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How to sync Xcode settings across Macs

How to sync Xcode settings across multiple Macs with Configmesh, including key bindings, code snippets, themes, templates, and debugger settings.

February 28, 2026Tags: macosxcodesyncguides

If you use Xcode on multiple Macs, Configmesh can keep your settings consistent with encrypted sync.

What gets synced

The Xcode bundle covers:

  • Key bindings — your custom keyboard shortcuts
  • Code snippets — reusable code completions
  • Font and color themes — editor appearance
  • Templates — custom file and project templates
  • Debugger settings — breakpoint actions and configurations
  • Search scopes — saved search configurations
  • Xcode preferences — general app preferences (com.apple.dt.Xcode.plist)
  • Plug-ins — shared Xcode plug-ins

All of these live under ~/Library/:

~/Library/
├── Application Support/Developer/Shared/Xcode/
│   └── Plug-ins/
├── Developer/Xcode/
│   ├── Templates/
│   └── UserData/
│       ├── CodeSnippets/
│       ├── Debugger/
│       ├── FontAndColorThemes/
│       ├── KeyBindings/
│       ├── SearchScopes.xcsclist
│       └── xcdebugger/
└── Preferences/
    └── com.apple.dt.Xcode.plist

Step 1: Download Configmesh for macOS

Install the latest macOS build:

Sign in after installing.

Step 2: Pick One Setup Path

You can either use the existing Xcode bundle, or create your own.

Option A: Import the existing Xcode bundle

  1. Open Configmesh.
  2. Go to bundles.
  3. Import/select the Xcode bundle.

Xcode selected in import catalog

Option B: Create a new Xcode bundle manually

Create a new bundle and set the root to:

  • Library/

Then add these include rules:

  • Application Support/Developer/Shared/Xcode/Plug-ins
  • Application Support/Developer/Shared/Xcode/Plug-ins/**
  • Developer/Xcode/Templates
  • Developer/Xcode/Templates/**
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/CodeSnippets
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/CodeSnippets/**
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/Debugger
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/Debugger/**
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/FontAndColorThemes
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/FontAndColorThemes/**
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/KeyBindings
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/KeyBindings/**
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/SearchScopes.xcsclist
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/xcdebugger
  • Developer/Xcode/UserData/xcdebugger/**
  • Preferences/com.apple.dt.Xcode.plist

These paths cover Xcode's user data, preferences, and plug-ins.

Xcode bundle with rules visible

Step 3: Hit Sync

Click Sync on your first Mac, then run Sync on your other Mac(s) with the same account and encryption passphrase.