Bring previous app back to the front when user is done with my iOS app
ios
Solution
I want the user to click a "Done, now go away" button
That button is the Home button.
I want to programmatically return the previous app to the front.
There's no public API for switching to another app. Users have a number of options for switching between apps, though. In addition to the swipe gesture you mentioned, they can do a four-finger upward swipe to get to the list of recent apps, or double-tap the home button for the same effect, or hit the home button once to go back to Springboard. Users, not apps, are supposed to be in control of which app is in the foreground. And the way they do that should be standard from one app to another. I can understand wanting to make life easier for the user, but what you're trying to do just isn't possible with the available API.
Problem
My iOS 4/5/6 app is meant to be used briefly. I want the user to click a "Done, now go away" button which takes them back to the app they were using before mine came to the front. Is there a way for my iOS to put itself in the background while returning the previous app to the front? On an iPad, the user can get that effect by doing a four-finger swipe horizontally across the screen. But that gesture is not a complete solution because (a) that gesture does not work on a handheld device, and (2) not many users know of that gesture. I want to programmatically return the previous app to the front.