# Missing support for XCODE\_EMBED\_APPCLIP and XCODE\_EMBED\_WATCHAPP in CMake for iOS projects

**URL:** https://discourse.cmake.org/t/missing-support-for-xcode-embed-appclip-and-xcode-embed-watchapp-in-cmake-for-ios-projects/14190
**Category:** Code
**Tags:** os:ios
**Created:** [June 3, 2025, 12:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/missing-support-for-xcode-embed-appclip-and-xcode-embed-watchapp-in-cmake-for-ios-projects/14190 "2025-06-03T12:21:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![execomrt](https://discourse.cmake.org/user_avatar/discourse.cmake.org/execomrt/32/5593_2.png) [@execomrt](https://discourse.cmake.org/u/execomrt)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2025, 12:21pm UTC](https://discourse.cmake.org/t/missing-support-for-xcode-embed-appclip-and-xcode-embed-watchapp-in-cmake-for-ios-projects/14190/1 "2025-06-03T12:21:10Z")

</div>

We’re building a complex iOS app that includes:

- a main app
- an App Clip
- a watchOS app
- a widget extension
- a notification service extension

We’re using CMake to generate our Xcode project, and we’ve noticed:

- `XCODE_EMBED_PLUGINS` works fine for embedding the Watch App
- `XCODE_EMBED_EXTENSIONKIT_EXTENSIONS` works for embedding the App Clip
- The **widget** and **notification service** embed correctly without issues

However, **Xcode expects specific `PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase` sections** for embedding App Clips and Watch apps that are currently **not generated by CMake** :

xcodeproj

```auto
/* Embed Watch Content */ = {
    isa = PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase;
    dstPath = "$(CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH)/Watch";
    dstSubfolderSpec = 16;
    ...
    name = "Embed Watch Content";
};

 /* Embed App Clips */ = {
    isa = PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase;
    dstPath = "$(CONTENTS_FOLDER_PATH)/AppClips";
    dstSubfolderSpec = 16;
    ...
    name = "Embed App Clips";
};

```

Currently, we workaround this by:

- Using `XCODE_EMBED_PLUGINS` and `XCODE_EMBED_EXTENSIONKIT_EXTENSIONS`
- Then post-processing the `.pbxproj` file with a Python script to patch the `dstPath`, `dstSubfolderSpec`, and `name` fields.

### 🔧 Example CMake:

cmake

CopierModifier

```auto
set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES
    XCODE_EMBED_APP_EXTENSIONS "${ALL_APP_EXTENSIONS}"
    XCODE_EMBED_APP_EXTENSION_CODE_SIGN_ON_COPY "YES"
)

set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES
    XCODE_EMBED_PLUGINS "${WATCH_APP_NAME}"
)

set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES
    XCODE_EMBED_EXTENSIONKIT_EXTENSIONS "${APPCLIP_NAME}"
)

```

### 🙏 Request:

Please consider adding official support for:

- `XCODE_EMBED_APPCLIP`
- `XCODE_EMBED_WATCHAPP`

That would generate the correct `PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase` blocks directly, without requiring post-processing. It would bring the generated project in line with what Xcode produces when setting up these targets manually.

Thanks!