.NET 9 iOS (26.0.9752) fails on hosted macOS-15: Xcode_26.0.app cannot be located

[jantanis]

Yesterday my Azure DevOps pipeline build was working fine, but all of a sudden I'm getting:

/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/targets/Xamarin.Shared.Sdk.targets(2346,3): error : This version of .NET for iOS (26.0.9752) requires Xcode 26.0. The current version of Xcode is 16.4. Either install Xcode 26.0, or use a different version of .NET for iOS. See https://aka.ms/xcode-requirement for more information. [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]

So I've updated my build with this:

- task: CmdLine@2
  displayName: 'Selects a specific version of Xcode'
  inputs:
    script: 'sudo xcode-select -switch /Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer'

But that's giving me:

  Finished external tool execution dotnet/maui#1 in 00:00:16.5337148 and with exit code 72.
  2025-10-14 12:51:18.466 xcodebuild[16390:44971] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0018.xcresult
  xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located.
  2025-10-14 12:51:20.790 xcodebuild[16724:45697] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0020.xcresult
  xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located.
  xcrun: error: sh -c '/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk /Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk -find actool 2> /dev/null' failed with exit code 16384: (null) (errno=No such file or directory)
  xcrun: error: unable to find utility "actool", not a developer tool or in PATH
  
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : /usr/bin/xcrun exited with code 72: [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : 2025-10-14 12:51:18.466 xcodebuild[16390:44971] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0018.xcresult [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located. [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : 2025-10-14 12:51:20.790 xcodebuild[16724:45697] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0020.xcresult [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located. [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : xcrun: error: sh -c '/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk /Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk -find actool 2> /dev/null' failed with exit code 16384: (null) (errno=No such file or directory) [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : xcrun: error: unable to find utility "actool", not a developer tool or in PATH [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : 2025-10-14 12:51:18.466 xcodebuild[16390:44971] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0018.xcresult [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located. [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : 2025-10-14 12:51:20.790 xcodebuild[16724:45697] Writing error result bundle to /var/folders/5k/fq5ptf2906bgfn1krb78bmj00000gn/T/ResultBundle_2025-14-10_12-51-0020.xcresult [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located. [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : xcrun: error: sh -c '/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk /Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk -find actool 2> /dev/null' failed with exit code 16384: (null) (errno=No such file or directory) [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error : xcrun: error: unable to find utility "actool", not a developer tool or in PATH [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/cloned-assets/Assets.xcassets : error :  [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : actool exited with code 72 [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]
Exception: System.Xml.XmlException: Root element is missing.
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ThrowWithoutLineInfo(String res)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlReader.ReadToDescendant(String name)
   at Xamarin.MacDev.PropertyListFormat.XmlFormat.StartReading(Stream input) in /Users/builder/azdo/_work/1/s/macios/external/Xamarin.MacDev/Xamarin.MacDev/PListObject.cs:line 1864
/Users/runner/.dotnet/packs/Microsoft.iOS.Sdk.net9.0_26.0/26.0.9752/tools/msbuild/Xamarin.Shared.targets(977,3): error : Failed to load actool log file `obj/Release/net9.0-ios/ios-arm64/actool/asset-manifest.plist`: Failed to parse PList data type:  [/Users/runner/work/1/s/MyProject.MauiApp/MyProject.MauiApp.csproj::TargetFramework=net9.0-ios]

##[error]Bash exited with code '1'.
Finishing: Build project

What happened here?

[brunck]

Probably a duplicate.

[rolfbjarne]

xcodebuild: error: SDK "/Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX.sdk" cannot be located.

Are you sure the Xcode path here is correct?

script: 'sudo xcode-select -switch /Applications/Xcode_26.0.app/Contents/Developer'

[rmorin04]

I had the same issue using Xcode_26.0.app.

I tried using Xcode_26.0.1.app it worked!

https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/macos/macos-15-Readme.md

[mitchelsellers]

We have similar issues in GitHub Actions; historically, we had this set for our .NET 9.

   - uses: maxim-lobanov/setup-xcode@v1
      name: Set XCode version
      with:
       xcode-version: 16.4.0

If I update to pin to 26.0.1, I can get the application to build, however, the assets/result is not proper with image assets missing etc.

Edited to correct impact

[mitchelsellers]

I tried using Xcode_26.0.1.app it worked!

Did your app actually work after the build? We got a solid build, but the application itself was unusable with image assets not working, etc.

[rmorin04]

I tried using Xcode_26.0.1.app it worked!

Did your app actually work after the build? We got a solid build, but the application itself was unusable with image assets not working, etc.

Yes every assets in our app still works perfectly using 'Xcode_26.0.1.app'.

[pmahend1]

Seeing the same issue despite selecting Dotnet version 9.0.305 and XCode 16.4
9.0.26 iOS should not even be selected

[mitchelsellers]

Further to my research, I see NOTHING published saying that MAUI needs XCode 20.

https://github.com/dotnet/maui/wiki/Release-Versions

Our apps are totally broken from a CI build perspective, does anyone know of a way to pin thing back so we can build/target 16.4?

[beeradmoore]

Same issue as above. CICD is using .NET SDK 9.0.305. AFAIK iOS SDK 26 will be with .NET 10 so not sure why this rolled out when using .NET 9. MAUI.

Seems like MAUI manifest updated or something and a version of iOS that isn't released (or at least not documented for release).

Our global.json should be preventing RC,

{
  "sdk": {
    "version": "9.0.300", 
    "rollForward": "latestFeature",
    "allowPrerelease": false
  }
}

In our case we were not planning to move to .NET 10 until it was released, so we were staying with Xcode 16.4.

EDIT 1: Attempting to change global.json to include workload version as per this comment.

EDIT 2: Confirming making my global.json look like this worked,

{
  "sdk": {
    "version": "9.0.305",
    "workloadVersion": "9.0.305",
    "rollForward": "latestFeature",
    "allowPrerelease": false
  }
}

[jantanis]

Thanks @beeradmoore , this worked for me:

{
  "sdk": {
    "version": "9.0.305",
    "workloadVersion": "9.0.305",
    "rollForward": "latestFeature",
    "allowPrerelease": false
  }
}

The problem is the workload version. This was the workaround for me.

[rolfbjarne]

I tried using Xcode_26.0.1.app it worked!

Did your app actually work after the build? We got a solid build, but the application itself was unusable with image assets not working, etc.

This might be a different bug, please file a new issue (https://github.com/dotnet/macios/issues/new/choose) and we'll investigate.

[rolfbjarne]

Closing, since this is now working for the original reporter.

[mitchelsellers]

I tried using Xcode_26.0.1.app it worked!

Did your app actually work after the build? We got a solid build, but the application itself was unusable with image assets not working, etc.

This might be a different bug, please file a new issue (https://github.com/dotnet/macios/issues/new/choose) and we'll investigate.

@rolfbjarne Would it be expected that a .NET 9 MAUI build, using the latest and xcode 26 which isn't listed as supporte for .NET 9? If so, I'll get it written up right now