[iOS] Starting iOS fails with "Something when wrong while installing CocoaPods. Please run pod install manually."

[madandrija]

Environment

System:
  OS: macOS 15.4.1
  CPU: (12) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
  Memory: 1.79 GB / 36.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 20.19.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.0/bin/node
  Yarn: Not Found
  npm:
    version: 10.8.2
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v20.19.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.03.10.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.15.2
    path: /usr/local/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.4
      - iOS 18.4
      - macOS 15.4
      - tvOS 18.4
      - visionOS 2.4
      - watchOS 11.4
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "29"
      - "30"
      - "33"
      - "34"
      - "35"
    Build Tools:
      - 34.0.0
      - 35.0.0
      - 35.0.1
    System Images:
      - android-34 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.3 AI-243.24978.46.2431.13363775
  Xcode:
    version: 16.3/16E140
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.13
    path: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/zulu-17.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.4.4
    path: /opt/homebrew/opt/ruby/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 18.0.0
    wanted: 18.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.0.0
    wanted: 19.0.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.79.2
    wanted: 0.79.2
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: false
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: false

Gemfile

source 'https://rubygems.org'

# You may use http://rbenv.org/ or https://rvm.io/ to install and use this version
ruby ">= 2.6.10"

# Exclude problematic versions of cocoapods and activesupport that causes build failures.
gem 'cocoapods', '>= 1.13', '!= 1.15.0', '!= 1.15.1'
gem 'activesupport', '>= 6.1.7.5', '!= 7.1.0'
gem 'xcodeproj', '< 1.26.0'
gem 'concurrent-ruby', '< 1.3.4'

# Ruby 3.4.0 has removed some libraries from the standard library.
gem 'bigdecimal'
gem 'logger'
gem 'benchmark'
gem 'mutex_m'

react-native.config.js

module.exports = {
  project: {
    ios: {},
    android: {},
  },
  assets: ['./app/assets/fonts/'],
};

Description

Same as #2660 - with the difference that I still can't get this to work.
I've also just updated my react native project from 0.76.x to 0.79.x. Android runs fine, but iOS is acting up. Whenever I try to run react-native run-ios, it fails after a short amount of time with: error Something when wrong while installing CocoaPods. Please run pod install manually.

To have a clean reproduction, I first do

rm -rf ios/Pods                
rm -rf ios/build
rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData

Then I run ios and pass in the verbose flag npx react-native run-ios - --verbose and I get

debug Error: Command failed with exit code 1: bundle exec pod install
Found 13 modules for target `track`
link_native_modules! {ios_packages: [{configurations: [], name: "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage/RNCAsyncStorage.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-community/datetimepicker", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker/RNDateTimePicker.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-community/geolocation", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation/react-native-geolocation.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view/RNCMaskedView.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-camera", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-camera", path: "../node_modules/react-native-camera", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-camera/react-native-camera.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-device-info", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-device-info", path: "../node_modules/react-native-device-info", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-device-info/RNDeviceInfo.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-gesture-handler", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler", path: "../node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler/RNGestureHandler.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-maps", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-maps", path: "../node_modules/react-native-maps", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-maps/react-native-maps.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-reanimated", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-reanimated", path: "../node_modules/react-native-reanimated", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-reanimated/RNReanimated.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-safe-area-context", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context", path: "../node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context/react-native-safe-area-context.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-screens", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-screens", path: "../node_modules/react-native-screens", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-screens/RNScreens.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-splash-screen", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-splash-screen", path: "../node_modules/react-native-splash-screen", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-splash-screen/react-native-splash-screen.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-vector-icons", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-vector-icons", path: "../node_modules/react-native-vector-icons", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-vector-icons/RNVectorIcons.podspec", script_phases: []}], ios_project_root_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios", react_native_path: "../node_modules/react-native"}
Auto-linking React Native modules for target `track`: RNCAsyncStorage, RNCMaskedView, RNDateTimePicker, RNDeviceInfo, RNGestureHandler, RNReanimated, RNScreens, RNVectorIcons, react-native-camera, react-native-geolocation, react-native-maps, react-native-safe-area-context, and react-native-splash-screen
Framework build type is static library
Configuring the target with the Legacy Architecture
Analyzing dependencies
Fetching podspec for `DoubleConversion` from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/DoubleConversion.podspec`
Fetching podspec for `RCT-Folly` from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/RCT-Folly.podspec`
[!] No podspec found for `ReactAppDependencyProvider` in `build/generated/ios`
error Found 13 modules for target `track`
link_native_modules! {ios_packages: [{configurations: [], name: "@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-async-storage/async-storage/RNCAsyncStorage.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-community/datetimepicker", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/datetimepicker/RNDateTimePicker.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-community/geolocation", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-community/geolocation/react-native-geolocation.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", path: "../node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/@react-native-masked-view/masked-view/RNCMaskedView.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-camera", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-camera", path: "../node_modules/react-native-camera", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-camera/react-native-camera.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-device-info", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-device-info", path: "../node_modules/react-native-device-info", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-device-info/RNDeviceInfo.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-gesture-handler", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler", path: "../node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-gesture-handler/RNGestureHandler.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-maps", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-maps", path: "../node_modules/react-native-maps", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-maps/react-native-maps.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-reanimated", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-reanimated", path: "../node_modules/react-native-reanimated", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-reanimated/RNReanimated.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-safe-area-context", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context", path: "../node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-safe-area-context/react-native-safe-area-context.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-screens", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-screens", path: "../node_modules/react-native-screens", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-screens/RNScreens.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-splash-screen", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-splash-screen", path: "../node_modules/react-native-splash-screen", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-splash-screen/react-native-splash-screen.podspec", script_phases: []}, {configurations: [], name: "react-native-vector-icons", root: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-vector-icons", path: "../node_modules/react-native-vector-icons", podspec_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/node_modules/react-native-vector-icons/RNVectorIcons.podspec", script_phases: []}], ios_project_root_path: "~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios", react_native_path: "../node_modules/react-native"}
Auto-linking React Native modules for target `track`: RNCAsyncStorage, RNCMaskedView, RNDateTimePicker, RNDeviceInfo, RNGestureHandler, RNReanimated, RNScreens, RNVectorIcons, react-native-camera, react-native-geolocation, react-native-maps, react-native-safe-area-context, and react-native-splash-screen
Framework build type is static library
Configuring the target with the Legacy Architecture
Analyzing dependencies
Fetching podspec for `DoubleConversion` from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/DoubleConversion.podspec`
Fetching podspec for `RCT-Folly` from `../node_modules/react-native/third-party-podspecs/RCT-Folly.podspec`
[!] No podspec found for `ReactAppDependencyProvider` in `build/generated/ios`
error Something when wrong while installing CocoaPods. Please run pod install manually.

