Resolving Xcode Launch Issues After macOS Update

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

After an update to macOS Catalina, some users have encountered difficulties when attempting to launch Xcode. The issue often involves the failure to install additional components due to the untrusted status of the MobileDevice.pkg package. This guide offers solutions to help you resolve this problem effectively.

Understanding the Issue

When trying to open Xcode after a macOS update, you might receive a prompt to install additional components. However, the installation may fail with an error indicating that MobileDevice.pkg is untrusted. This issue is often linked to certificate expiration, which prevents the package from being verified.

Solution 1: Adjust System Date

An effective workaround is to temporarily set your system date to a time when the certificate was still valid. Follow these steps:

• Open Terminal on your Mac.
• Enter the command: sudo date 100100002019
• This sets the system date to October 1, 2019.
• Attempt to open Xcode and proceed with the component installation.

This method should allow the installation to proceed successfully.

Solution 2: Reinstall Xcode

If the above workaround does not resolve the issue, consider reinstalling Xcode. Here’s how you can do it:

• Delete the existing Xcode application from the Applications folder.
• Go to the Mac App Store and download Xcode again.
• Install the newly downloaded version of Xcode.

This approach ensures that you have the latest version of Xcode with all necessary components installed correctly.

Solution 3: Manual Package Removal

Another solution involves manually removing the problematic package files. Follow these steps:

• Open Terminal.
• Navigate to the packages directory: cd /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Resources/Packages
• Remove the packages: sudo rm -rf MobileDevice.pkg and sudo rm -rf MobileDeviceDevelopment.pkg
• Reopen Xcode and allow it to download the necessary components.

This method forces Xcode to refresh its packages, thereby resolving the issue.

Enhancing Your Testing Workflow with Repeato

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