[BUG] Linking fails on macOS 15 arm64 with Xcode 16.4

[eithe]

📋 Description

Hi and thanks for creating this!

When building for iOS in our ci/cd pipeline with macOS 15 and Xcode 16.4 I get the following error during the linking process. Please note that building locally (macOS 26, Xcode 26.2) works.

...
▸ Compiling MyApp_vers.c
▸ Compiling MapBridge.m
▸ Linking MyApp
⚠️  ld: Could not find or use auto-linked framework 'CoreAudioTypes': framework 'CoreAudioTypes' not found
⚠️  ld: Could not find or use auto-linked framework 'UIUtilities': framework 'UIUtilities' not found
⚠️  ld: Could not find or use auto-linked framework '_LocationEssentials': framework '_LocationEssentials' not found
⚠️  ld: Could not parse or use implicit file '/Applications/Xcode_16.4.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneOS.sdk/System/Library/Frameworks/SwiftUICore.framework/SwiftUICore.tbd': cannot link directly with 'SwiftUICore' because product being built is not an allowed client of it

❌  ld: symbol(s) not found for architecture arm64



❌  clang: error: linker command failed with exit code 1 (use -v to see invocation)


** ARCHIVE FAILED **

Any suggestions on what I can try? Unfortunately Azure Devops does not yet include build agents with macOS 26.

🔄 Steps to Reproduce

Setup the project as per the guide, and try to build on macOS 15 Xcode 16.4

/usr/bin/xcodebuild -sdk iphoneos -configuration Release -workspace ./MyApp.xcworkspace -scheme Release clean archive

🤔 Expected Behavior

It should build

😲 Actual Behavior

Build fails

RNRepo version (and/or @rnrepo/expo-config-plugin version)

0.3.0

React Native version

0.81.5

Gradle version

8.14.3

Operating System

macOS 15

➕ Additional Information

No response

[radoslawrolka]

Hi,
At the moment, we’re focusing on supporting the latest version of Xcode. However, I’ll keep this on my radar and look into it further when I have some available time.

[eithe]

Hi, At the moment, we’re focusing on supporting the latest version of Xcode.

Thanks and no worries, I will update this post once Azure Devops decides to add macos-26 build agents.

[radoslawrolka]

I’ve tested it and everything worked on my side — I’m not able to reproduce the issue.

Env:

• M3 macOS 15.16.1
• xcodebuild -version: Xcode 16.4 16F6

On:

• npx @react-native-community/cli@latest init AwesomeProject --version 0.81.5
• npx create-expo-app@latest my-app (expo@54)

Could you share your app repo or package.json+Podfile ? It’s hard to tell which library might be causing this - it could be related to a specific dependency, possibly one that isn’t present in my setup.

[eithe]

Thanks for checking!

There are loads of packages in our package.json and a few in our Podfile as well, I imagine it it will be quite difficult for you to reproduce. I suggest we just close this issue, but I'll be back if it doesn't work when azure decides to add macos-26 agents.

If you really like to dig deep:

