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How to Develop iOS Apps on Windows: Complete Guide

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Updated on: February 10, 2026
Time to read: 10 minutes

You might be asking yourself: Can you develop iOS apps on Windows? You can actually. Certain stages, however, need access to macOS and Xcode, like when building, signing, and publishing your app to the App Store.

Here’s a guide that shows how to develop iOS apps on Windows, with macOS needed only at key stages. We’ll cover the key choices, including cloud-based Macs, cross-platform frameworks with macOS or CI build hosts, and macOS virtual machines for learning (and their legal limits). There’s also the option of using USB over Network tools like USB Network Gate for trying out your app on iOS devices from your Windows computer.

Table of Contents

Core Requirements for iOS Development

  • macOS + Xcode (toolchain) – Required for iOS builds and code signing, and commonly used to archive and submit apps.
  • Apple Developer Account – $99/year. Required to publish to the App Store and distribute builds via TestFlight.
  • iOS SDK – Bundled with Xcode; required to build iOS apps.
  • Swift (and sometimes Objective-C) – Required for native iOS development; cross-platform frameworks may use other languages, but native code is still sometimes needed for plugins/features.


You can do most development on Windows, but final iOS builds and signing still require macOS + Xcode (local Mac, cloud Mac, or CI).

Develop iOS apps on Windows

Method 1: Cloud-Based Mac Services (Recommended for Professionals)

One option on how to make iOS apps on Windows is to rent a Mac through cloud-based services and access its complete macOS desktop with Xcode from Windows via RDP or VNC, avoiding the need to buy Apple hardware. All you do is pick a subscription plan and connect to the remote Mac from your Windows PC. Install and run Xcode just like it’s on your own Mac afterward. Once you’re in Xcode, handle tasks like building your app, running it in the Simulator, signing your code, and finally uploading it to the App Store.

Common providers:

  • MacinCloud, MacStadium, or AWS EC2 Mac Instances are among the services that let you rent Mac minis or Mac Pros that you can use for personal reasons or to share with other people. Each one already has macOS and Xcode, either pre-installed or ready to set up.

Pros

  • Legal and compliant – Powered by actual Apple machines, in accordance with the macOS EULA.
  • No hardware to buy – Perfect if you don’t want or can’t buy a Mac.
  • Scalable – Boost your CPU/RAM, or add more computers as your projects get bigger.
  • Good for teams and CI – Most services connect easily with CI pipelines.

Cons

  • Ongoing cost – It might become pricier than a pre-owned Mac mini if you use it many times, since you pay by the month or hour.
  • Dependent on network quality – A slow system or internet can cause the Simulator and interface to respond slowly.
  • Data/security considerations – Your source code and keys are on a third party's servers, which may require extra security checks for companies.

Best for:

Individual developers, startups, or teams who want a fully functional, legal macOS/Xcode setup without dealing with physical Macs.

Method 2: Cross-Platform Development Frameworks

You can develop iOS apps on Windows using these frameworks, but only for most of the work. They only use macOS when it’s time to create the final iOS version and launch it. Use VS Code or Visual Studio for coding and debugging. You can also check your app’s design and functionality with an Android emulator or web preview.

Send your code to a Git repository once your app is ready for iOS to allow a macOS build setup to take care of compiling the app, managing code signing, and uploading it to App Store Connect or TestFlight to make it available to the public. The setup could be a local Mac, a cloud Mac, or a CI service like GitHub Actions, Bitrise, Codemagic, or Apple’s Xcode Cloud.

Popular frameworks:

  • Flutter (Dart) – This interface-focused Google framework uses Dart and has loads of prebuilt widgets you can use to make apps that look good, run smoothly, and respond fast.
  • React Native (JavaScript/TypeScript) – Combining React and native iOS and Android elements, this well-established framework works well for projects ranging from MVPs to full-scale apps. A large JavaScript ecosystem supports this platform.
  • NET MAUI / .NET for iOS (C#) – Microsoft’s modern cross-platform framework for building apps with C# and the .NET ecosystem (including Azure). It replaces Xamarin (which is end-of-support), and is a common choice for teams already invested in .NET who want shared UI and business logic across platforms.

Pros

  • Windows-first – You spend most of your time on iOS development on Windows, and this means you only need to use a Mac for the final stage of the process and releasing the app.
  • Single codebase – Can cover iOS, Android, and also web or desktop most of the time.
  • Cost-effective Mac usage – macOS is only needed for automated builds and releasing your iOS app.

