iOS 7 status bar back to iOS 6 default style in iP

Question

In iOS 7 the UIStatusBar has been designed in a way that it merges with the view like this:

(GUI designed by Tina Tavčar)

• It is cool, but it will somewhat mess up your view when you have something at the top part of your view, and it becomes overlapped with the status bar.

• Is there a simple solution (such as setting a property in info.plist) that can change the way it works [not overlapping] back to how it is in iOS6?

• I know a more straightforward solution is to have self.view.center.x + 20 points for every single view controller, but changing them will screw other dimensions up (having a different self.view.center.x can cause problem to custom segues, etc.) and suddenly it turns into a tedious job that is best to be avoided.

• I'll really be glad if someone can provide me an one-liner solution for this.

P.S. I know I can hide the status bar by doing things like having

[[UIApplication sharedApplication] setStatusBarHidden:YES withAnimation:UIStatusBarAnimationNone];

In didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method, but that's a workaround, a shortcut avoiding the problem, so I don't consider that a real solution.

Answer 1

A small alternative to Archy Holt's answer, a bit more simple:

a. Set UIViewControllerBasedStatusBarAppearance to NO in info.plist

b. In AppDelegate's application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:, call:

if ([[UIDevice currentDevice].systemVersion floatValue] < 7)
{
    self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:[UIScreen mainScreen].bounds];
}
else
{
    // handling statusBar (iOS7)
    application.statusBarStyle = UIStatusBarStyleLightContent;
    self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:[UIScreen mainScreen].applicationFrame];
    self.window.clipsToBounds = YES;

    // handling screen rotations for statusBar (iOS7)
    [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(applicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientationNotification:) name:UIApplicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientationNotification object:nil];
}

And add the method:

- (void)applicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientationNotification:(NSNotification *)notification
{
    // handling statusBar (iOS7)
    self.window.frame = [UIScreen mainScreen].applicationFrame;
}

You can also consider subclassing UIWindow to handle UIApplicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientationNotification itself.

Answer 2

I used this in all my view controllers, it's simple. Add this lines in all your viewDidLoad methods:

- (void)viewDidLoad{
    //add this 2 lines:
    if ([self respondsToSelector:@selector(edgesForExtendedLayout)])
        self.edgesForExtendedLayout = UIRectEdgeNone;

    [super viewDidLoad];
}

Answer 3

My very simple solution (assuming you have only vertical orientation supported) is to redefine application window bounds for iOS versions below 7, in App delegate didFinishLaunchingWithOptions method:

CGRect screenBounds = [[UIScreen mainScreen] bounds];
if ([HMService getIOSVersion] < 7) {
    // handling statusBar (iOS6) by leaving top 20px for statusbar.
    screenBounds.origin.y = 20;
    self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:screenBounds];
}
else {
    self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:screenBounds];
}

Answer 4

UPDATE(NEW SOLUTION)

This update is the best solution of iOS 7 navigation bar problem.You can set navigation bar color example: FakeNavBar.backgroundColor = [UIColor redColor];

Note : If you use default Navigation Controller please use old solution.

AppDelegate.m

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions
{

    if(NSFoundationVersionNumber >= NSFoundationVersionNumber_iOS_7_0)
    {
        UIView *FakeNavBar = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, 320, 20)];
        FakeNavBar.backgroundColor = [UIColor whiteColor];

        float navBarHeight = 20.0;
        for (UIView *subView in self.window.subviews) {

            if ([subView isKindOfClass:[UIScrollView class]]) {
                subView.frame = CGRectMake(subView.frame.origin.x, subView.frame.origin.y + navBarHeight, subView.frame.size.width, subView.frame.size.height - navBarHeight);
            } else {
                subView.frame = CGRectMake(subView.frame.origin.x, subView.frame.origin.y + navBarHeight, subView.frame.size.width, subView.frame.size.height);
            }
        }
        [self.window addSubview:FakeNavBar];
    }

    return YES;

}

OLD SOLUTION - IF you use previous code please ignore following Code and Image

This is old version of iOS 7 navigation bar solution.

I solved the problem with the following code. This is for adding a status bar. didFinishLaunchingWithOptions

if ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] floatValue] >= 7.0) {
    UIView *addStatusBar = [[UIView alloc] init];
    addStatusBar.frame = CGRectMake(0, 0, 320, 20);
    addStatusBar.backgroundColor = [UIColor colorWithRed:0.973 green:0.973 blue:0.973 alpha:1]; //change this to match your navigation bar
    [self.window.rootViewController.view addSubview:addStatusBar];
}

And for Interface Builder this is for when you open with iOS 6; it is starting at 0 pixels.

Note: iOS 6/7 Deltas only appear if you uncheck "Use Autolayout" for the View Controller in the "File Inspector" (left-most icon) in the details pane.

Answer 5

Updates on 19th Sep 2013:

_{fixed scaling bugs by adding self.window.bounds = CGRectMake(0, 20, self.window.frame.size.width, self.window.frame.size.height);}

_{corrected typos in the NSNotificationCenter statement}

Updates on 12th Sep 2013:

_{corrected UIViewControllerBasedStatusBarAppearance to NO}

_{added a solution for apps with screen rotation}

_{added an approach to change the background color of the status bar.}

There is, apparently, no way to revert the iOS7 status bar back to how it works in iOS6.

However, we can always write some codes and turn the status bar into iOS6-like, and this is the shortest way I can come up with:

1. Set UIViewControllerBasedStatusBarAppearance to NO in info.plist (To opt out of having view controllers adjust the status bar style so that we can set the status bar style by using the UIApplicationstatusBarStyle method.)