package.json deps

  "dependencies": {
    "@gorhom/bottom-sheet": "5.2.8",
    "@likashefqet/react-native-image-zoom": "4.3.0",
    "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage": "3.0.1",
    "@react-native-community/geolocation": "3.4.0",
    "@react-native-community/netinfo": "12.0.1",
    "@react-native-firebase/analytics": "23.8.6",
    "@react-native-firebase/app": "23.8.6",
    "@react-native-firebase/crashlytics": "23.8.6",
    "@react-native-firebase/messaging": "23.8.6",
    "@react-navigation/bottom-tabs": "6.6.1",
    "@react-navigation/native": "6.1.18",
    "@react-navigation/routers": "6.1.9",
    "@react-navigation/stack": "6.4.1",
    "@reduxjs/toolkit": "2.11.2",
    "@rn-primitives/portal": "1.3.0",
    "@shopify/react-native-skia": "2.5.1",
    "@tanstack/react-query": "5.90.21",
    "@types/lodash": "4.17.24",
    "apisauce": "3.2.2",
    "axios": "1.13.6",
    "babel-preset-expo": "54.0.10",
    "expo": "54.0.33",
    "expo-file-system": "19.0.21",
    "expo-screen-orientation": "9.0.8",
    "expo-sharing": "14.0.8",
    "i18next": "25.8.14",
    "identity-obj-proxy": "3.0.0",
    "jest-haste-map": "30.2.0",
    "jest-resolve": "30.2.0",
    "lodash": "4.17.23",
    "moment": "2.30.1",
    "postinstall-postinstall": "2.1.0",
    "pretty-bytes": "7.1.0",
    "proj4": "2.20.4",
    "react": "19.1.4",
    "react-i18next": "16.5.6",
    "react-native": "0.81.6",
    "react-native-app-auth": "8.1.0",
    "react-native-bootsplash": "7.1.0",
    "react-native-code-push": "9.0.1",
    "react-native-device-info": "15.0.2",
    "react-native-draggable-flatlist": "4.0.3",
    "react-native-gesture-handler": "2.30.0",
    "react-native-linear-gradient": "2.8.3",
    "react-native-map-link": "3.11.0",
    "react-native-modal": "14.0.0-rc.1",
    "react-native-reanimated": "3.19.5",
    "react-native-render-html": "6.3.4",
    "react-native-safe-area-context": "5.7.0",
    "react-native-screens": "4.24.0",
    "react-native-svg": "15.15.3",
    "react-native-uuid": "2.0.3",
    "react-native-vector-icons": "10.3.0",
    "react-native-webview": "13.16.1",
    "react-redux": "9.2.0",
    "redux": "5.0.1",
    "redux-persist": "6.0.0",
    "redux-saga": "1.4.2",
    "reduxsauce": "2.1.0",
    "striptags": "3.2.0",
    "victory-native": "41.20.2"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "@babel/core": "7.25.9",
    "@babel/eslint-parser": "7.25.9",
    "@babel/preset-env": "7.25.9",
    "@babel/runtime": "7.25.9",
    "@react-native-community/cli": "20.0.2",
    "@react-native-community/cli-platform-android": "20.0.2",
    "@react-native-community/cli-platform-ios": "20.0.2",
    "@react-native/babel-preset": "0.81.6",
    "@react-native/eslint-config": "0.81.6",
    "@react-native/metro-config": "0.81.6",
    "@react-native/typescript-config": "0.81.6",
    "@testing-library/react-native": "13.3.3",
    "@trivago/prettier-plugin-sort-imports": "6.0.2",
    "@types/jest": "30.0.0",
    "@types/node": "24.12.0",
    "@types/react": "19.1.17",
    "@types/react-native-vector-icons": "6.4.18",
    "@types/react-test-renderer": "19.1.0",
    "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "7.18.0",
    "@typescript-eslint/parser": "7.18.0",
    "babel-plugin-transform-remove-console": "6.9.4",
    "babel-preset-env": "1.7.0",
    "eslint": "8.57.1",
    "eslint-config-airbnb": "19.0.4",
    "eslint-config-airbnb-typescript": "18.0.0",
    "eslint-plugin-ft-flow": "3.0.11",
    "eslint-plugin-import": "2.32.0",
    "eslint-plugin-jest": "28.14.0",
    "eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y": "6.10.2",
    "eslint-plugin-prettier": "5.5.5",
    "eslint-plugin-react": "7.37.5",
    "eslint-plugin-react-hooks": "5.2.0",
    "eslint-plugin-react-native": "5.0.0",
    "jest": "30.2.0",
    "node-fetch": "3.3.2",
    "orval": "7.21.0",
    "patch-package": "8.0.1",
    "prettier": "3.8.1",
    "react-test-renderer": "19.1.4",
    "reactotron-react-native": "5.1.18",
    "reactotron-redux": "3.2.1",
    "redux-saga-test-plan": "4.0.6",
    "typescript": "5.8.3"
  },
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=20"
  }

Podfile

ENV['RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED'] = '0'

# Ensure Ruby can find Node in non-login shells (helps when using Homebrew/nvm)
ENV['PATH'] = "#{ENV['PATH']}:/opt/homebrew/bin:/usr/local/bin"

# --- Hardened Expo autolinking require ---
expo_autolinking_candidates = [
  File.expand_path('../node_modules/expo/scripts/autolinking', __dir__),   # common case: ios/ next to node_modules/
  File.expand_path('../../node_modules/expo/scripts/autolinking', __dir__), # monorepo: node_modules two levels up
]

loaded_expo_autolinking = false
expo_autolinking_candidates.each do |p|
  if File.exist?(p) || File.exist?(p + '.rb')
    require p
    loaded_expo_autolinking = true
    break
  end
end

unless loaded_expo_autolinking
  # Last resort: use Node to resolve (works with hoisting if Node is accessible)
  require File.join(
    File.dirname(`node --print "require.resolve('expo/package.json')"`),
    'scripts/autolinking'
  )
end
# Resolve react_native_pods.rb with node to allow for hoisting
require Pod::Executable.execute_command('node', ['-p',
  'require.resolve(
    "react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb",
    {paths: [process.argv[1]]},
  )', __dir__]).strip

platform :ios, '15.5'

