Can I use Xcode 16 Beta and Xcode 15 on the same machine

Yes, you can install Xcode 16 alongside Xcode 15.x on the same machine! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you do it:

1. Download Xcode 16: Go to the Apple Developer website and download the latest beta version of Xcode 16.

2. Quit Xcode 15: If you have Xcode 15.x open, make sure to quit it completely.

3. Change the Name of Xcode 16: After the download is finished, locate the Xcode 16 file and rename it.

4. Copy Xcode 16 to the Applications Folder: Move the renamed Xcode16beta application to your Applications folder.

5. Open Xcode 16: Now, you can open the Xcode16beta application by double-clicking on it in the Applications folder.

6. Create a Alias (Optional): If you want to have a easy way to switch between Xcode 15 and Xcode 16, you can create an alias for the original Xcode application in the Applications folder. Right-click on Xcode, select "Get Info," and then click on the "Create Alias" button. Rename the alias to "Xcode" (or anything you prefer).

Now, you have both Xcode 15 and Xcode 16 installed on your machine, and you can easily switch between them by using the aliases or the full names of the applications.

Hope this helps!

Albert Pascual
  Worldwide Developer Relations.

Does that imply that you no longer need to use the command-line to change active SDK?

OR

Did you assume the user knows to do that after installing side-by-side?

xcode-select --switch

@AndyTouchgram yes, that's the implication, but it isn't new. If you only use the Xcode IDE, you never need to use Xcode-select. Within Xcode, you are using the SDKs embedded within that copy of Xcode.

As the built-in help for xcode-select says, it only affects command-line tools and other tools that depend on those:

"Print or change the path to the active developer directory. This directory controls which tools are used for the Xcode command line tools (for example, xcodebuild) as well as the BSD development commands (such as cc and make)."

If you want to install Xcode 16 on your machine with Xcode 15.4.

Please be aware the new Sequoia 15 beta requires Xcode 16 only. If you want 15.4 and 16.0 you need to stay on the release version not the beta.