2. In AppDelegate's application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions, call

   if (NSFoundationVersionNumber > NSFoundationVersionNumber_iOS_6_1) {
       [application setStatusBarStyle:UIStatusBarStyleLightContent];
       self.window.clipsToBounds =YES;
       self.window.frame =  CGRectMake(0,20,self.window.frame.size.width,self.window.frame.size.height-20);
   
       //Added on 19th Sep 2013
       self.window.bounds = CGRectMake(0, 20, self.window.frame.size.width, self.window.frame.size.height);
   }
   return YES;
   

in order to:

1. Check if it's iOS 7.

2. Set status bar's content to be white, as opposed to UIStatusBarStyleDefault.

3. Avoid subviews whose frames extend beyond the visible bounds from showing up (for views animating into the main view from top).

4. Create the illusion that the status bar takes up space like how it is in iOS 6 by shifting and resizing the app's window frame.

For apps with screen rotation,

use NSNotificationCenter to detect orientation changes by adding

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self
selector:@selector(applicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientation:)
name:UIApplicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientationNotification
object:nil];

in if (NSFoundationVersionNumber > NSFoundationVersionNumber_iOS_6_1) and create a new method in AppDelegate:

- (void)applicationDidChangeStatusBarOrientation:(NSNotification *)notification
{
    int a = [[notification.userInfo objectForKey: UIApplicationStatusBarOrientationUserInfoKey] intValue];
    int w = [[UIScreen mainScreen] bounds].size.width;
    int h = [[UIScreen mainScreen] bounds].size.height;
    switch(a){
        case 4:
            self.window.frame =  CGRectMake(0,20,w,h);
            break;
        case 3:
            self.window.frame =  CGRectMake(-20,0,w-20,h+20);
            break;
        case 2:
            self.window.frame =  CGRectMake(0,-20,w,h);
            break;
        case 1:
           self.window.frame =  CGRectMake(20,0,w-20,h+20);
    }
}

So that when orientation changes, it will trigger a switch statement to detect app's screen orientation (Portrait, Upside Down, Landscape Left, or Landscape Right) and change the app's window frame respectively to create the iOS 6 status bar illusion.

To change the background color of your status bar:

Add

 @property (retain, nonatomic) UIWindow *background;

in AppDelegate.h to make background a property in your class and prevent ARC from deallocating it. (You don't have to do it if you are not using ARC.)

After that you just need to create the UIWindow in if (NSFoundationVersionNumber > NSFoundationVersionNumber_iOS_6_1):

background = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame: CGRectMake(0, 0, self.window.frame.size.width, 20)];
background.backgroundColor =[UIColor redColor];
[background setHidden:NO];

Don't forget to @synthesize background; after @implementation AppDelegate!

Answer 6

Here another approach for projects that make extensive use of the Storyboard:

GOAL:

Goal of this approach is to recreate the same status bar style in iOS7 as there was in iOS6 (see question title "iOS 7 Status Bar Back to iOS 6 style?").

SUMMARY:

To achieve this we use the Storyboard as much as possible by shifting UI elements that are overlapped by the status bar (under iOS 7) downwards, whilst using deltas to revert the downwards layout change for iOS 6.1 or earlier. The resulting extra space in iOS 7 is then occupied by a UIView with the backgroundColor set to a color of our choosing. The latter can be created in code or using the Storyboard (see ALTERNATIVES below)

ASSUMPTIONS:

To get the desired result when following the steps below, it is assumed that View controller-based status bar appearance is set to NO and that your Status bar style is either set to "Transparent black style (alpha of 0.5)" or "Opaque black style". Both settings can be found/or added under "Info" in your project settings.

STEPS:

• Add a subview to the UIWindow to serve as your status bar background. To achieve this, add the following to your AppDelegate's application: didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: after makeKeyAndVisible

  if (NSFoundationVersionNumber > NSFoundationVersionNumber_iOS_6_1) {
      UIView *statusBarBackgroundView = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(0, 0, yourAppsUIWindow.frame.size.width, 20)];
      statusBarBackgroundView.backgroundColor = [UIColor blackColor];
      [yourAppsUIWindow addSubview:statusBarBackgroundView];
  }
  

• Since you programmatically added a background for iOS 7 ONLY, you will have to adjust the layout of your UI elements that are overlapped by the status bar accordingly whilst preserving their layout for iOS6. To achieve this, do the following:

  • Ensure that Use Autolayout is unchecked for your Storyboard (this is because otherwise "iOS 6/7 Deltas" is not shown in the Size Inspector). To do this:
    • select your Storyboard file
    • show Utilities
    • select "Show the File Inspector"
    • Under "Interface Builder Document" uncheck "Use Autolayout"
  • Optionally, to help you monitor the layout changes for both iOS 7 AND 6 as you apply them, select the "Assistant Editor", select "Preview" and "iOS 6.1 or earlier":
  • Now select the UI element you want to adjust so it isn't overlapped by the status bar anymore
  • Select "Show the Size Inspector" in the Utilities column
  • Reposition your UI element along the Y-axis by the same amount as the statusbar bg height:
  • And change the iOS6/7 Deltas value for Y by the same NEGATIVE amount as the statusbar bg height (Note the change in the iOS 6 preview if you're using it):

ALTERNATIVES:

To add even less code in storyboard-heavy projects and to have the statusbar background autorotate, instead of programmatically adding a background for your statusbar, you could add a colored view to each view controller that sits at the very top of said viewcontroller's main view. You would then change the height delta of this new view to the same negative amount as your view's height (to make it disappear under iOS 6).

The downside of this alternative (although maybe negligible considering the autorotate compatibility) is the fact that this extra view is not immediately visible if you are viewing your Storyboard for iOS 6. You would only know that it's there if you had a look at the "Document Outline" of the Storyboard.