Installing Multiple Versions of Xcode on macOS

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

As a developer, you might find yourself needing to install multiple versions of Xcode on your Mac. This can be particularly useful if you’re testing new SDKs or maintaining projects that require different Xcode versions. In this guide, we will outline the steps to achieve this setup, ensuring you can switch between versions seamlessly.

Why Install Multiple Versions?

Developers often need to test their applications on different versions of iOS or macOS SDKs. Having multiple versions of Xcode allows you to:

• Test new features in beta versions without disrupting your stable development environment.
• Maintain legacy projects that depend on older SDKs.
• Experiment with new APIs and SDKs safely.

Steps to Install Multiple Xcode Versions

1. Download the Required Xcode Versions: Visit the Apple Developer Downloads page to obtain the installer for the Xcode version you need. You may need to log in with your Apple Developer credentials to access these files.
2. Install the Xcode Version: After downloading, open the DMG file and drag the Xcode.app to your Applications folder. For the new version, rename it to something like Xcode_12.app to avoid conflicts.
3. Use the Command Line Tool: Open Terminal and use the xcode-select command to switch between different Xcode versions. This ensures that the correct version of the command-line tools is in use.
4. Switch Between Versions: You can use a terminal script to quickly switch between versions. For example, to switch to Xcode 12, you could rename the current Xcode version and rename Xcode_12.app to Xcode.app.

Managing Command Line Tools

When you have multiple Xcode versions installed, you also have multiple command-line tools. To specify which version to use, follow these steps:

1. Open Xcode Preferences and navigate to the Locations tab.
2. Select the desired version of the command-line tools from the dropdown menu.
3. In Terminal, run xcodebuild -showsdks to verify the SDKs available with your selected Xcode version.

Automating Version Management

To simplify the process, consider using the Xcode::Install Ruby Gem. This tool allows you to manage installations and updates of Xcode versions programmatically, making it easier to handle multiple installations.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively manage multiple Xcode versions on your Mac, allowing for greater flexibility and control over your development environment. This setup is invaluable for testing and maintaining diverse projects.

How Repeato Can Help

For developers looking to automate testing across multiple versions of their applications, tools like Repeato offer a robust solution. As a no-code test automation tool, Repeato streamlines the process of creating, running, and maintaining automated tests for iOS, Android, and web apps. Its support for data-driven and keyword-driven testing ensures that your tests remain flexible and comprehensive, regardless of the Xcode version you’re using. By leveraging Repeato, you can enhance your testing efficiency and ensure your applications perform optimally across various environments.

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