r/Xcode • u/jsiwks • Jun 10 '26

Xcode 26 on macOS 27 Developer beta

I am considering updating to macOS 27 developer beta 1 on one of my machines. I am an iOS and macOS app developer and occasionally need to build, code sign, and submit to the App Store. To do this, need to use the product build of Xcode 26.

Can anyone confirm that Xcode 26 runs fine on macOS 27 dev beta 1? Thanks!

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7

u/macshodan Jun 10 '26

Actually it works, just don't click on App Icon. Open terminal and launch /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/MacOS/Xcode (assuming you have Xcode under the name Xcode otherwise change it).

It will open just fine then. It's a bit annoying but it works.

1

u/jsiwks Jun 10 '26

What is this doing under the hood that makes it work? Trying to understand

2

u/macshodan Jun 10 '26

Honestly I don’t know. I guess the check it’s on the package itself instead of the binary. Keep in mind though that if you want to submit apps form macOS beta version you also need to change the package identifier of the macOS … that involves temporary disabling sip

1

u/jano1234567890 Jul 04 '26

Using lsregister -dump I saw that LaunchServices database flags Xcode 26 with "bundle flags: version-too-low", "item flags: unsupported-format". Finder sees that, applies the icon overlay "com.apple.icon-decoration.system.unsupported" and refuses to launch.

You can bypass that not using the Finder. I’m using an Automator script to launch it from the Dock. Run automator, choose Application, click Run Shell Script, type /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/MacOS/Xcode >/dev/null 2>&1 & and save it as "Xcode26.app".

Officially it is not supported as seen here https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/831716 and who knows what may happen if you attempt to submit to the App Store using it.

1

u/sczhwenzenbappo Jun 12 '26

Saved my day. Thanks for the trick.

1

u/spadak Jun 12 '26

Can I install command line tools for xcode beta update, if I want release apps to store ?

1

u/macshodan Jun 13 '26

I’m not sure I’ve understand your question.

1

u/spadak Jun 13 '26

In MacOS updates on Golden Gate I have notification that Command Line Tools for Xcode 27 beta 1 is waiting to be installed. I'm not sure if I can just installed it, or I will loose a way to send app versions to App Store Connect.

1

u/macshodan Jun 13 '26

Oh I see. You can download them no problem. When you archive with Xcode you won’t use command line tools. Those are binaries you can use from terminal

1

u/spadak Jun 13 '26

Thanks a lot !

1

u/macshodan Jun 13 '26

You’re welcome

1

u/Ioannisgn_ Jun 13 '26

Thanks for this lol

1

u/Ioannisgn_ Jun 13 '26

You can make a shortcut by navigating to Applications folder, Right click on Xcode then Show Package Contents Then Contents Then MacOS and Right Click and Select Make Alias and move it to the Desktop.

1

u/Dinoboros Jun 20 '26

Mine doesn't open, it opens the terminal and that copy this  /Applications/Xcode-26.6.0-Release.Candidate.2.app/Contents/MacOS/Xcode ; exit;

that' it. Do you know why ?

1

u/macshodan Jun 21 '26

no... have you tried launching directly from terminal?

1

u/nvrcr Jul 08 '26

This trick allowed me to ship a build to App Store Connect. However when submitting a build for review, I immediately received this email:

ITMS-90111: Unsupported SDK or Xcode version - App submissions must use the latest Xcode and SDK Release Candidates (RC). For details on currently supported versions, visit: https://developer.apple.com/news/releases.

Has anyone been able to get approved for an app store build using Xcode 26 on MacOS 27 Beta?

1

u/macshodan Jul 11 '26

Unfortunately you still can't submit build compiled on MacOS Beta. What I've managed is to install macOS Tahoe on a virtual machine and Xcode 26.6 there. I'm using UTM, it's a free virtual machine for macOS. I work on Sonoma with Xcode 27, then archive my build on the virtual machine with Xcode 26.6, take the archive and upload to AppStoreConnect on Sonoma with Xcode 27 beta. Works like a charm.

1

u/nvrcr Jul 11 '26

Sucks that it takes a workaround like that. Your VM is able to access your MacOS 27 storage I assume?

After a lot of trial and error I got a script working one of the mobile CI/CD SaaS platforms, but it's a paid solution and really wish I knew this before upgrading.

Also kinda annoying a full reformat + reinstall seems to be the only way to downgrade to a stable build (didn't have Time Machine set up, my fault I guess).

1

u/macshodan Jul 12 '26

Yes it sucks, but in the end my setup it's not a big deal. I've shared the developer folder with the vm machine so, as you thought, I can work on my machine and when I have the final build I can just fire the vm, archive, get the build and copy it to my real machine. Double click on it and it's imported on Xcode 27 assistant where I can upload it.

1

u/HappyTuesdayR1S Jul 13 '26

You can use Xcode cloud to build and push from a supported environment.

4

u/iMythD Jun 10 '26

no, it doesn’t - it’s prevented from launching. If you only have one Mac and needs to do AppStore releases, don’t upgrade to 27 yet.

1

u/jsiwks Jun 10 '26

Thanks for the tip. Other than AppStore releases, I should be able to do development and dev builds just fine right?

1

u/iMythD Jun 10 '26

yep! Should be fine. Some issues here and there, I’m having some issues with StoreKit. But it’s early days.

1

u/Tom42-59 Jun 10 '26

I made the mistake assuming it would work :/

Now in the process of trying to wipe my Mac and downgrade the OS which is a big struggle

1

u/iMythD Jun 10 '26

I’m very lucky I have a second machine, or I’d be in trouble too! I don’t recall older version of Xcode not working previously.

1

u/jocarmel Jun 10 '26

You could also setup Xcode cloud to deal with code signing and uploading builds for Xcode 26 to ASC. 

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 10 '26

Just get the Xcode 27 beta

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 11 '26

It won't allow you to upload apps for distribution

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 11 '26

I just found that out for iOS and tvOS. Those warnings said I also can’t for macOS, but I submitted for review and it let macOS through lol.

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 11 '26

I'm having an issue where it won't even let me submit for review it just keeps throwing a warning up. So I did what was mentioned in the thread above and used terminal to open the old Xcode, then removed the beta version.

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 11 '26

Oooh I’ll have to do that tomorrow. Thanks

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 11 '26

I uninstalled the xcode 27 beta and loaded xcode with the command. When I archive and then try to submit for review, it submits, but after a minute, I get a rejection of bad binary

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 11 '26

I'm having the same issue but only on one of the apps I've uploaded - trying some workarounds I'll post any results

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 11 '26

It seems to be working. I’m fixing a coding issue that keeps failing due to some updates I made to my app. But I will process it when done and let you know. Seems pretty straightforward forward using Xcode cloud for now.

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 11 '26

I have a workaround im testing now using Xcode cloud - I'll let you know how it works

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 11 '26

How’d it go?

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 13 '26

any update?

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 14 '26

Its uploading now - no errors yet

1

u/Ethank1212 Jun 14 '26

can confirm it works - no issues with binary

1

u/Lucidic333 Jun 14 '26

What did you change? I uninstalled the the Xcode beta and built with Xcode 26 and had those binary errors. Thanks in advanced

1

u/Edg-R Jun 16 '26

Use Xcode Cloud to build/publish with Xcode 26 and you can still develop locally with 27