Environment

System:
  OS: macOS 15.5
  CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M2
  Memory: 161.50 MB / 8.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.12.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/node
  Yarn: Not Found
  npm:
    version: 10.9.0
    path: ~/.nvm/versions/node/v22.12.0/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.04.28.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 24.2
      - iOS 18.2
      - macOS 15.2
      - tvOS 18.2
      - visionOS 2.2
      - watchOS 11.2
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "35"
    Build Tools:
      - 35.0.0
    System Images:
      - android-35 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.3 AI-243.25659.59.2432.13423653
  Xcode:
    version: 16.2/16C5032a
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.12
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 18.0.0
    wanted: 18.0.0
  react:
    installed: 19.0.0
    wanted: 19.0.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.79.3
    wanted: 0.79.3
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Description

I am running the command npx react-native run-ios with either the --list-devices, --udid or --device flags. The build process works as expected and you can see that the project is being built upon the selected device. However, the installation and deployment fails because another device is chosen.

The wrong target device seems to be selected because of the following xcodebuild warning:

• WARNING: Using the first of multiple matching destinations

But why is my target device being ignored?
What is the point of specifing a target then?

This issue seems to have been introduced between versions 15 and 18 of @react-native-community/cli 18.0.0. Older versions do not seem to have this problem. I posted some screenshots about this at the bottom.

Reproducible Demo

Due to the warning mentioned by Xcode when running the command npx react-native run-ios:

• WARNING: Using the first of multiple matching destinations

I can trigger this deployment bug in any repository using @react-native-community/cli >= 17 (19.0.0 version also fails). For example, with this simple repository:

• https://github.com/oserrabassa-jcm/crispy-happiness

I only have to try to deploy the project to an iOS device with the command npx react-native run-ios and specify the target device. Even though, I cannot deploy the project from with the above command. I can actually deploy the project if I do it from Xcode. Therefore, it should not be an issue with the iPhone device or similar.

Temporary fix

Downgrade to @react-native-community/cli < 17

Screenshots

List of devices detected by Xcode

A few screenshots displaying that this issue happens in any repository.

https://github.com/oserrabassa-jcm/crispy-happiness

https://github.com/react-native-community/reproducer-react-native

https://github.com/react-native-community/template/tree/0.79-stable

This is the original project where I first discovered and experienced the issue.

https://github.com/react-native-community/template/tree/0.78-stable

https://github.com/react-native-community/template/tree/0.75-stable