Resolving the “xcrun: error: active developer path” Issue in macOS

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

If you encounter the “xcrun: error: active developer path” issue while using Homebrew or Git on macOS, you’re not alone. This error often arises when the Xcode developer path is incorrectly configured or when Xcode has been uninstalled or moved. Follow this guide to resolve the issue efficiently.

Understanding the Error

This error message typically indicates that the system cannot find the necessary developer tools at the expected path. This can happen if Xcode is uninstalled, moved, or if the command line tools are not properly set up.

Solution Steps

Here are the steps you can take to resolve this issue:

1. Reset the Developer Path: The most effective and straightforward solution is to reset the developer path using the following command in Terminal:

   sudo xcode-select --reset

   This command resets the path to the default, resolving the issue in most cases.

2. Switch to Command Line Tools: If the reset doesn’t resolve the problem, you can switch to using the Command Line Tools:

   
   sudo xcode-select -r
   sudo xcode-select --switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
   

   After executing these commands, validate the new path with:

   sudo xcode-select -p

3. Set Xcode Preferences: If you’ve installed a new version of Xcode, ensure that the command line tools are initialized:
   • Open Xcode and go to Preferences.
   • Navigate to the Locations tab.
   • Select the appropriate Xcode version under Command Line Tools.

Additional Tips

In some cases, you might need to reinstall the Command Line Tools or Xcode itself. To do this, use the following commands:

rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
xcode-select --install

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