Fastlane is a powerful open-source tool that simplifies and automates the process of building, testing, and deploying iOS and Android apps. If you're an iOS developer looking to streamline your app deployment workflow, Fastlane is a must-have.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through installing Fastlane on macOS based on the official Fastlane iOS setup docs.

🔧 Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

  • ✅ A Mac running macOS
  • ✅ Xcode installed with command line tools
  • ✅ Terminal and command-line basics
  • ✅ A paid Apple Developer account (required for App Store deployment)

🛠 Step-by-Step Installation Guide

🥇 Step 1: Install Xcode Command Line Tools

Fastlane relies on Xcode's CLI tools for building/signing apps.

xcode-select --install

If already installed, you'll see a message. To confirm:

xcode-select -p
# /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

🥈 Step 2: Install Fastlane

There are two common methods:

Option 1: Using RubyGems (Recommended) 

sudo gem install fastlane -NV
  • sudo: For admin privileges
  • -NV: Skips documentation for faster install

💡 Pro Tip: Use a Gemfile with Bundler for team projects:

# Gemfile
source "https://rubygems.org"
gem "fastlane"

Then run:

bundle install

Option 2: Using Homebrew

If you prefer Homebrew:

brew install fastlane

⚠️ Homebrew may lag behind RubyGems in version updates.

✅ Step 3: Verify the Installation 

fastlane --version
# fastlane 2.x.x

⚙️ Step 4: Initialize Fastlane in Your iOS Project 

cd /path/to/your/project
fastlane init

Choose an option:

  • Option 2: Automate beta deployment to TestFlight
  • Option 4: Manual setup

Fastlane creates a fastlane/ directory with:

  • Appfile: Global config (e.g. Apple ID)
  • Fastfile: Automation workflows

💡 Prefer Swift? You can also use Fastlane.swift (still in beta).

🌐 Step 5: Configure Environment Variables (Optional)

For CI or locale issues, add this to your .zshrc or .bashrc:

export LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8
export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

# Then reload:
source ~/.zshrc

🧯 Troubleshooting

  • Permission Errors: Use sudo when needed
  • Missing CLI Tools: Run xcode-select --install
  • Wrong Ruby Version: Use rbenv or rvm
  • Outdated Fastlane:
    • RubyGems: sudo gem update fastlane
    • Homebrew: brew upgrade fastlane

🤖 Why Use Fastlane?

Fastlane automates tedious iOS tasks:

  • 📸 Screenshots (snapshot)
  • 🔐 Code signing (match)
  • 🚀 TestFlight/App Store uploads (upload_to_testflight)
  • 🧪 CI/CD integration

Example Lane 

lane :beta do
  increment_build_number
  build_app
  upload_to_testflight
end

Run it with:

fastlane beta

📚 Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore:

  • Automate screenshots
  • Use match for signing
  • Configure TestFlight deployments
  • Connect Fastlane with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, etc.

💬 Got questions or tips? Share them in the comments!

📎 Official docs: https://docs.fastlane.tools