How to Download Xcode to an External Hard Drive
Xcode is a complete developer toolset for creating apps for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. It includes a powerful code editor, a graphical interface builder, a testing suite, a debugging tool, and many more features that make app development easier and faster. However, Xcode is also a very large application that takes up a lot of space on your Mac's internal drive. If you have a Mac with limited storage capacity, or if you want to keep your internal drive free for other purposes, you might want to download Xcode to an external hard drive instead.
Installing Xcode on an external hard drive has some benefits and challenges. On the one hand, it can help you save space on your internal drive, make backups easier, and allow you to use Xcode on different Macs by simply plugging in your external hard drive. On the other hand, it can also affect the performance and reliability of Xcode, depending on the speed and quality of your external hard drive and its connection. Therefore, before you decide to install Xcode on an external hard drive, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully and choose a suitable external hard drive for this purpose.
download xcode to external hard drive
In this article, we will show you how to download and install Xcode on an external hard drive in five easy steps. You will need a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, an external hard drive with at least 50 GB of free space formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and a stable internet connection. Let's get started!
Step 1: Prepare your external hard drive
The first step is to prepare your external hard drive for installing Xcode. You need to make sure that your external hard drive is formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), which are the file systems supported by macOS. You also need to create a partition on your external hard drive for Xcode, so that you can keep it separate from other files and folders. Finally, you need to check how much space is available on your external hard drive, as Xcode requires at least 40 GB of space for installation.
How to format your external hard drive as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
If your external hard drive is not already formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled ), you need to format it using Disk Utility, which is a built-in app on your Mac. Here are the steps to format your external hard drive as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled): - Connect your external hard drive to your Mac using a USB cable or another compatible connection. - Open Disk Utility from the Applications folder, the Launchpad, or the Spotlight search. - Select your external hard drive from the sidebar on the left. Make sure you select the disk itself, not the volume under it. - Click the Erase button on the top toolbar. A pop-up window will appear, asking you to enter a name, a format, and a scheme for your external hard drive. - Enter a name for your external hard drive, such as "Xcode Drive". - Choose a format for your external hard drive. If your external hard drive is SSD (solid state drive), you should choose APFS, which is the newer and faster file system. If your external hard drive is HDD (hard disk drive), you should choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled), which is the older and more compatible file system. - Choose a scheme for your external hard drive. You should choose GUID Partition Map, which is the standard partition scheme for macOS. - Click Erase and wait for the process to complete. This will erase all the data on your external hard drive, so make sure you have a backup of any important files before you proceed. - Click Done when the process is finished. Your external hard drive is now formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and ready for installing Xcode. How to create a partition on your external hard drive for Xcode
After formatting your external hard drive, you need to create a partition on it for Xcode. A partition is a logical division of a disk that allows you to organize and separate your data. By creating a partition for Xcode, you can isolate it from other files and folders on your external hard drive and make it easier to manage and backup. Here are the steps to create a partition on your external hard drive for Xcode: - Open Disk Utility again and select your external hard drive from the sidebar on the left. - Click the Partition button on the top toolbar. A pop-up window will appear, showing you a pie chart of your external hard drive and its current partitions. - Click the + button below the pie chart to add a new partition. A new slice will appear on the pie chart, representing the new partition. - Enter a name for the new partition, such as "Xcode". - Adjust the size of the new partition by dragging the resize handle on the pie chart or entering a specific value in the Size field. You should allocate at least 40 GB of space for Xcode, but you can choose more if you have enough space on your external hard drive. - Click Apply and wait for the process to complete. This will create a new partition on your external hard drive without affecting the existing data on it. - Click Done when the process is finished. Your external hard drive now has a new partition for Xcode and ready for installing Xcode. How to check the available space on your external hard drive
Before downloading and installing Xcode, you need to check how much space is available on your external hard drive, especially on the partition that you created for Xcode. You need at least 40 GB of free space for Xcode, but more is recommended for optimal performance and future updates. Here are the steps to check the available space on your external hard drive: - Open Finder and select your external hard drive from the sidebar on the left. - Right-click or control-click on the partition that you created for Xcode and choose Get Info from the context menu. A pop-up window will appear, showing you various information about the partition, such as its name, size, used space, available space, etc. - Look at the Available field and see how much free space is left on the partition. If it is less than 40 GB, you need to free up some space by deleting or moving some files from the partition or resizing it using Disk Utility. - Close the pop-up window when you are done checking. Step 2: Download Xcode from Apple's Developer Site
