How to fix Failed to fetch platform cordova-ios@~4.4.0

Question

When I use the "cordova platform add ios" command for the latest Cordova version which is 7.0.1, I receive a failed to fetch message.

I am trying to upgrade an existing project to iOS version 4.4.0 but for my peace of mind, I tried creating a fresh project which also had the same error.

Here is my terminal output below showing the errors I receive, can anyone recommend a solution to resolve this issue?

Stuarts-MacBook-Pro:T Stu$ cordova create myApp org.apache.cordova.myApp myApp
Creating a new cordova project.
Stuarts-MacBook-Pro:T Stu$ cd myApp
Stuarts-MacBook-Pro:myApp Stu$ cordova platform add ios
Using cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@~4.4.0
Error: Failed to fetch platform cordova-ios@~4.4.0
Probably this is either a connection problem, or platform spec is incorrect.
Check your connection and platform name/version/URL.
Failed to get absolute path to installed module
Stuarts-MacBook-Pro:myApp Stu$ cordova platform add ios
Using cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@^4.4.0
Error: Failed to fetch platform cordova-ios@^4.4.0
Probably this is either a connection problem, or platform spec is incorrect.
Check your connection and platform name/version/URL.
Error: npm: Command failed with exit code 254 Error output:
npm WARN [email protected] No repository field.
npm ERR! Darwin 16.0.0
npm ERR! argv "/usr/local/Cellar/node/6.2.0/bin/node" "/usr/local/bin/npm" "install" "cordova-ios@^4.4.0" "--save"
npm ERR! node v6.2.0
npm ERR! npm  v3.8.9
npm ERR! path /Users/S/Development/T/myApp/node_modules/.staging/xml-escape-d330e1e1
npm ERR! code ENOENT
npm ERR! errno -2
npm ERR! syscall rename

npm ERR! enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, rename '/Users/S/Development/T/myApp/node_modules/.staging/xml-escape-d330e1e1' -> '/Users/S/Development/T/myApp/node_modules/cordova-ios/node_modules/xml-escape'

Answer 1

I have resolved this, it appears to be an NPM issue and not a Cordova one. I just updated NPM within Terminal and after the update "cordova platform add ios" worked fine. Happy days - 1 !

npm update -g

Answer 2

1. Delete the folder cordova-ios, located in node_modules/cordova-ios.

2. Type the following command

   ionic cordova build ios
   

Answer 3

Sometimes a previously added Platform is not removed Properly, so this type of issue occurs. Remove the platform by command and add it again..

Follow this steps:

1. Run the command

    ionic cordova platform remove ios
   

2. Run the command:

    ionic cordova platform add ios --save
   

3. If you are still getting the issue, try running again:

    ionic cordova platform remove ios --save
   

NOTE: By running again the command ionic cordova platform remove ios --save fetches newer version of ios platform.
For example:

• First time: cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@~4.5.1
• Second time: cordova-fetch for cordova-ios@~4.5.4