Xcode Multiplatform App Targets

Starting in Xcode 14, when you create a multiplatform app project, Xcode creates a single app target with destinations for each platform you want to support: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac. This article provides an introduction to multiplatform app targets.

When to Use the Multiplatform App Target

Use the Multiplatform App Target if you want people to buy one version of your app on the App Store and run the app on all the platforms you support: iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, and/or Mac. Use separate targets if you plan to charge for each platform separately.

If you plan to sell a Mac version of your app outside the App Store, create a separate app target. Use the multiplatform app target to sell on the App Store and the Mac app target to sell outside the App Store.

Viewing, Adding, and Removing Platform Destinations

Select the target from the target list on the left side of the project editor and click the General button at the top of the project editor to see a list of the app’s platform destinations:

The supported destinations list has buttons to add and remove destinations. If you created a project in an older version of Xcode, you must add destinations to have a single app target that supports iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, and Mac. Older versions of Xcode have separate targets for each platform.

Mac Destination Choices

When adding the Mac destination to an app target, you have the following choices:

• Mac
• Mac Catalyst
• Designed for iPad

Choosing Mac uses SwiftUI and/or AppKit for the Mac app. Mac is the best choice for a new app, especially one that uses SwiftUI.

Choosing Mac Catalyst uses UIKit for the Mac app. Mac Catalyst is the best choice if you want to make a Mac version of an existing iOS app.

Choosing Designed for iPad runs the iPad version of the app on Macs with Apple Silicon chips. Choose Designed for iPad if you want a Mac version of your iOS app and don’t want to do any work converting the app.

Choosing the Platform to Build and Run

Xcode can build and run for only platform at a time. How do you specify the platform to build and run?

There’s a jump bar in the project window toolbar.

Click the right part of the jump bar to choose the platform: Mac, a connected iOS device, or an iOS simulator.

Compiling Files for Specific Platforms

Previous versions of Xcode have separate targets for each platform. If you have separate targets with code that should be compiled for a specific platform, make the file a member of that target. But you can’t do that with the multiplatform app target because there’s only one target. What do you do if you have platform-specific source code files?

Tell Xcode what platforms a source code file should compile for. Click the Build Phases button at the top of the project editor and examine the Compile Sources build phase.

Xcode initially sets each source code file to build for each destination. Click on the Filter column for a source code file to open a popover.

Deselect the Allow any platform checkbox and deselect the destinations you don’t want to use. Now that file compiles only for the platforms you specified.