When I re-run the command, I get

info A dev server is already running for this project on port 8081.
info Found Xcode workspace "track.xcworkspace"
info Found booted iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone A
info Building (using "xcodebuild -workspace track.xcworkspace -configuration Debug -scheme track -destination id=D0A30DC3-F3B1-4F48-B5DA-6A540C0CD43E")
debug Command line invocation:
    
debug /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild -workspace track.xcworkspace -configuration Debug -scheme track -destination id=D0A30DC3-F3B1-4F48-B5DA-6A540C0CD43E


debug ComputePackagePrebuildTargetDependencyGraph

debug 

debug Prepare packages

debug 

debug CreateBuildRequest

debug 
SendProjectDescription

debug 

debug CreateBuildOperation

debug 

debug ComputeTargetDependencyGraph

debug note: Building targets in dependency order

debug note: Target dependency graph (1 target)
    Target 'track' in project 'track' (no dependencies)

debug 

debug GatherProvisioningInputs

debug 

debug CreateBuildDescription

debug 
ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/clang -v -E -dM -arch arm64 -isysroot /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneSimulator18.4.sdk -x c -c /dev/null

debug 

debug ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/clang -v -E -dM -isysroot /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneSimulator18.4.sdk -x c -c /dev/null

ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool --version --output-format xml1


debug ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/actool --print-asset-tag-combinations --output-format xml1 ~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios/track/Images.xcassets

debug 

debug ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/actool --version --output-format xml1

debug 

debug ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/swiftc --version

debug 

debug ExecuteExternalTool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/ld -version_details
debug 

debug 

debug Build description signature: c2a3beb78fc613a616167964cb34d5d3

debug Build description path: /Users/ajambrovic/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/track-ewrcobfhrgsqkzazoeyffnsxdboz/Build/Intermediates.noindex/XCBuildData/c2a3beb78fc613a616167964cb34d5d3.xcbuilddata

debug ~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios/track.xcodeproj:1:1: error: Unable to open base configuration reference file '~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios/Pods/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track.debug.xcconfig'. (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Unable to read contents of XCFileList '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-frameworks-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Unable to read contents of XCFileList '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-resources-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')
error: Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-resources-Debug-input-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug error: Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-frameworks-Debug-input-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug error: Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-frameworks-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug error: Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-resources-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Run script build phase 'Start Packager' will be run during every build because it does not specify any outputs. To address this issue, either add output dependencies to the script phase, or configure it to run in every build by unchecking "Based on dependency analysis" in the script phase. (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Run script build phase 'Bundle React Native code and images' will be run during every build because it does not specify any outputs. To address this issue, either add output dependencies to the script phase, or configure it to run in every build by unchecking "Based on dependency analysis" in the script phase. (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Run script build phase '[CP] Embed Pods Frameworks' will be run during every build because it does not specify any outputs. To address this issue, either add output dependencies to the script phase, or configure it to run in every build by unchecking "Based on dependency analysis" in the script phase. (in target 'track' from project 'track')

debug warning: Run script build phase '[CP] Copy Pods Resources' will be run during every build because it does not specify any outputs. To address this issue, either add output dependencies to the script phase, or configure it to run in every build by unchecking "Based on dependency analysis" in the script phase. (in target 'track' from project 'track')


info 💡 Tip: Make sure that you have set up your development environment correctly, by running npx react-native doctor. To read more about doctor command visit: https://github.com/react-native-community/cli/blob/main/packages/cli-doctor/README.md#doctor 

error Unable to open base configuration reference file '~/sorce/giscloud-fleet-app/ios/Pods/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track.debug.xcconfig'. (in target 'track' from project 'track')
error Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-resources-Debug-input-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')
error Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-frameworks-Debug-input-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')
error Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-frameworks-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')
error Unable to load contents of file list: '/Target Support Files/Pods-track/Pods-track-resources-Debug-output-files.xcfilelist' (in target 'track' from project 'track')