$RNFirebaseAnalyticsWithoutAdIdSupport = true

prepare_react_native_project!

def shared_pods
  # Pods for MyApp
  pod 'ArcGIS-Runtime-SDK-iOS', '100.15.6'
  pod "PromiseKit", "~> 6.8"
  pod 'GoogleUtilities', :modular_headers => true
end

target 'MyApp' do
  use_expo_modules!
  post_integrate do |installer|
    begin
      expo_patch_react_imports!(installer)
    rescue => e
      Pod::UI.warn e
    end
  end
  # Comment the next line if you're not using Swift and don't want to use dynamic frameworks
  use_frameworks! :linkage => :static # https://rnfirebase.io/#altering-cocoapods-to-use-frameworks
  $RNFirebaseAsStaticFramework = true # https://rnfirebase.io/#altering-cocoapods-to-use-frameworks
  shared_pods

  if ENV['EXPO_USE_COMMUNITY_AUTOLINKING'] == '1'
    config_command = ['node', '-e', "process.argv=['', '', 'config'];require('@react-native-community/cli').run()"];
  else
    config_command = [
      'node',
      '--no-warnings',
      '--eval',
      'require(require.resolve(\'expo-modules-autolinking\', { paths: [require.resolve(\'expo/package.json\')] }))(process.argv.slice(1))',
      'react-native-config',
      '--json',
      '--platform',
      'ios'
    ]
  end

  config = use_native_modules!(config_command)

  use_react_native!(
    :path => config[:reactNativePath],
    :hermes_enabled => true,
    # An absolute path to your application root.
    :app_path => "#{Pod::Config.instance.installation_root}/.."
  )

  post_install do |installer|
    react_native_post_install(
        installer,
        # Set `mac_catalyst_enabled` to `true` in order to apply patches
        # necessary for Mac Catalyst builds
        config[:reactNativePath],
        :mac_catalyst_enabled => false,
        # :ccache_enabled => true
      )

      # https://github.com/CocoaPods/CocoaPods/issues/11402#issuecomment-1201464693
      installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
        target.build_configurations.each do |config|
            config.build_settings['EXPANDED_CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY'] = ""
            config.build_settings['CODE_SIGNING_REQUIRED'] = "NO"
            config.build_settings['CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED'] = "NO"
        end
      end

      installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
        target.build_configurations.each do |config|
          config.build_settings["ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH"] = "YES"
        end
      end

      # https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78993520/invalid-executable-the-executable-appname-app-frameworks-hermes-framework-herm/79000365#79000365
      bitcode_strip_path = `xcrun --find bitcode_strip`.chop!

      def strip_bitcode_from_framework(bitcode_strip_path, framework_relative_path)
        framework_path = File.join(Dir.pwd, framework_relative_path)
        command = "#{bitcode_strip_path} #{framework_path} -r -o #{framework_path}"
        puts "Stripping bitcode: #{command}"
        system(command)
      end

      framework_paths = [
        "Pods/ArcGIS-Runtime-SDK-iOS/ArcGIS.xcframework/ios-arm64/ArcGIS.framework/ArcGIS",
        "Pods/ArcGIS-Runtime-SDK-iOS/Runtimecore.xcframework/ios-arm64/Runtimecore.framework/Runtimecore"
      ]

      framework_paths.each do |framework_relative_path|
        strip_bitcode_from_framework(bitcode_strip_path, framework_relative_path)
      end
  end

end

[ShaneJMitchell]

Hi, At the moment, we’re focusing on supporting the latest version of Xcode.

Thanks and no worries, I will update this post once Azure Devops decides to add macos-26 build agents.

is there any sort of update on this?
The referenced ticket was created 2 months ago and hasn't had a single update or even a comment recognizing the issue and stating it's prioritization or expected ETA.
There are tons of people that use Azure MS-hosted agents for their support of building and maintaining mobile apps - Microsoft is very close to a bunch of customers jumping ship from Azure DevOps if we all have to buy a fleet of Macs just to do our app builds - at that point we can just use Jenkins and save a ton of $.