MSALNativeAuthUserAccountResult / MSALNativeAuthSilentTokenProviding cannot see MSALAccount in Swift builds (Xcode 26)

[bgrajesh57]

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MSAL Version

2.4.1

Description

I'm integrating MSAL native authentication in a React Native iOS app and running into a compile-time error in the MSAL pod’s native-auth Swift files:

Cannot find type 'MSALAccount' in scope

This happens specifically in these files:

MSALNativeAuthSilentTokenProviding.swift

MSALNativeAuthUserAccountResult.swift

Even though I see MSALAccount.h present in Pods/MSAL/MSAL/app-lib, the Swift compiler in the native-auth module can’t access it.

I traced it down to module/header visibility:

MSALAccount is in app-lib, but the native-auth subspec is built in the same target and doesn’t see those internal headers by default.

I confirmed in Xcode that the target for MSAL (which includes the native-auth subspec) doesn’t include app-lib in its header search paths by default.

Attempts to patch via HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS in the Podfile (in post_install) haven’t worked — I never see the patch log indicate “fixed header paths for MSAL-native-auth”, meaning the condition block never runs (likely because native-auth is not a separate target but a subspec).

This seems exacerbated on Xcode 16 / latest Swift toolchains, which are stricter about module boundaries.

Error Details

Pod file tried:

platform :ios, '15.0'
use_frameworks!
use_modular_headers!

target 'MSALNativeAuthIssueDemo' do
  # Minimal setup to reproduce the build error
  pod 'MSAL'
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

  post_install do |installer|
    installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
      # Try to expose MSAL internal headers
      if target.name == 'MSAL'
        target.build_configurations.each do |config|
          config.build_settings['HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS'] ||= '$(inherited)'
          config.build_settings['HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS'] << ' $(PODS_ROOT)/MSAL/MSAL/app-lib'
          config.build_settings['PUBLIC_HEADERS_FOLDER_PATH'] = '$(TARGET_NAME)/app-lib'
        end
        puts "Updated MSAL header paths"
      end

      # Attempt to patch native-auth (fails, because native-auth is not a separate target)
      if target.name == 'MSAL-native-auth'
        target.build_configurations.each do |config|
          config.build_settings['HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS'] ||= '$(inherited)'
          config.build_settings['HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS'] << ' $(PODS_ROOT)/MSAL/MSAL/app-lib'
        end
        puts "Fixed header paths for MSAL-native-auth"
      end
    end
  end
end

MSAL Logs

N/A

Reproduction Steps

React Native + iOS pods setup

Podfile includes: pod 'MSAL', pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

Xcode 26 (Swift 5)

Pods/MSAL/MSAL/app-lib/MSALAccount.h exists but not exposed to native-auth Swift files

Expected Behavior

Expose MSALAccount as a public header in the MSAL podspec so that the native-auth subspec can import it automatically

Or adjust module maps so that app-lib is imported into the MSAL umbrella module, and native-auth works under the same module

Regression

No response

Screenshots & Screen Recordings

Additional context

No response

[nilo-ms]

Hi @bgrajesh57 ,

Thanks for attaching the Podfile.
As first step I'd start removing "pod 'MSAL'" from your podfile.
If you include "pod 'MSAL/native-auth'" in your podfile, you don't need to include "pod MSAL" too, because the native auth one already includes MSAL.

So, you should change this:

# Minimal setup to reproduce the build error
  pod 'MSAL'
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

to this:

# Minimal setup to reproduce the build error
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

You can find more details here: https://github.com/AzureAD/microsoft-authentication-library-for-objc?tab=readme-ov-file#using-cocoapods
Please, let me know if this solves the issue.
Thanks.

[bgrajesh57]

Hi @nilo-ms

After the change as you requested, still we can see the same error.

