Target file "macos" not found

Question

I can successfully build an iOS app with

flutter build ios

But when I try to turn the app in macOS using

flutter run macos

I get this error

Target file "macos" not found.

Although I have macos directory in my project root. But still I'm unable to run the app in macOS.

---

Update

After deleting macos folder and running flutter create .

Recreating project .... macos/Runner.xcworkspace/contents.xcworkspacedata (created) macos/Runner.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/IDEWorkspaceChecks.plist (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_16.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_1024.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_256.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_64.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_512.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_128.png (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/Contents.json (created) macos/Runner/Assets.xcassets/AppIcon.appiconset/app_icon_32.png (created) macos/Runner/DebugProfile.entitlements (created) macos/Runner/Base.lproj/MainMenu.xib (created) macos/Runner/MainFlutterWindow.swift (created) macos/Runner/Configs/Debug.xcconfig (created) macos/Runner/Configs/Release.xcconfig (created) macos/Runner/Configs/Warnings.xcconfig (created) macos/Runner/Configs/AppInfo.xcconfig (created) macos/Runner/AppDelegate.swift (created) macos/Runner/Info.plist (created) macos/Runner/Release.entitlements (created) macos/Runner.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/IDEWorkspaceChecks.plist (created) macos/Runner.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj (created) macos/Runner.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/Runner.xcscheme (created) macos/Flutter/Flutter-Debug.xcconfig (created) macos/Flutter/Flutter-Release.xcconfig (created) macos/.gitignore (created) Running "flutter pub get" in practice... 2,611ms Wrote 29 files.

All done! In order to run your application, type: $ cd . $ flutter run Your application code is in ./lib/main.dart.

And now if I run flutter run macos, it again gives me the same error:

Target file "macos" not found.

Update-2

I just ran flutter build macos and found that there are some errors in particular to macos. I think I need to resolve them first in order to make the app run in macos.

Solution 1

You're missing a param in your command.
Run flutter run -d macos and it should work smoothly :)

Solution 2

delete macos and then run flutter create . inside your project root, it will generate missing targets without touching existing ones

Comments

[eeqk]

do you have flutter-specific files inside this target?

[iDecode]

@mightybruno I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean by that.

[FDuhen]

If you didn't touch the files in the macos folder, did you consider removing this folder and running again the flutter create . method ?

[iDecode]

I already tried this command before posting the question.

[eeqk]

sorry for misleading you, but you're right. You'd have to replace temp with your project name. I've tried running the command I've posted above and it created only missing targets

[eeqk]

have you enabled desktop target? flutter config --enable-macos-desktop

[iDecode]

I deleted the macos folder, ran the flutter create . it does show creation of files in the terminal but when I run the app, it again gives me the same error. Let me try flutter config... command now

[eeqk]

does it actually create macos folder? if not, try to run the command with config and rerun create

[iDecode]

HI, thanks for your input. I just realized there's an error in my project (only for macos), when I run flutter build ios, it builds. But I just did flutter build macos and I started seeing some error which I believe is the root cause of not making the app run in macos. Although the error is completely different but I think this could be an isue.

[FDuhen]

At least your initial problem is fixed with the "-d" param you were missing ! GL Fixing your project :)

[iDecode]

When I run the app using the command you showed, the console did show the error. So, I'll accept your answer :)

[FDuhen]

This command is the one used to generate a release build

[iDecode]

My bad haha. I meant is flutter run macos isn't essentially a flutter run -d macos.

[iDecode]

I'll upvote your post for sure, because now my app is up and running. I think config also played some role (although the main issue were the errors).