xcode-select: error: tool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcode macOS Origin: Platform & cloud OSI layer 7 · Application Last updated 5 Nov 2026

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

A command needs the full Xcode app, but xcode-select points to the Command Line Tools only.

Exact message you may see xcode-select: error: tool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcode, but active developer directory '/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools' is a command line tools instancetool 'xcodebuild' requires Xcodexcrun: error: unable to find utility "simctl", not a developer tool or in PATHactive developer directory is a command line tools instance
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Seen on: macOS

Meaning

Install Xcode from the App Store and select it: sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer. Then accept the license (sudo xcodebuild -license accept) and run xcodebuild -runFirstLaunch. Tools such as simctl, xcodebuild and iOS builds don't exist in CLT.

Common causes

  • Only CLT installed
  • xcode-select pointing to CLT even though Xcode is installed
  • Xcode installed under a different name/path
  • Multiple Xcode versions
  • CI image missing Xcode

⚡ Quick fix

  1. sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer
  2. sudo xcodebuild -runFirstLaunch
  3. Install Xcode if absent

Detailed fix by platform

macOS

  1. xcode-select -p && ls /Applications | grep Xcode

How to diagnose

  1. Active — CLT or Xcode?
  2. App — Xcode installed?
  3. First launch — Components installed?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

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