Failed to prepare device for development iOS Origin: On your device Last updated 14 Oct 2026

Xcode: Failed to prepare device for development / iPhone is not available. Please reconnect the device

Xcode couldn’t set up the device — usually the device’s iOS version is newer than Xcode supports, Developer Mode is off, or pairing/trust is broken.

Exact message you may see Failed to prepare device for developmentiPhone is not available. Please reconnect the deviceThis operation can fail if the version of the OS on the device is newerDeveloper Mode disabled
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Seen on: iOS

Meaning

Each Xcode version supports iOS up to a certain release (needs device support files). iOS 16+ also requires Developer Mode enabled on the device.

Common causes

  • Device iOS newer than this Xcode supports
  • Developer Mode not enabled (iOS 16+)
  • Device not trusted/paired
  • Locked device or cable issues

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Update Xcode
  2. Enable Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode and restart
  3. Unpair/re-pair (Devices and Simulators), trust the computer

Detailed fix by platform

Shell

  1. swift
    xcrun devicectl list devices
xcrun xctrace list devices

How to diagnose

  1. Versions — Xcode vs iOS version
  2. Developer Mode — On?
  3. Pairing — Trusted?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: On your device. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

Cannot preview in this file — SwiftUI Preview: Cannot preview in this file — the preview crashed / failed to build (iOS)Cannot preview in thi…doesn't include the currently selected device — Provisioning profile "x" doesn't include the currently selected device (iOS)doesn't include the c…invalid active developer path — xcrun: error: invalid active developer path (/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools), missing xcrun (iOS)invalid active develo…ITMS-90725 — ITMS-90725: SDK version issue — This app was built with the iOS 17.x SDK. All iOS apps submitted to the App Store must be built with the iOS 18 SDK or later (iOS)ITMS-90725No such module — Swift: No such module 'X' (module not found) (iOS)No such moduleSigning requires a development team — Signing for "App" requires a development team. Select a development team in the Signing & Capabilities editor (iOS)Signing requires a de…Undefined symbols for architecture — Undefined symbol(s) for architecture arm64 — linker command failed with exit code 1 (iOS)Undefined symbols for…Untrusted Developer — Could not launch "App": process launch failed: Security / Untrusted Developer (iOS)Untrusted DeveloperFailed to…

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