Managing Multiple Xcode Versions with Xcodes.app

Apple releases new Xcode versions frequently, often requiring developers to switch between stable, beta, and older versions for compatibility testing. Xcodes.app is a simple yet powerful macOS application that allows you to:

Easily install and manage multiple versions of Xcode
Quickly switch between them
Keep track of updates

This tutorial walks you through installing Xcodes.app, downloading multiple Xcode versions, and using its Make Active feature to set your desired Xcode version system-wide.

Step 1: Install Xcodes

Download Xcodes

Visit https://www.xcodes.app and download the zip from the download link (github release page).
Extract the app and move it to your Applications folder.

Launch the App

On first launch, macOS may show a security prompt since it’s a third-party app.
Click Open.

Step 2: Sign In to Apple Developer Account (Optional but Recommended)

Some Xcode versions (especially betas) require authentication.

In Xcodes:

- Go to Xcodes → Settings → General → Sign In.

- Sign in with your Apple Developer credentials.

Step 3: Install Multiple Xcode Versions

Browse available versions (Stable, Beta, Older).
Click Install next to the version you need.
Xcodes handles downloading and extracting Xcode automatically, saving time compared to manual DMG/XIP processes.

Step 4: Using “Make Active”

What it does:

macOS uses the xcode-select tool to define which Xcode version is the default for command-line tools like xcodebuild, swift, or CocoaPods.
Normally, switching versions requires:
sudo xcode-select --switch /path/to/Xcode.app
With Xcodes, Make Active handles this for you.

How to use it:

Find the Xcode version you want to make the default.
Click Make Active.
All command-line tools (Terminal, CI scripts, Fastlane, etc.) now use that version automatically.