Run Xcode 15 on macOS Sequoia

Problem Statement

After updating to macOS Sequoia, many developers find their existing Xcode 15 installations fail to launch. This occurs because Apple officially supports only Xcode 16 on Sequoia. When attempting to open Xcode 15, users experience one of two outcomes:

1. Immediate crash at launch
2. Freeze at the license agreement screen

This issue affects workflows requiring Xcode 15 for compatibility with legacy projects or build systems. Fortunately, several verified workarounds exist.

Recommended Solutions

Method 1: Launch Through Executable (Most Reliable)

This method bypasses macOS version checks by starting Xcode directly via its executable file:

1. Open Finder and navigate to Applications
2. Right-click on Xcode 15 and select Show Package Contents
3. Navigate to Contents → MacOS
4. Double-click the Xcode executable file
5. Wait for commands to complete in the terminal window
6. The application will launch automatically when finished

# Check active Xcode version
xcode-select -p

# Expected output:
# /Applications/Xcode-15.4.app/Contents/Developer

WARNING

First launch may take several minutes as Xcode performs system registration. Subsequent launches will be normal.

Method 2: Info.plist Version Modification

Temporarily modify version information to bypass Sequoia's compatibility check:

1. Install Xcode 16 from xcodereleases.com
2. Navigate to /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/ and copy Info.plist
3. Paste this file into /Applications/Xcode-15.app/Contents/
4. Launch Xcode 15 normally
5. Close Xcode and restore the original Info.plist

# Replace XCODE_VERSION with your actual Xcode 15 version
defaults write /Applications/Xcode-15.4.app/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleVersion -string 23051

DANGER

Use this method sparingly. Restore the original file immediately after launch to prevent update issues and potential instability. Not recommended for production environments.

Additional Configuration Steps

After launching Xcode 15 successfully, complete these critical configurations:

1. Accept License Agreement

sudo xcodebuild -license

Press space to scroll through the agreement, then type agree when prompted.

2. Set Default Command Line Tools

sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode-15.app

xcode-select -p
# /Applications/Xcode-15.app/Contents/Developer

Alternative Approach: Shortcut Script

Create a reusable launcher script to avoid repetitive navigation:

#!/bin/bash
XCODE_PATH="/Applications/Xcode-15.app"
XCODE_EXECUTABLE="$XCODE_PATH/Contents/MacOS/Xcode"

if [ -e "$XCODE_EXECUTABLE" ]; then
    echo "Launching Xcode 15..."
    "$XCODE_EXECUTABLE"
else
    echo "Xcode not found at $XCODE_PATH"
fi

To use:

1. Save as launch_xcode15.sh
2. Make executable: chmod +x launch_xcode15.sh
3. Run: ./launch_xcode15.sh

Solution Comparison

Method	Difficulty	Safety	Persistence	Recommended For
Direct Executable Launch	Low	★★★★★	Per session	Most users
Info.plist Modification	Medium	★★☆☆☆	Temporary	Emergency use only
Launch Script	Medium	★★★★☆	Persistent	Frequent usage

Best Practices for Long-Term Stability

1. Migrate to Xcode 16: Apple recommends updating projects for Sequoia compatibility
2. Maintain dual installations: Keep both Xcode 15 and 16 in /Applications/
3. Use xcode-select: Explicitly define active version for command-line tools
4. Delete derived data: Resolve build issues with ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData cleanup

TIP

When using dual Xcode installations, rename apps to include version numbers (e.g., Xcode-15.app, Xcode-16.app) to avoid conflicts and simplify management.

sudo mv /Applications/Xcode.app /Applications/Xcode-15.4.app

These solutions allow Xcode 15 to function on macOS Sequoia while you transition to fully compatible development environments.