iOS app fails to run with Xcode 16, no issue with Xcode 15 (no build errors)

When I build and run my iOS app with Xcode 16.0 RC (16A242), it fails to run on both a physical iPhone (running iOS 18.0) and any iOS simulator (17.5, 18.0 RC tested). To be clear, this is an issue when running – there are zero build errors, and compilation always completes successfully.

The same app, building and running from Xcode 15.4 (15F31d) runs on both a physical iPhone (same OS version) and an iOS simulator (same version) with no issues, and is currently deployed to TestFlight with no crashes at launch reported from users.

Xcode 16's console logs the following:

warning: (arm64) /Users/seb/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/Feed-bvzobcgzcnaibqbcwiasvpoxsetu/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/Feed.app/Feed empty dSYM file detected, dSYM was created with an executable with no debug info.

No entry point found. Checked '(null)'

I've so far tried a clean build, as well as clearing out my derived data folder entirely. Happy to provide any more info.

Does anyone have any pointers as where I even start to debug this issue and narrow down on what's going on with Xcode 16?

Answered by sebj in 803946022

Solution found. My 'Other Linker Flags’ build setting was set to -Wl -exported_symbols_list /dev/null since earlier in the year, when I was testing app size reductions. This worked fine with local builds with Xcode 15, but just started causing an issue with local builds using Xcode 16. Removing this custom build setting value fixes my issue entirely.

Did you get the problem with Xcode16.1ß1 or 16.0ß5 ?

Just an idea, from this very old thread: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29209582/make-sure-your-project-build-settings-are-generating-a-dsym-file-debug-informat

Check that you create a DSYM file (go to the build settings -> Build options)

Hope that helps.

@sebj Try set 「Enable Debug Dylib Support」 to NO

redacted

Same here 16.0 (16A242). I did not change any project settings.

Also when uploading to App Store Connect it warns about "Upload Symbols Failed The archive did not include a dSYM for the GoogleMobileAds.framework " maybe that is related?

Update: I'm wondering whether I either have some local project or tooling corruption, or should have been running macOS Sequoia this whole time.

Building and distributing a TestFlight build from Xcode Cloud (macOS Sequoia RC + Xcode 16 RC) is successful, and the resulting app runs with no issue.

Same issue with Xcode 16.0 (16A242d, final release) and macOS Sequoia 15.0 (24A335, final release).

Accepted Answer

Solution found. My 'Other Linker Flags’ build setting was set to -Wl -exported_symbols_list /dev/null since earlier in the year, when I was testing app size reductions. This worked fine with local builds with Xcode 15, but just started causing an issue with local builds using Xcode 16. Removing this custom build setting value fixes my issue entirely.

my app have the same issue on xcode16 rc

Mine as well. Just tried on Xcode 16 RC. Can't send my Vision OS 2.0 project to TestFlight.

I'm using Xcode 16, when running any simulator device on iOS 15. The simulator freezes up. I have no package dependencies as I am just practicing on my "TestApp" project. Seems like other iOS version above 15 work fine, does anyone else face this issue?

Same here, I am using Xcode 16 (final release) and Sequoia 15 (final release). But I am unable to run my IPAs in Simulator (crashing in launch), working on a physical device.

PS: Still not worked when Other Linker Flags is empty.

iOS app fails to run with Xcode 16, no issue with Xcode 15 (no build errors)
 
 
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