Resolving the Xcode-Select Active Developer Directory Error

Resolving the Xcode-Select Active Developer Directory Error

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

If you’ve encountered an error message like the one below while running commands that require
xcode-select, you’re not alone: 

        xcode-select: error: tool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcode, but active developer directory '/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools' is a command line tools instance

This issue typically arises when the Xcode-select developer directory is incorrectly set to the Command Line Tools
instead of the full Xcode application. Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolve this issue effectively.

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Install Xcode: If you haven’t already, download and install Xcode from the
    Mac App Store.
  2. Accept Terms and Conditions: Open Xcode and ensure that you have accepted the terms and conditions.
  3. Verify Xcode Installation Path: Ensure that the Xcode app is located in the
    /Applications directory. It should not be in /Users/{user}/Applications.
  4. Set Xcode-Select Path: Open your terminal and run the following command to point
    xcode-select to the Xcode app developer directory: 
    sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

    Make sure the path matches the actual location of your Xcode installation.

Alternative Solution

For users who prefer not to install the full Xcode application, you can install only the Command Line Tools
and switch the active directory:

  1. Install Command Line Tools: Run the following command: 
    xcode-select --install
  2. Switch Active Directory: Execute the command: 
    sudo xcode-select -switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the xcode-select error and continue with
your development tasks uninterrupted.

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