diff --git a/scripts/build-ios.sh b/scripts/build-ios.sh
index c0182bf3..5f39ec51 100755
--- a/scripts/build-ios.sh
+++ b/scripts/build-ios.sh
@@ -349,10 +349,56 @@ if [ "$CLEAN_ONLY" = true ]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
+# Xcode 26 / CocoaPods workaround for cap sync (used by sync-only and full build)
+# Temporarily downgrade project.pbxproj objectVersion 70 -> 56 so pod install succeeds.
+run_cap_sync_with_workaround() {
+    local PROJECT_FILE="ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj"
+
+    if [ ! -f "$PROJECT_FILE" ]; then
+        log_error "Project file not found: $PROJECT_FILE (run full build first?)"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    local current_version
+    current_version=$(grep "objectVersion" "$PROJECT_FILE" | head -1 | grep -o "[0-9]\+" || echo "")
+
+    if [ -z "$current_version" ]; then
+        log_error "Could not determine project format version for Capacitor sync"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    if [ "$current_version" = "70" ]; then
+        log_debug "Applying Xcode 26 workaround for Capacitor sync: temporarily downgrading to format 56"
+
+        if ! sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 70;/objectVersion = 56;/' "$PROJECT_FILE"; then
+            log_error "Failed to downgrade project format for Capacitor sync"
+            return 1
+        fi
+
+        log_info "Running Capacitor sync..."
+        if ! npx cap sync ios; then
+            log_error "Capacitor sync failed"
+            sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 56;/objectVersion = 70;/' "$PROJECT_FILE" || true
+            return 1
+        fi
+
+        log_debug "Restoring project format to 70 after Capacitor sync..."
+        sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 56;/objectVersion = 70;/' "$PROJECT_FILE" || true
+        log_success "Capacitor sync completed successfully"
+    else
+        log_debug "Project format is $current_version, running Capacitor sync normally"
+        if ! npx cap sync ios; then
+            log_error "Capacitor sync failed"
+            return 1
+        fi
+        log_success "Capacitor sync completed successfully"
+    fi
+}
+
 # Handle sync-only mode
 if [ "$SYNC_ONLY" = true ]; then
-    log_info "Sync-only mode: syncing with Capacitor"
-    safe_execute "Syncing with Capacitor" "npx cap sync ios" || exit 6
+    log_info "Sync-only mode: syncing with Capacitor (with Xcode 26 workaround if needed)"
+    safe_execute "Syncing with Capacitor" "run_cap_sync_with_workaround" || exit 6
     log_success "Sync completed successfully!"
     exit 0
 fi
@@ -433,13 +479,13 @@ fi
 # it back to 70 when opened, which is fine.
 #
 # NOTE: Both explicit pod install AND Capacitor sync (which runs pod install
-# internally) need this workaround. See run_pod_install_with_workaround()
-# and run_cap_sync_with_workaround() functions below.
+# internally) need this workaround. run_pod_install_with_workaround() is below;
+# run_cap_sync_with_workaround() is defined earlier (used by --sync and Step 6.6).
 #
 # TO REMOVE THIS WORKAROUND IN THE FUTURE:
 # 1. Check if xcodeproj gem has been updated: bundle exec gem list xcodeproj
 # 2. Test if pod install works without the workaround
-# 3. If it works, remove both workaround functions below
+# 3. If it works, remove run_pod_install_with_workaround() and run_cap_sync_with_workaround()
 # 4. Replace with:
 #    - safe_execute "Installing CocoaPods dependencies" "cd ios/App && bundle exec pod install && cd ../.." || exit 6
 #    - safe_execute "Syncing with Capacitor" "npx cap sync ios" || exit 6
@@ -505,56 +551,7 @@ run_pod_install_with_workaround() {
 
 safe_execute "Installing CocoaPods dependencies" "run_pod_install_with_workaround" || exit 6
 
-# Step 6.6: Sync with Capacitor (also needs workaround since it runs pod install internally)
-# Capacitor sync internally runs pod install, so we need to apply the workaround here too
-run_cap_sync_with_workaround() {
-    local PROJECT_FILE="ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj"
-    
-    # Check current format version
-    local current_version=$(grep "objectVersion" "$PROJECT_FILE" | head -1 | grep -o "[0-9]\+" || echo "")
-    
-    if [ -z "$current_version" ]; then
-        log_error "Could not determine project format version for Capacitor sync"
-        return 1
-    fi
-    
-    # Only apply workaround if format is 70
-    if [ "$current_version" = "70" ]; then
-        log_debug "Applying Xcode 26 workaround for Capacitor sync: temporarily downgrading to format 56"
-        
-        # Downgrade to format 56 (supported by CocoaPods)
-        if ! sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 70;/objectVersion = 56;/' "$PROJECT_FILE"; then
-            log_error "Failed to downgrade project format for Capacitor sync"
-            return 1
-        fi
-        
-        # Run Capacitor sync (which will run pod install internally)
-        log_info "Running Capacitor sync..."
-        if ! npx cap sync ios; then
-            log_error "Capacitor sync failed"
-            # Try to restore format even on failure
-            sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 56;/objectVersion = 70;/' "$PROJECT_FILE" || true
-            return 1
-        fi
-        
-        # Restore to format 70
-        log_debug "Restoring project format to 70 after Capacitor sync..."
-        if ! sed -i '' 's/objectVersion = 56;/objectVersion = 70;/' "$PROJECT_FILE"; then
-            log_warn "Failed to restore project format to 70 (Xcode will upgrade it automatically)"
-        fi
-        
-        log_success "Capacitor sync completed successfully"
-    else
-        # Format is not 70, run sync normally
-        log_debug "Project format is $current_version, running Capacitor sync normally"
-        if ! npx cap sync ios; then
-            log_error "Capacitor sync failed"
-            return 1
-        fi
-        log_success "Capacitor sync completed successfully"
-    fi
-}
-
+# Step 6.6: Sync with Capacitor (uses run_cap_sync_with_workaround defined above for Xcode 26)
 safe_execute "Syncing with Capacitor" "run_cap_sync_with_workaround" || exit 6
 
 # Step 7: Generate assets