The next step is to download Xcode from Apple's developer site. You need to register for a free developer account and sign in with your Apple ID. You also need to find and download the latest Xcode release (not the beta version), which is compatible with your macOS version. You also need to verify the integrity of the downloaded file, to make sure that it is not corrupted or tampered with. Here are the steps to download Xcode from Apple's developer site: How to register for a free developer account and sign in
To download Xcode from Apple's developer site, you need to have a developer account and sign in with your Apple ID. If you don't have a developer account yet, you can register for one for free. Here are the steps to register for a free developer account and sign in: - Go to [Apple's developer site] and click on the Account button on the top right corner. - If you already have a developer account, enter your Apple ID and password and click Sign In. If you don't have a developer account yet, click on the Create Apple ID button and follow the instructions to create one. - After signing in, you will see your account dashboard, where you can access various resources and tools for app development. How to find and download the latest Xcode release (not the beta version)
After signing in to your developer account, you need to find and download the latest Xcode release (not the beta version) that is compatible with your macOS version. You can find Xcode releases on the Downloads page of Apple's developer site. Here are the steps to find and download the latest Xcode release (not the beta version): - Go to the [Downloads page] of Apple's developer site and scroll down to find the Xcode section. - Look for the latest Xcode release (not the beta version) that matches your macOS version. For example, if you have macOS Big Sur 11.4, look for Xcode 12.5.1, which is the latest Xcode release as of June 2021. - Click on the blue Download button next to the Xcode release that you want to download. A pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm your download request. - Click on the blue Download button again on the pop-up window. The download will start automatically and you will see a progress bar on your browser. - Wait for the download to finish. The downloaded file will be a .xip file, which is a compressed archive file that contains the Xcode app bundle. The file size will be around 10 GB, so it may take some time depending on your internet speed. How to verify the integrity of the downloaded file
After downloading Xcode from Apple's developer site, you need to verify the integrity of the downloaded file, to make sure that it is not corrupted or tampered with. You can do this by checking the checksum of the downloaded file and comparing it with the checksum provided by Apple on their developer site. A checksum is a unique string of characters that represents the content of a file. If the checksums match, it means that the file is intact and authentic. Here are the steps to verify the integrity of the downloaded file: - Go to the [Downloads page] of Apple's developer site again and scroll down to find the Xcode section. - Look for the same Xcode release that you downloaded and click on the More button next to it. A pop-up window will appear, showing you more information about the Xcode release, such as its version number, release date, file size, and checksum. - Copy or note down the checksum of the Xcode release that you downloaded. It will be a long string of letters and numbers, such as 8c131448a039c8ed2c7dd77c4d8e353f9a4e9a6a. - Open Terminal from the Applications folder, the Launchpad, or the Spotlight search. - Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Xcode .xip file using the cd command. For example, if you downloaded the file to your Downloads folder, type cd /Downloads and press Enter. - Type shasum -a 256 followed by a space and drag the Xcode .xip file from Finder to Terminal. This will append the file name and path to the command. Press Enter to execute the command. This will calculate the checksum of the downloaded file using the SHA-256 algorithm and display it on Terminal. - Compare the checksum displayed on Terminal with the checksum that you copied or noted down from Apple's developer site. If they match exactly, it means that the downloaded file is intact and authentic. If they don't match, it means that the downloaded file is corrupted or tampered with and you need to download it again. Step 3: Install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive
The third step is to install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive. Xcode command-line tools are a set of software tools that enable you to perform various tasks on your Mac using Terminal, such as compiling code, installing packages, managing Git repositories, etc. You need to install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive because they are required for Xcode to work properly, even if you install Xcode on an external hard drive. Here are the steps to install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive: Why you need to install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive
Xcode command-line tools are essential for Xcode to work properly, as they provide the underlying tools and libraries that Xcode uses to build and run your apps. For example, Xcode command-line tools include compilers, linkers, debuggers, simulators, device support files, etc. Without Xcode command-line tools, Xcode will not be able to compile your code, run your app on a simulator or a device, debug your app, etc.
