file, but you can still add custom and usage-description keys there. Expo and React Native projects often set them via app.json or config plugins.

iOS Info.plist Keys Reference

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iOS Info.plist keys

Info.plist is the property list that describes an iOS app to the system: its bundle identity, version, UI configuration, and — critically — the privacy usage-description strings the system shows when requesting access to protected resources. Missing or vague usage strings cause runtime crashes and App Review rejections. This searchable reference covers the keys that matter most.

How it works

Keys are entries in a plist, each with a type (String, Boolean, Array, Dict):

<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
<string>2.1.0</string>
<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
<string>57</string>
<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>Gera scans receipts to file your warranty claim.</string>

Bundle keys establish identity and versioning; CFBundleVersion must increase every upload. Each NSxUsageDescription key pairs with a protected API — access the camera without NSCameraUsageDescription and iOS terminates the app on the spot.

Tips and notes

Write specific usage strings (“scan receipts”), not generic ones (“uses camera”).
Bump CFBundleVersion on every App Store Connect upload, even for the same release.
LSApplicationQueriesSchemes is needed before canOpenURL for third-party schemes.
In Expo, set these via app.json ios.infoPlist rather than editing the file.