Cons

  • Still need macOS – Xcode is still an important component for completing certain iOS tasks.
  • Framework limitations – Some advanced, platform-specific features may require native modules or adjustments in Xcode.
  • Extra learning curve – You’ll need to understand the framework’s tools and workflow.

Best for:

Teams working on cross-platform apps who want to stay productive on Windows and keep their macOS use as minimal and automated as possible.

Method 3: Virtual Machines for macOS on Windows (For Learning Only)

If you want to learn how to make iOS apps on Windows, one way is to set up macOS inside a virtual machine like VirtualBox or VMware, and then run Xcode inside that virtual environment. When you actually do it, you first install virtualization software on your Windows PC, then make a macOS virtual machine. Installing macOS and Xcode comes next, and using it similarly to a real Mac.

There’s a catch, though. Heavy tools like Xcode and the iOS Simulator often run poorly in a virtual machine. Also, setting up and maintaining the VM can be tricky and time-consuming, and updates to macOS or Xcode can quickly cause the VM to stop working. For that reason, VMs are mostly good for learning or messing around, not serious app development.

Legal reality

Apple’s license says macOS can only run (even in a VM) on hardware that the company released. In other words, using macOS in a virtual machine on a Windows PC isn’t allowed under Apple’s rules.

For this reason, this method is discouraged for:

  • Commercial apps
  • Client projects
  • Any work that falls under a company’s legal or compliance requirements

Pros

  • No need to buy a Mac; your Windows PC is enough.
  • An internet connection isn't needed to try things out on your computer.

Cons

  • Breaks Apple’s rules when run on non-Apple hardware.
  • Slower and less dependable than a real Mac or a cloud-based Mac.
  • Fine for trying things out, but not for projects you do for clients or payment.

Best for:

Hobbyists or students who want to play around with iOS development, as long as they know the rules and aren’t trying to actually release apps.

Device Testing Challenge: USB Network Gate

When you develop iOS apps on Windows, real-device testing is the hard part. The iOS Simulator is useful, but many issues only show up on physical iPhones/iPads, hardware performance, camera/GPS/sensors, biometric flows, and real cellular/Wi-Fi behavior.

USB problem: your iPhone is plugged into Windows, but Xcode is running on macOS (in a VM or a cloud Mac). In this setup, macOS may not reliably “see” the device, so Xcode can’t attach for debugging, especially when VM USB passthrough is flaky or requires fragile configuration.

Solution: USB Network Gate. USB Network Gate (Electronic Team, Inc.) shares the iPhone’s USB connection over the network from your Windows PC to the macOS machine running Xcode. To macOS, the iPhone appears like it’s plugged in locally, so Xcode can detect the device and you can run and debug on real hardware.

Connecting your iPhone to a virtual machine

1. First, plug your iPhone into your Windows PC.

2. Next, install USB Network Gate on your Windows machine to connect your devices.

3. Open the app and go to the “Local USB devices” tab.

4. Locate the name of your iPhone and click the “Share” button next to it.

5. Open your virtual macOS and then install USB Network Gate.

6. Launch it and go to the “Remote devices” tab.

7. Search for your iPhone in the list and click “Connect.”

8. After setting things up, the iOS device appears in the virtual macOS. Then you can fire up Xcode and use it as if it were plugged in for real.

This method is especially handy if:

  • A macOS is running in a virtual machine on Windows, and connecting to the USB directly doesn’t work properly.
  • You’re using a cloud Mac, but your iPhone or iPad is physically connected to your Windows PC.

Benefits of USB Network Gate

  • Operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android are compatible with it
  • Virtual machines such as VMware, VirtualBox, and Hyper-V work well with it
  • You can share USB devices over a local network, VPN, or the internet
  • Offers a 14-day trial (usually limited to a single shared device)

Conclusion

iOS development on Windows is possible, starting from building the app and up to releasing it. You, however, still need macOS and Xcode at certain points. The main choice is how you’ll access them. For professional projects, using cloud Macs or small physical Macs (or CI Macs) is the most reliable and legal way to run Xcode and manage builds, as well as for signing apps and submitting to the App Store.

Flutter, React Native, and .NET MAUI/.NET for iOS (C#) are among the cross-platform frameworks that let you do 80–90% of your coding on Windows. You use macOS mainly for compiling and publishing. MacOS virtual machines on Windows are handy for practice, but they come with license rules and can be slow sometimes.

USB over Network tools like USB Network Gate are ideal for testing on iPhones or iPads plugged into a Windows PC that runs Xcode in a VM or cloud Mac. This software lets you connect the devices to Xcode seamlessly.