---
title: Installation - Couchbase Lite on Objective-C
description: Installing Couchbase Lite on Objective-C
pubDate: 2026-08-17T09:53:44.266Z
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  xref: xref:couchbase-lite:objc:gs-install.adoc[]
---

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# Installation - Couchbase Lite on Objective-C

> Description — _Installing Couchbase Lite on Objective-C_  

## [](#get-started)Get Started

Create or open an existing _Xcode_ project and install \_Couchbase Lite 4.1.0 using one of the [Install Couchbase Lite](#lbl-install-tabs) methods shown.

Enterprise users can also download the Couchbase Lite Vector Search extension library.

> [!NOTE]
> Couchbase Lite is distributed as an xcframework, to support this:
> 
> * The minimum required Cocoapods version is **1.15**
> * The minimum required Carthage version is **0.38**

### [](#lbl-install-tabs)Install Couchbase Lite

* Direct Download
* Carthage
* CocoaPods

1. Download the binaries from here — [Extend with Mobile](https://www.couchbase.com/downloads#extend-with-mobile).
2. Unpack the download zip file into your XCode project location.
3. Select your target settings in XCode and drag **CouchbaseLite.xcframework** from your Finder to the **Frameworks, Libraries, and Embedded Content** section.

  * Import the xcframework and start using it in your project.  
  ```objc  
  #include <CouchbaseLite/CouchbaseLite.h>  
  ...  
  ```

> [!NOTE]
> The minimum required version of Carthage is **38.0**

1. [Install Carthage](https://github.com/Carthage/Carthage#installing-carthage)
2. In your **Cartfile**, add the following.  
Couchbase Lite Community Edition  
```ruby  
binary "https://packages.couchbase.com/releases/couchbase-lite-ios/carthage/CouchbaseLite-Community.json" ~> 4.1.0  
```  
Couchbase Lite Enterprise Edition  
```ruby  
binary "https://packages.couchbase.com/releases/couchbase-lite-ios/carthage/CouchbaseLite-Enterprise.json" ~> 4.1.0  
```
3. Run `carthage update --platform ios`.
4. Drag **CouchbaseLite.xcframework** from **Carthage/Build/** to the Xcode navigator.
5. Click on Project > General > Embedded Binary and add **CouchbaseLite.xcframework** to this section.

> [!NOTE]
> The minimum required version of Cocoapods is **1.15**

1. [Install Cocoapods](https://guides.cocoapods.org/using/getting-started.html)
2. In your **Podfile**, add the following.  
Couchbase Lite Community Edition  
```ruby  
target '<your target name>' do  
  use_frameworks!  
  pod 'CouchbaseLite', '4.1.0'  
end  
```  
Couchbase Lite Enterprise Edition  
```ruby  
target '<your target name>' do  
  use_frameworks!  
  pod 'CouchbaseLite-Enterprise', '4.1.0'  
end  
```
3. Install the pods and open the .xcworkspace file generated by Cocoapods.  
```bash  
pod install  
```

## [](#install-vector-search-extension)Install Vector Search Extension

> [!NOTE]
> Vector Search is an **Enterprise-only** feature.

You can get set up with the Vector Search Extension for iOS (Objective-C) by following these instructions.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> To use Vector Search, you must have Couchbase Lite installed and add the Vector Search extension to your Couchbase Lite application. Vector Search is available only for 64-bit architectures and Intel processors that support the Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) instruction set. To verify whether your device supports the AVX2 instructions set, [follow these instructions.](https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000090473/processors/intel-core-processors.html)

* Direct Download
* Carthage
* CocoaPods

1. Download the binaries from here — [binary download link.](https://packages.couchbase.com/releases/couchbase-lite-vector-search/2.0.0/couchbase-lite-vector-search%5Fxcframework%5F2.0.0.zip)
2. Unpack the download zip file into your XCode project location.
3. Select your target settings in XCode and drag **CouchbaseLiteVectorSearch.xcframework** from your Finder to the **Frameworks, Libraries, and Embedded Content** section.
4. Start using Couchbase Lite Vector Search on Swift in your project.

> [!NOTE]
> The minimum required version of Carthage is **38.0**

1. [Install Carthage](https://github.com/Carthage/Carthage#installing-carthage)
2. In your **Cartfile**, add the following.  
Couchbase Lite Enterprise Edition  
```ruby  
binary "http://packages.couchbase.com/releases/couchbase-lite-vector-search/carthage/CouchbaseLiteVectorSearch.json" ~> 2.0.0  
```
3. Run `carthage update --platform ios`.
4. Drag **CouchbaseLite.xcframework** from **Carthage/Build/** to the Xcode navigator.
5. Click on Project > General > Embedded Binary and add **CouchbaseLite.xcframework** to this section.

> [!NOTE]
> The minimum required Cocoapods version is **1.15**

1. Install CocoaPods using the instructions here:  
<https://guides.cocoapods.org/using/getting-started.html>
2. Add one of these targets to your **Podfile**:  
Couchbase Lite Enterprise Edition  
```ruby  
target 'Example' do  
  use_frameworks!  
  pod 'CouchbaseLiteVectorSearch', '2.0.0' (1)  
end  
```

| **1** | Specify the required version number, here we use the latest version |
| ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
3. Install the pods and open the `.xcworkspace` file generated by CocoaPods, using:  
```bash  
pod install  
```

## [](#related-content)Related Content

###### [](#)

How to . . .

* [Prerequisites](gs-prereqs.md)
* [Install](gs-install.md)
* [Build and Run](gs-build.md)

.

###### [](#-2)

Learn more . . .

* [Databases](database.md)
* [Documents](document.md)
* [Blobs](blob.md)
* [Remote Sync Gateway](replication.md)
* [Handling Data Conflicts](conflict.md)

.

###### [](#-3)

Dive Deeper . . .

[Mobile Forum](https://forums.couchbase.com/c/mobile/14) | [Blog](https://blog.couchbase.com/) | [Tutorials](https://docs.couchbase.com/tutorials/)

.