[SafwatAlto]

@madandrija Make sure you have Gemfile at the root of your app, and if you are using Nx keep the Gemfile inside your app not int the root project.

The issue Something when wrong while installing CocoaPods. Please run pod install manually. occurs because the CLI try to run pod install from here

cli/packages/cli-config-apple/src/tools/installPods.ts

Line 34 in 8492fde

await execa('bundle', ['exec', 'pod', 'install'], {

So we need to Make sure the Gemfile at the root of you app not inside the iOS directory.

[madandrija]

@SafwatAlto - I read this somewhere and I've added the default one from RN

source 'https://rubygems.org'

# You may use http://rbenv.org/ or https://rvm.io/ to install and use this version
ruby ">= 2.6.10"

# Exclude problematic versions of cocoapods and activesupport that causes build failures.
gem 'cocoapods', '>= 1.13', '!= 1.15.0', '!= 1.15.1'
gem 'activesupport', '>= 6.1.7.5', '!= 7.1.0'
gem 'xcodeproj', '< 1.26.0'
gem 'concurrent-ruby', '< 1.3.4'

# Ruby 3.4.0 has removed some libraries from the standard library.
gem 'bigdecimal'
gem 'logger'
gem 'benchmark'
gem 'mutex_m'

but I still got the error message, so I opened this issue.

[SafwatAlto]

I add the Gemfile as I mentioned and followed these steps:

• delete [pod directory, podfile.lock,build ]
• run cd ios & pod deintegrate $ pod cache clean --all $ pod install
• run cd ..
• run npx react-native run-ios

and everything working fine

[madandrija]

I add the Gemfile as I mentioned and followed these steps:

• delete [pod directory, podfile.lock,build ]
• run cd ios & pod deintegrate $ pod cache clean --all $ pod install
• run cd ..
• run npx react-native run-ios

and everything working fine

Agreed, using pod install manually works fine, but it should work automatically, since running it manually gives me:

==================== DEPRECATION NOTICE =====================
Calling `pod install` directly is deprecated in React Native
because we are moving away from Cocoapods toward alternative
solutions to build the project.
* If you are using Expo, please run:
`npx expo run:ios`
* If you are using the Community CLI, please run:
`yarn ios`
=============================================================

[Hannes-Endare]

I am also facing this same issue. It seems like a codegen is not being run when running yarn ios

[Hannes-Endare]

cli/packages/cli-config-apple/src/tools/installPods.ts

Line 34 in a94e2df

await execa('bundle', ['exec', 'pod', 'install'], {

Removing the env parameter when the script is executing bundle exec pod install seems to help

[Budlee]

also am having the same issue, any update on a fix

[joe-sam]

Manual pod install and Xcode 16.4 build from IDE work but the CLI command yarn ios aborts unexpectedly possibly due to incompatible cocoapod installation. Only workaround seems to be to ignore the deprecation message.

[thesopan21]

Your Gemfile is compatible with Ruby and Bundler: so the fix is,

Step 1. Remove the old bundled gems: rm -rf vendor/bundle
Step2. Uninstall old Bundler globally: gem uninstall bundler
step3. Check Bundler version: bundler -v
step4. remove Gemfile.lock from your root project: rm Gemfile.lock or manually
step5. Install gems with Bundler 2.x: bundle install
step5. Install CocoaPods using the new Bundler: cd ios && bundle exec pod install && cd ..
step6 run your react native cli project by: npx react-native run-ios

@madandrija @Hannes-Endare @Budlee , hope this fix solve your issue

[madandrija]

Your Gemfile is compatible with Ruby and Bundler: so the fix is,

Step 1. Remove the old bundled gems: rm -rf vendor/bundle Step2. Uninstall old Bundler globally: gem uninstall bundler step3. Check Bundler version: bundler -v step4. remove Gemfile.lock from your root project: rm Gemfile.lock or manually step5. Install gems with Bundler 2.x: bundle install step5. Install CocoaPods using the new Bundler: cd ios && bundle exec pod install && cd .. step6 run your react native cli project by: npx react-native run-ios

[@madandrija](https://github.com/madandrija) [@Hannes-Endare](https://github.com/Hannes-Endare) [@Budlee](https://github.com/Budlee) , hope this fix solve your issue

It did - thank you!

[github-actions]

There hasn't been any activity on this issue in the past 3 months, so it has been marked as stale and it will be closed automatically if no further activity occurs in the next 7 days.