[xcode] How to update Xcode from command line

I am trying to update Xcode from the command line. Initially I tried running:

 xcode-select --install

which resulted in this message:

xcode-select: error: command line tools are already installed, use "Software Update" to install updates

So the question remains, is there a way to update Xcode from the command line?

I had the same issue and I solved by doing the following:

1. removing the old tools ($ sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools)
2. install xcode command line tools again ($ xcode-select --install).

After these steps you will see a pop to install the new version of the tools.

I arrived here trying to install Appium. Adding my answer in case other folks land here for the same issue.

appium-doctor --ios

... bunch of stuff...

WARN AppiumDoctor ? Error running xcrun simctl

... bunch of stuff...

info AppiumDoctor ### Manual Fixes Needed ###

info AppiumDoctor The configuration cannot be automatically fixed, please do the following first:

WARN AppiumDoctor ? Manually install Xcode, and make sure 'xcode-select -p' command shows proper path like '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer'

In my case

xcode-select -p

/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

which appeared wrong...but I knew I had recently updated Xcode and the command line tools

so...

sudo xcode-select -r (sudo required)

then...

xcode-select -p
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

After this, no warning. Appium-doctor returned clean.

To those having this issue after update to Catalina, just execute this command on your terminal

sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools; xcode-select --install;

Just type the commands

cd  /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/Packages/;
open macOS_SDK_headers_for_macOS_10.14.pkg

Reference: https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/104296

I was facing the same problem, resolved it by using the following command.

sudo xcode-select -s /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

After running the above command then xcode-select -p command showed the following.

/Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

After installing Command Line Tools (with xcode-select --install), type:

sudo xcode-select --switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/

You should be able to run git now:

10:29 $ git --version
git version 2.17.2 (Apple Git-113)

Xcode::Install is a simple cli software that allow you to install/select a specific Xcode version.

You can install it using gem install xcode-install
Then you will be able to install a specific version with xcversion install 9.4.1
And if you have more than one version installed, you can switch version with xcversion select 9.4

You can find more information at https://github.com/KrauseFx/xcode-install

I got this error after deleting Xcode. I fixed it by resetting the command line tools path with sudo xcode-select -r.

Before:

navin@Radiant ~$ /usr/bin/clang
xcrun: error: active developer path ("/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer") does not exist
Use `sudo xcode-select --switch path/to/Xcode.app` to specify the Xcode that you wish to use for command line developer tools, or use `xcode-select --install` to install the standalone command line developer tools.
See `man xcode-select` for more details.

navin@Radiant ~$ xcode-select --install
xcode-select: error: command line tools are already installed, use "Software Update" to install updates

After:

navin@Radiant ~$ /usr/bin/clang
clang: error: no input files

I was trying to use the React-Native Expo app with create-react-native-app but for some reason it would launch my simulator and just hang without loading the app. The above answer by ipinak above reset the Xcode CLI tools because attempting to update to most recent Xcode CLI was not working. the two commands are:

rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
xcode-select --install

This process take time because of the download. I am leaving this here for any other would be searches for this specific React-Native Expo fix.

I encountered the same issue when I uninstalled the complete version of Xcode to reinstall the CLI version. My fix was:

sudo xcode-select -s /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools

Hello I solved it like this:

Install Application> Xcode.app> Contents> Resources> Packages> XcodeSystemResources.pkg.

$ sudo rm -rf /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools
$ xcode-select --install

I am now running OS Big Sur. xcode-select --install, and sudo xcode-select --reset did not resolve my issue, neither did the recommended subsequent softwareupdate --install -a command. For good measure, I tried the recommended download from Apple Downloads, but the Command Line Tools downloads available there are not compatible with my OS.

I upvoted the fix that resolved for me, sudo xcode-select --switch /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools/ and added this post for environment context.

xCode version 11.2.1 is necessary for building app in iPad 13.2.3, When I directly try to upgrade from xcode 11.1 to 11.2.1 through App Store it get struck, So after some research , I found a solution to upgrade by removing the existing xcode from the system

So here I am adding the steps to upgrade after uninstalling existing xcode.

1. Go to Applications and identify Xcode and drag it to trash.
2. Empty trash to permenently delete Xcode.
3. Now go to ~/Library/Developer/ folder and remove the contents completely Use sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/ to avoid any permission issue while deleting
4. Lastly remove any cache directory associated with xcode in the path ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode/*
5. After completing the above steps you can easly install xcode from App Store, which will install the current latest version of xcode

Note: Please take a backup of your existing projects before making the above changes

@Vel Genov's answer is correct, except when the version of Xcode can't be updated because it is the latest version for your current version of Mac OS. If you know there is a newer Xcode (for example, it won't load an app onto a device with a recent version of iOS) then it's necessary to first upgrade Mac OS.

Further note for those like me with old Mac Pro 5.1. Upgrading to Mojave required installing the metal gpu (Sapphire AMD Radeon RX 560 in my case) but make sure only HDMI monitor is installed (not 4K! 1080 only). Only then did install Mojave say firmware update required and shut computer down. Long 2 minute power button hold and it all upgraded fine after that!

Catalina update - softwareupdate --install -a won't upgrade xcode from command line if there is a pending update (say you selected update xcode overnight)