Apple has launched the release candidate (Xcode 26.3), adding built-in support for Agentic coding with Anthropic Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex. This update goes beyond earlier versions that only provided basic coding help.
Key Features of Agentic Coding in Xcode 26.3
With Agent coding, AI agents can now work more independently throughout the development process, rather than only answering step-by-step requests.
- Autonomous task execution: The AI agents can break down detailed goals, make decisions, update multiple project files, and carry out tasks such as searching for documentation and changing project settings.
- Visual Clarification: Agents can capture and review Xcode previews to verify their work and make UI changes, just as a human developer would.
- Error correction: Unlike basic coding assistants, these agents can run build-spot-compile checks on the build logs and fix issues in real time before showing the final code.
- Open standard support: Apple has based this implementation on Anthropic’s open standard, the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This lets developers connect with other compatible AI agents and tools, not just Claude and Codex.
- Developer control and safety: The system adds safeguards, such as automatic checkpoints for every AI change, so developers can review or undo updates if needed.
Availability
The Release Candidate is now available for Apple Developer Program members. A public release is expected soon on the Apple Mac App Store. Developers can turn on these features by signing in with their OpenAI or Anthropic accounts or by using API keys in Xcode’s new Intelligent Settings.
Xcode 26.3, Brings Agentic Coding to Developers
Developers can now use Coding Agents like Anthropic’s Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex directly in Xcode. These agents help handle tasks independently, making it easier and faster to build apps.
Xcode 26.3 adds support for Agentic Coding, a new approach that lets developers build apps with coding agents like Anthropic’sClaude agent and OpenAI’s Codex. With Agentic Coding, Xcode can work more independently to help reach your goals, from composing tasks to making decisions based on your project’s infrastructure and built-in tools.
Building on the smart features of Xcode 26, which introduced a new coding assistant for Swift, this update lets coding agents use even more of Xcode’s tools. Now agents like Cloud Agent and Codex can help at every stage of development; they can search documentation, review file structures, update project settings, and verify their work by capturing Xcode previews and testing builds and fixes. This helps developers work faster and bring their ideas to life more easily.
At Apple, our goal is to make tools that put industry-leading technologies directly in developers’ hands so they can build the very bestapps. Said Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations. Agentic Coding Superchargers, Productivity and Creativity, Improving the Development Workflow so Developers can Center on Innovation.
With easy access to Claude Agent and Codex, developers can leverage these models’ advanced reasoning throughout their app-building process. This setup combines the strengths of these agents with Xcode’s built-in features, helping developers achieve the best results on Apple platforms and select models that fit their project.
In addition to these built-in integrations, Xcode 26.3 also supports the Model Context Protocol. This open standard lets developers use any compatible agent or tool with Xcode, providing greater flexibility.