Cannot find type 'MSALAccount' in scope

This happens specifically in these files:

MSALNativeAuthSilentTokenProviding.swift

MSALNativeAuthUserAccountResult.swift

Thanks for the quick response. We are in React native project and try to install pod 'MSAL/native-auth' in iOS and then do will bridge between native iOS to React native.

This is our complete pod file is here. Please check it once anything else we are missing. or any extra steps required make it work.

require File.join(File.dirname(`node --print "require.resolve('expo/package.json')"`), "scripts/autolinking")

# Resolve react_native_pods.rb with node to allow for hoisting

require Pod::Executable.execute_command('node', ['-p',
  'require.resolve(
    "react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb",
    {paths: [process.argv[1]]},
  )', __dir__]).strip

# require 'json'
# podfile_properties = JSON.parse(File.read(File.join(__dir__, 'Podfile.properties.json'))) rescue {}

platform :ios, 15.1
prepare_react_native_project!

production = ENV["PRODUCTION"] == "1"

# Disabling the new arch as the app is crashing.
# We will enable it in the future releases once the fix ready from the RN side.
# ref - https://github.com/facebook/react-native/issues/47935
ENV['RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED'] = '0'

project 'demoapp',
        'Dev.Debug' => :debug,
        'Dev.Release' => :release,
        'Uat.Debug' => :debug,
        'Uat.Release' => :release,
        'Prod.Debug' => :debug,
        'Prod.Release' => :release

linkage = ENV['USE_FRAMEWORKS']
if linkage != nil
  Pod::UI.puts "Configuring Pod with #{linkage}ally linked Frameworks".green
  use_frameworks! :linkage => linkage.to_sym
end

target 'demoapp' do
  use_expo_modules!
  post_integrate do |installer|
    begin
      expo_patch_react_imports!(installer)
    rescue => e
      Pod::UI.warn e
    end
  end

  if ENV['EXPO_USE_COMMUNITY_AUTOLINKING'] == '1'
    config_command = ['node', '-e', "process.argv=['', '', 'config'];require('@react-native-community/cli').run()"];
  else
    config_command = [
      'npx',
      'expo-modules-autolinking',
      'react-native-config',
      '--json',
      '--platform',
      'ios'
    ]
  end

  config = use_native_modules!(config_command)

  use_react_native!(
    :path => config[:reactNativePath],
    # An absolute path to your application root.
    :app_path => "#{Pod::Config.instance.installation_root}/.."
  )

  pod 'RNKeychain', :path => '../node_modules/react-native-keychain'

  pod 'TrustKit', '2.0.0'
  pod 'AEPAssurance'
  pod 'AEPAnalytics'
  pod 'AEPUserProfile'
  pod 'SSZipArchive'
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

  post_install do |installer|
    react_native_post_install(
      installer,
      config[:reactNativePath],
      :mac_catalyst_enabled => false,
      # :ccache_enabled => true
    )

   # arm64 simulator EXCLUDED_ARCHS setting:
  installer.pods_project.build_configurations.each do |config|
    config.build_settings["EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*]"] = "arm64"
  end

  #REMOVE EXPO_CONFIGURATION_DEBUG from app target build flags
    app_project_path = File.join(__dir__, 'demoapp.xcodeproj')
    app_project = Xcodeproj::Project.open(app_project_path)
    app_project.targets.each do |target|
      target.build_configurations.each do |config|
        if ['Debug', 'Dev.Debug'].include?(config.name)
          flags = config.build_settings['OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS'] || []
          flags = flags.split(' ') if flags.is_a?(String)
          flags.reject! { |f| ['-D', 'EXPO_CONFIGURATION_DEBUG', '-DEXPO_CONFIGURATION_DEBUG'].include?(f) }
          config.build_settings['OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS'] = flags
          puts "Cleaned app flags for #{target.name} [#{config.name}]: #{flags.join(' ')}"
        end
      end
    end
    app_project.save