Xcode command-line tools are also useful for other purposes besides app development, such as scripting, automation, package management, version control, etc. For example, you can use Xcode command-line tools to install Homebrew, which is a popular package manager for macOS that allows you to install various software packages that are not available on the App Store. You can also use Xcode command-line tools to manage Git repositories, which are a way of storing and tracking changes in your code.
Xcode command-line tools need to be installed on your internal drive because they are tightly integrated with your macOS system and rely on certain paths and locations that are specific to your internal drive. If you try to install Xcode command-line tools on an external hard drive, they will not work properly and may cause errors or conflicts with other software on your Mac. Therefore, you should always install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive and keep them updated regularly.
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How to trigger the installation of Xcode command-line tools using Terminal
The easiest way to install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive is to trigger the installation using Terminal. You don't need to download anything manually or go through any complicated steps. All you need to do is type a simple command on Terminal and follow the instructions on the screen. Here are the steps to trigger the installation of Xcode command-line tools using Terminal: - Open Terminal from the Applications folder, the Launchpad, or the Spotlight search. - Type xcode-select --install and press Enter. This will prompt you to install Xcode command-line tools on your Mac. - A pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm the installation. Click Install to proceed. You may need to enter your administrator password and agree to the license agreement. - Wait for the installation to complete. This may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed and system performance. - When the installation is finished, you will see a message on Terminal saying "xcode-select: note: install requested for command line developer tools". You can close Terminal now. How to check if Xcode command-line tools are installed correctly
After installing Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive, you need to check if they are installed correctly and working properly. You can do this by typing a simple command on Terminal and seeing if it returns a valid output. Here are the steps to check if Xcode command-line tools are installed correctly: - Open Terminal again from the Applications folder, the Launchpad, or the Spotlight search. - Type xcode-select -p and press Enter. This will print the path of the active developer directory on your Mac. - If Xcode command-line tools are installed correctly, you should see something like /Library/Developer/CommandLineTools as the output. This means that Xcode command-line tools are located in the Library folder of your internal drive and are ready to use. - If Xcode command-line tools are not installed correctly, you may see an error message or a different path as the output. This means that something went wrong during the installation or that you have another version of Xcode or its components on your Mac that is interfering with Xcode command-line tools. You may need to uninstall or update the other version of Xcode or its components, or reinstall Xcode command-line tools using Terminal. Step 4: Move Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive
The fourth step is to move Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive. Xcode app bundle is the main application file that contains all the resources and executables that make up Xcode. It has a .app extension and looks like a single file, but it is actually a folder that contains many subfolders and files. You need to move Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive because it is the largest part of Xcode and takes up most of the space on your drive. Here are the steps to move Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive: How to copy Xcode app bundle from your internal drive to your external hard drive
After downloading Xcode from Apple's developer site, you need to copy Xcode app bundle from your internal drive to your external hard drive. You can do this by using Finder, which is a built-in app on your Mac that allows you to browse and manage files and folders. Here are the steps to copy Xcode app bundle from your internal drive to your external hard drive: - Open Finder and select your internal drive from the sidebar on the left. - Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Xcode .xip file using Finder. It is usually in your Downloads folder, unless you changed it during the download process. - Double-click on the Xcode .xip file to extract it. This will create a new file called Xcode.app, which is the Xcode app bundle. It may take some time depending on your system performance. - Select the Xcode.app file and drag it to the partition that you created for Xcode on your external hard drive using Finder. This will copy the Xcode app bundle from your internal drive to your external hard drive. You will see a progress bar on Finder showing you the copy status. The file size will be around 40 GB, so it may take some time depending on the speed and quality of your external hard drive and its connection. How to rename the original Xcode app bundle on your internal drive or delete it
