Using an iOS device for development

Although you’ll be able to go through most of the exercises in this book using the simulator, it is recommended to build and test your apps on an actual iOS device, as the simulator will not be able to simulate some hardware components and software APIs.

For a comprehensive look at all the differences between the simulator and an actual device, see this link: https://help.apple.com/simulator/mac/current/#/devb0244142d.

In addition to your device, you’ll need an Apple ID or a paid Apple Developer account to build and run your app on your device. You’ll use the same Apple ID that you used to download Xcode from the App Store for now. Follow these steps:

1. Use the cable that came with your iOS device to connect your device to your Mac, and make sure the iOS device is unlocked.
2. Your iOS device will display a Trust This Computer alert. Tap Trust and key in your device passcode when prompted.
3. Your Mac will display a Allow Accessory to Connect alert. Click Allow. Your iOS device should now be connected to your Mac, and will appear in Xcode’s Scheme menu.

   You can view connected devices by choosing Window | Devices and Simulators in the Xcode menu bar.

4. In the Scheme menu, note that your iOS device does not have Developer Mode turned on:

   

   Figure 1.17: Xcode Scheme menu showing iPhone with Developer Mode disabled

   Developer mode was introduced by Apple during their World Wide Developer Conference in 2022 ( WWDC 2022), and is required to install, run and debug your apps on iOS 16 devices.

   To watch a WWDC 2022 video on Developer Mode, click this link: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2022/110344/.

5. If you attempt to build and run your app on your iOS device, you will see the following alert:

Figure 1.18: Alert showing Developer Mode is not turned on

6. To enable Developer Mode on your iOS device, go to Settings | Privacy & Security, scroll down to the Developer Mode item, and tap it.
7. Turn the Developer Mode switch on:

Figure 1.19: Developer Mode switch

8. An alert will appear to warn you that Developer Mode reduces the security of your iOS device. Tap the alert’s Restart button.
9. After your iOS device restarts and you unlock it, confirm that you want to enable Developer Mode by tapping Turn On and entering your iOS device’s passcode.
10. Verify that the (Developer Mode disabled) no longer appears next to your iOS device in the Scheme menu. Your iOS device is now ready to install and run apps from Xcode:

Figure 1.20: Xcode Scheme menu with actual iOS device selected

11. Wait for Xcode to finish indexing and processing, which will take a while. Once this is complete, Ready will be displayed in the status window.
12. Run the project by clicking the Play button (or use Command + R). You will get the following error: Signing for “ExploringXcode” requires a development team:

    

    Figure 1.21: Xcode Signing & Capabilities panel

    This is because a digital certificate is required to run the app on an iOS device, and you need to add an Apple ID or paid Apple Developer account to Xcode so the digital certificate can be generated.

    Using an Apple ID will allow you to test your app on an iOS device, but you will need a paid Apple Developer account to distribute apps on the App Store. You’ll learn more about this in Chapter 27, Testing and Submitting Your App to the App Store.

    Certificates ensure that the only apps that run on your device are the ones you authorize. This helps to protect against malware. You can also learn more about them at this link: https://help.apple.com/xcode/mac/current/#/dev60b6fbbc7.

13. Click the Add Account... button:

Figure 1.22: Xcode Signing & Capabilities pane with the Add Account… button selected

14. The Xcode Settings window appears with the Accounts pane selected. Enter your Apple ID and click Next:

    

    Figure 1.23: Apple ID creation dialog box

    Note that you can create a different Apple ID if you wish using the Create Apple ID button.

    You can also access Xcode settings by choosing Settings in the Xcode menu.

15. Enter your password when prompted. After a few minutes, the Accounts pane will display your account settings:

Figure 1.24: Accounts pane in Xcode preferences

16. Close the Settings window when you’re done by clicking the red Close button in the top-left corner.
17. In Xcode’s Editor area, Click Signing & Capabilities. Make sure Automatically manage signing is ticked and Personal Team is selected from the Team pop-up menu:

Figure 1.25: Xcode Signing & Capabilities pane with account set

18. If you still see errors in this screen, try changing your Bundle Identifier by typing some random characters into it, for example, com.myname4352.ExploringXcode.
19. Everything should work now when you build and run, and your app will be installed on your iOS device. However, it will not launch, and you will see the following message:

Figure 1.26: Could not launch “ExploringXcode” dialog box

This means you need to trust the certificate that has been installed on your device. You’ll learn how to do this in the next section.

Trusting the Developer App certificate on your iOS device

A Developer App certificate is a special file that gets installed on your iOS device along with your app. Before your app can run, you need to trust it. Follow these steps:

1. On your iOS device, tap Settings| General | VPN & Device Management:

Figure 1.27: Device Management setting in iOS Settings

2. Tap Apple Development:

Figure 1.28: Apple Development section in Device Management settings

3. Tap Trust “Apple Development: “:

Figure 1.29: Trust button

4. Tap Trust:

Figure 1.30: Trust dialog box

5. You should see the following text, which shows the app is now trusted:

Figure 1.31: Apple Development section with trusted certificate

6. Click the Play button in Xcode to build and run again. You’ll see your app launch and run on your iOS device.

Congratulations! Note that you have to connect your iOS device to your Mac using the cable to build and run your app. You’ll learn how to connect to your device over Wi-Fi in the next section.

Connecting an iOS device wirelessly

Unplugging and replugging your iOS device to your Mac can get pretty cumbersome after a while, so you’ll configure Xcode to connect to your iOS device over Wi-Fi now. Follow these steps:

1. Make sure your iOS device is plugged in to your Mac, and both Mac and iOS device are on the same wireless network.
2. Choose Window | Devices and Simulators from the Xcode menu bar:

Figure 1.32: Xcode Window menu with Devices and Simulators selected

3. Click on the checkbox marked Connect via network:

Figure 1.33: Xcode Devices and Simulators Window with “Connect via network” checked

Awesome! Your iOS device is now connected wirelessly to Xcode, and you no longer need the USB cable to be connected to it.