How to update iPhone SDK without having to re-download Xcode?

Question

Silly question - Is there a way to download the iPhone SDK without Xcode when Apple releases an update?

Answer 1

Yes, contrary to what others say this is somewhat possible.

Method One

With this method you can download any iOS or OSX SDK and install it to XCode. Download the desired SDK, bundled with XCode, from developer.apple.com/downloads

Once the package is done downloading mount the disk image. Right on the XCode application in the image and click on Show Package Contents. Navigate to:

/Contents/Developer/Platforms/

the iOS SDKs are in:

iPhoneOS.platform/Developer/SDKs/

the OSX SDKs are in:

MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/

and the iOS simulator SDKs are in:

iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/

To install one of the SDKs simply find XCode.app and place the SDK in the appropriate folder of the XCode.app package.

Method Two

With this method you can only dowload iOS simulators and iOS simulator SDKs.

Open XCode and in the menu bar click on XCode > Preferences. In the preferences dialog select the downloads tab and select the simulators you would like to dowload.