After copying Xcode app bundle from your internal drive to your external hard drive, you need to rename the original Xcode app bundle on your internal drive or delete it. This is to avoid confusion and conflicts between the two versions of Xcode on your Mac. You can do this by using Finder again. Here are the steps to rename the original Xcode app bundle on your internal drive or delete it: - Open Finder and select your internal drive from the sidebar on the left. - Navigate to the folder where you extracted the Xcode .xip file using Finder. It is usually in your Downloads folder, unless you changed it during the extraction process. - Select the Xcode.app file and right-click or control-click on it. A context menu will appear, giving you various options to manage the file. - If you want to rename the original Xcode app bundle on your internal drive, choose Rename from the context menu and enter a new name for the file, such as "Xcode-old.app". This will change the name of the file and make it easier to distinguish from the Xcode app bundle on your external hard drive. - If you want to delete the original Xcode app bundle on your internal drive, choose Move to Trash from the context menu and confirm your action. This will move the file to the Trash folder and free up some space on your internal drive. You can also empty the Trash folder later to permanently delete the file. How to change the default developer tools path using Terminal
After moving Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive, you need to change the default developer tools path using Terminal. The default developer tools path is a setting that tells your Mac where to look for Xcode and its components when you use Terminal or other apps that rely on Xcode. You need to change this setting to point to the Xcode app bundle on your external hard drive, so that your Mac can find and use it correctly. Here are the steps to change the default developer tools path using Terminal: - Open Terminal from the Applications folder, the Launchpad, or the Spotlight search. - Type sudo xcode-select -s followed by a space and drag the Xcode.app file from your external hard drive to Terminal. This will append the file name and path to the command. Press Enter to execute the command. You may need to enter your administrator password. - This will change the default developer tools path to the Xcode app bundle on your external hard drive. You can verify this by typing xcode-select -p and pressing Enter. You should see something like /Volumes/Xcode Drive/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer as the output. Step 5: Launch Xcode from your external hard drive and set up preferences
The final step is to launch Xcode from your external hard drive and set up preferences. You need to open Xcode from your external hard drive and verify that it works properly. You also need to set up your preferences for Xcode, such as locations, accounts, behaviors, etc. You also need to update Xcode when a new version is available. Here are the steps to launch Xcode from your external hard drive and set up preferences: How to open Xcode from your external hard drive and verify that it works
After changing the default developer tools path, you need to open Xcode from your external hard drive and verify that it works properly. You can do this by using Finder or Spotlight search. Here are the steps to open Xcode from your external hard drive and verify that it works: - Open Finder and select your external hard drive from the sidebar on the left. - Navigate to the partition that you created for Xcode on your external hard drive using Finder. - Double-click on the Xcode.app file to launch Xcode from your external hard drive. It may take some time depending on your system performance and external hard drive speed. - When Xcode opens, you will see a welcome window with various options to create a new project, open an existing project, clone a repository, etc. You can also access the menu bar, the toolbar, the navigator, the editor, the debug area, and the utility area of Xcode. - To verify that Xcode works properly, you can try creating a new project or opening an existing project and see if you can build and run it on a simulator or a device. You can also check if you can use other features of Xcode, such as code completion, syntax highlighting, refactoring, testing, debugging, etc. - If everything works fine, congratulations! You have successfully installed Xcode on your external hard drive and you can start developing apps with it. If you encounter any errors or issues, you may need to troubleshoot them by checking your external hard drive connection, permissions, settings, etc. How to set up your preferences for Xcode
