Is there a way to add .entitlements files to Xcode automatically from Unreal (like Info.plist updates)?

Development Platform & Builds Mobile
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3

Hi, sorry for the slow reply!

Here’s how I’ve been manually adding entitlements to my Unreal iOS project via Xcode:

  1. Package the Project
    First, I package the project for iOS in Unreal. Once the packaging completes, Unreal generates an Xcode project file (ProjectName.xcodeproj ) located in:
ProjectFolder/Intermediate/ProjectFilesIOS

  1. Open in Xcode
    Open the generated .xcodeproj file in Xcode. In the Project Navigator on the left, select the file with your project name (with the blue icon).

  2. Add Capabilities
    Navigate to the “Signing & Capabilities” tab. Click the “+ Capability” button to bring up the list of available entitlements. Select the ones you need (e.g., Push Notifications, Background Modes, etc.).

  3. Running on Device
    To run the project on a device, select the target iOS device in Xcode and press Command + R.

  4. Archiving for Distribution
    If you’re preparing an archive for distribution:

  • In Unreal, make sure “For Distribution” is enabled in the iOS packaging settings.
  • Also set the Build Configuration to “Shipping”.
  • Package the project again.
  • After that, open the updated .xcodeproj file and re-add the required entitlements (this step has to be repeated every time you package).
  • Then, from the Xcode menu, go to Product → Archive.
  1. Distributing the Archive
    Once the archive is generated, you can distribute it via TestFlight or App Store Connect.
    I’ve successfully used this method for TestFlight distribution. I haven’t yet tried submitting to the App Store, but since the TestFlight build includes the required entitlements and permissions (Info.plist is correctly set up), I expect it should work.

This manual process works, but it’s tedious to repeat each time. That’s why I’m looking at ways to automate the inclusion of entitlements directly from Unreal, to streamline testing and deployment.

Hope this helps!