First App.
Your learning space A little progress, every day
CHAPTER 07Lesson 24 of 36

Enable testing and install your app

Tell your iPhone that you want to try an app you are developing.

In Xcode7 min read & do
By the end of this lesson

Install the app on your own iPhone using your Apple Account.

Let’s do this

  1. 1
    In Xcode

    Sign into your Apple Account in Xcode

    Open Xcode → Settings → Accounts. Some versions of Xcode label this tab Apple Accounts. Add your normal Apple Account if it is missing. Then select the app target, the app itself inside your project, and open Signing & Capabilities. Switch on Automatically manage signing and choose your Personal Team for free testing.

  2. 2
    In Xcode

    Choose your connected phone

    In the run destination menu, select your iPhone by name. If Xcode opens a signing setup sheet, select the correct team and your app’s own Bundle Identifier. Let Xcode resolve signing.

  3. 3
    On your iPhone

    Enable Developer Mode when requested

    After pairing with Xcode, open Settings on the iPhone, then Privacy & Security, Developer Mode. Turn it on for development, restart if asked, and confirm after restarting. If the option is missing, finish pairing first. Do not change unrelated security settings.

  4. 4
    In Xcode

    Run the app

    Unlock the phone and press Run in Xcode. If iOS asks you to trust the developer in Settings, General, VPN & Device Management, confirm only your own developer identity. Follow the message shown on your phone rather than installing an unrelated profile.

Xcode Signing & Capabilities with automatic signing, Team and Bundle Identifier highlighted.View larger
Apple’s example: choose the signing team and app identifier. Use your own project’s details.Screenshot source (opens a new tab)

A message for Codex

Help me run my first iPhone app on my connected iPhone using my own Apple Account and automatic signing. I am using a free Personal Team unless I tell you otherwise. Explain any signing error and give one step at a time. Do not ask for my password or disable unrelated protections. Confirm the selected team, app identifier and device before changing project settings.

Make this message fit your idea.

What you should see

Your app opens on your real iPhone. You can also see its icon on the Home Screen.

A couple of words, explained

Signing
Apple’s way of attaching a developer identity to an app, so a device knows who made it.
Personal Team
Xcode’s name for free testing with your own Apple Account.
Target
The app itself inside your project. It is what Xcode actually builds. Most first projects have one.

If you get stuck

Go at your own pace. There is no test to pass.

Checked 7 September 2026. Screens can change; the official guides below have the latest steps.

Run on a simulator or deviceApple’s free developer account