How to rename an app in Xcode 4.5

You can conveniently rename an app you’ve started. For this example, we have a project called Old Project, created from the Master/Detail Template.

Three areas need to be changed here:

  1. the actual app name and targets
  2. the scheme
  3. the group in which most project files reside

Renaming the app

Rename1

[emember_protected]

Click on the blue Project, wait a second, then click on it again. The field will change just like in Finder, so you can type in your new app title. Once you hit return it will open a new dialogue box which will tweak some other files, most notably any existing targets, the bundle identifier (if it was set to automatic) and the app’s displayed name.

Screen Shot 2012-12-26 at 19.08.03

A couple of things still have the old name, so let’s fix that next.

Renaming the scheme

Rename2

The scheme is displayed at the top next to the run and compile button. Click the left part of the drop-down menu and a context menu will appear, showing Manage Schemes. Don’t click on the right part (where it says iOS Device or iOS Simulator) as this will only let you pick which device you’d like to run the app on, not which scheme you’d like to use.

Screen Shot 2012-12-26 at 19.14.21

And just like before, click on the old app name, wait a second, then click again to change it to your new app title. If you have multiple schemes you can rename them all before hitting OK.

Screen Shot 2012-12-26 at 19.14.46

Renaming the file group

This is more of a cosmetic thing: on the left hand side you will still have a group which contains most of your project files. These are not really folders, they are just convenient groups to keep a large amount of files in places where you can find them within a project. Again click on that group, wait a moment, then click again and rename it like a folder or file in Finder.

Rename3

[/emember_protected]

And that’s it 😉

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5 thoughts on “How to rename an app in Xcode 4.5

  1. Great tutorial, only thing is now I when I run my app on my iPad it is not pick up a plist that I have that fills a table. When I run it on the simulator it is fine it is just when I view it on the iPad. I stall have the old named app and it work the way that it should. It was just when I changed the name. Any suggestions?

    1. I’d try two things: clean your build (under Product – Clean). If this doesn’t work then I’d try to uninstall the app from your iPad and run it again. I’ve had this with changed icon files which weren’t being picked up – but a fresh install usually helps.

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