After opening Xcode from your external hard drive, you need to set up your preferences for Xcode. Preferences are settings that allow you to customize various aspects of Xcode, such as locations, accounts, behaviors, fonts, colors, key bindings, etc. You can access and change your preferences by choosing Preferences from the Xcode menu on the menu bar. Here are some of the preferences that you may want to set up for Xcode: - Locations: This preference allows you to specify where Xcode stores various files and folders, such as derived data, archives, snapshots, etc. You can choose to store them on your internal drive or your external hard drive. You can also choose which version of Xcode command-line tools to use. - Accounts: This preference allows you to add and manage your Apple ID accounts and certificates that are required for app development and distribution. You can sign in with your Apple ID and download or create certificates, identifiers, profiles, etc. You can also add other accounts for services such as GitHub or Bitbucket. - Behaviors: This preference allows you to customize how Xcode responds to certain events or actions such as building, running, testing, debugging, etc. You can choose what Xcode does when these events or actions occur, such as showing or hiding certain areas, playing a sound, running a script, etc. - Fonts & Colors: This preference allows you to customize the appearance of the code editor and the console in Xcode. You can choose the font size, style, and color for different elements of your code, such as keywords, comments, literals, etc. You can also choose from various themes or create your own theme. - Key Bindings: This preference allows you to customize the keyboard shortcuts for various commands and actions in Xcode. You can choose from different key binding sets or create your own key binding set. You can also search for a specific command or action and see its keyboard shortcut or assign a new one. How to update Xcode when a new version is available
After setting up your preferences for Xcode, you need to update Xcode when a new version is available. Updating Xcode is important because it can provide you with new features, bug fixes, performance improvements, security patches, etc. You can update Xcode by downloading the new version from Apple's developer site and replacing the old version on your external hard drive. Here are the steps to update Xcode when a new version is available: - Go to the [Downloads page] of Apple's developer site and sign in with your Apple ID. - Look for the new Xcode release (not the beta version) that matches your macOS version and click on the blue Download button next to it. - Follow the same steps as in Step 2 to download and verify the integrity of the new Xcode release. - Open Finder and select your external hard drive from the sidebar on the left. - Navigate to the partition that you created for Xcode on your external hard drive using Finder. - Select the old Xcode.app file and move it to the Trash folder or rename it as "Xcode-old.app". - Copy the new Xcode.app file from your internal drive to your external hard drive using Finder. - Follow the same steps as in Step 4 to change the default developer tools path using Terminal. - Open Xcode from your external hard drive and verify that it works properly. Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install Xcode on an external hard drive in five easy steps. You have learned how to prepare your external hard drive, download Xcode from Apple's developer site, install Xcode command-line tools on your internal drive, move Xcode app bundle to your external hard drive, and launch Xcode from your external hard drive and set up preferences. You have also learned how to update Xcode when a new version is available.
Installing Xcode on an external hard drive can help you save space on your internal drive, make backups easier, and allow you to use Xcode on different Macs by simply plugging in your external hard drive. However, it can also affect the performance and reliability of Xcode, depending on the speed and quality of your external hard drive and its connection. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons carefully and choose a suitable external hard drive for this purpose.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. If you have successfully installed Xcode on your external hard drive and want to share your experience or tips with other readers, please do so as well. Thank you for reading and happy coding!
FAQs
Can I install Xcode on an external SSD instead of an HDD?
Yes, you can install Xcode on an external SSD (solid state drive) instead of an HDD (hard disk drive). In fact, an SSD is recommended over an HDD for installing Xcode on an external hard drive, because it is faster, more reliable, and more durable than an HDD. An SSD can improve the performance and stability of Xcode, especially when building and running large or complex projects. However, an SSD is also more expensive and has less storage capacity than an HDD.
Can I install multiple versions of Xcode on an external hard drive?
Yes, you can install multiple versions of Xcode on an external hard drive. This can be useful if you need to work with different versions of Swift or iOS SDKs for different projects or clients. However, you need to make sure that you have enough space on your external hard drive for each version of Xcode that you want to install. You also need to change the default developer tools path using Terminal every time you switch between different versions of Xcode.
Can I use Xcode on an external hard drive without internet connection?
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