    # Add these lines for Xcode 14 builds
    installer.generated_projects.each do |project|
      project.targets.each do |target|
          target.build_configurations.each do |config|
              config.build_settings["DEVELOPMENT_TEAM"] = “XXXXXXXXX”
              config.build_settings['CODE_SIGN_STYLE'] = "Manual"
          end
      end
    end


    installer.pods_project.targets.each do |target|
    # Workaround for adobe sdk issue
      if target.name.start_with?("AEP")
        target.build_configurations.each do |bc|
            bc.build_settings['OTHER_SWIFT_FLAGS'] = '$(inherited) -no-verify-emitted-module-interface'
        end
      end

      target.build_configurations.each do |config|
        config.build_settings['IPHONEOS_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET'] = "15.1"
        config.build_settings["EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*]"] = "arm64"
        config.build_settings["ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH"] = "YES"
      end

    end

  end
end

Any specific setup required for react native project.

this is our existing bridge header file.

demoapp-Bridging-Header.h

#import <React/RCTBridge.h>
#import <Expo/Expo.h>
#import <React/RCTBundleURLProvider.h>
#import <React/RCTRootView.h>
#import <React/RCTLinkingManager.h>
#import "RNBootSplash.h"

Also we included #import <MSAL/MSAL.h> in to demoapp-Bridging-Header.h, still we can see same error.

Looking forward to hear from you.

[nilo-ms]

Thanks @bgrajesh57 . I recommend starting with the simple application, which includes the podfile you mentioned in your initial message.
I suggest removing "use_modular_headers!" settings. Native auth doesn't work when pod is linked statically.
Another step I suggest is removing the "post_install" steps. So, the new podfile to use will look like this:

platform :ios, '15.0'
use_frameworks!

target 'MSALNativeAuthIssueDemo' do
  # Minimal setup to reproduce the build error
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'
end

[bgrajesh57]

Hi @nilo-ms Thanks,

Did quick iOS demo app, but it redirecting to different issue :(

Xcode version: 16.4
Swift version : 5

Created a iOS app, in the pod file

# Uncomment the next line to define a global platform for your project
# platform :ios, '15.0'

target 'MSAuthDemo' do
  # Comment the next line if you don't want to use dynamic frameworks
  use_frameworks!
  pod 'MSAL/native-auth'

  # Pods for MSAuthDemo

end

When run the applicaiton, getting below error. Please check it attached screen. Not sure what am are missing.
In the doc say, add pod 'MSAL/native-auth in rhw pod file.

https://github.com/AzureAD/microsoft-authentication-library-for-objc?tab=readme-ov-file#using-cocoapods

Here is the complete demoapp. Please check it once.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VZhfUhWtI0TEjN8v6HjvUXmIC9bQ8QA1/view?usp=sharing

[nilo-ms]

Hi @bgrajesh57 , I just created an empty iOS application and included MSAL/native auth SDK using cocoapod. Everything worked as expected on my end.
The error you're getting is related to the new sandboxing restrictions Apple introduced for build scripts in Xcode 15+.
You can solve this issue disabling "script sandboxing":

1. Open your project in Xcode.
2. Go to Build Settings.
3. Search for ENABLE_USER_SCRIPT_SANDBOXING.
4. Set it to NO for all relevant targets (especially the one embedding the pod).
5. Clean and rebuild

If you have multiple targets (e.g. Runner, App, Test), make sure to apply this setting to each of them.

[bgrajesh57]

Hi @nilo-ms

Thanks a lot for quick reply. The soultion is working Demoapp. It woudle be great this can be updated in the sample app in the below repo as well.

https://github.com/AzureAD/microsoft-authentication-library-for-objc?tab=readme-ov-file#using-cocoapods

For this specific issue:

MSALNativeAuthUserAccountResult / MSALNativeAuthSilentTokenProviding cannot see MSALAccount in Swift builds 

our pod file need to revist because we are not using use_frameworks! enforced. We will check and come back.

thanks a lot.