diff --git a/project-template-ios/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig b/project-template-ios/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
index 4526c0226..df536162b 100644
--- a/project-template-ios/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
+++ b/project-template-ios/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 // @COCOAPODS_SILENCE_WARNINGS@ //
 #include "build.xcconfig"
 #include "../plugins-debug.xcconfig"
+// Debug configurations embed every debug framework.
+NS_EMBEDDED_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = $(NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/NativeScriptStart.m b/project-template-ios/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
index 563251a7f..2b6f562a4 100644
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@
 #import <NativeScript/NativeScript.h>
 #import <NativeScriptStart.h>
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#include <dlfcn.h>
 #include <notify.h>
-#include <TKLiveSync/TKLiveSync.h>
 #include "macros.h"
-#endif
 
 extern char startOfMetadataSection __asm("section$start$__DATA$__TNSMetadata");
 NativeScript* nativescriptStart;
@@ -24,24 +22,27 @@ +(void)setup{
      @autoreleasepool {
          NSString* baseDir = [[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath];
 
-     #ifdef DEBUG
-             int refreshRequestSubscription;
-             notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
-                 notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
-                 bool success = [nativescriptStart liveSync];
-                 if (success) {
-                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
-                 } else {
-                     NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
-                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
-                 }
-             });
+             // TKLiveSync is in NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS: only debug configurations embed it, unless
+             // NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS lists it.
+             void (*initializeLiveSync)(void) = (void (*)(void))dlsym(RTLD_DEFAULT, "TNSInitializeLiveSync");
+             if (initializeLiveSync != NULL) {
+                 int refreshRequestSubscription;
+                 notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
+                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
+                     bool success = [nativescriptStart liveSync];
+                     if (success) {
+                         notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
+                     } else {
+                         NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
+                         notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
+                     }
+                 });
 
-             TNSInitializeLiveSync();
-             if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
-                 baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+                 initializeLiveSync();
+                 if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
+                     baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+                 }
              }
-     #endif
 
              void* metadataPtr = &startOfMetadataSection;
 
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/main.m b/project-template-ios/internal/main.m
index f9da2556b..e70cbad22 100644
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/main.m
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/main.m
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@
 #import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
 #import <NativeScript/NativeScript.h>
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#include <dlfcn.h>
 #include <notify.h>
-#include <TKLiveSync/TKLiveSync.h>
 #include "macros.h"
-#endif
 
 #if NS_SWIFTUI_BOOT == 0
 // Users can disable Obj-C bootstrapping by defining NS_SWIFTUI_BOOT = 1 in their project's build.xcconfig file
@@ -21,24 +19,27 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    @autoreleasepool {
        NSString* baseDir = [[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath];
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
-       int refreshRequestSubscription;
-       notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
-           notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
-           bool success = [nativescript liveSync];
-           if (success) {
-               notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
-           } else {
-               NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
-               notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
-           }
-       });
+       // TKLiveSync is in NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS: only debug configurations embed it, unless
+       // NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS lists it.
+       void (*initializeLiveSync)(void) = (void (*)(void))dlsym(RTLD_DEFAULT, "TNSInitializeLiveSync");
+       if (initializeLiveSync != NULL) {
+           int refreshRequestSubscription;
+           notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
+               notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
+               bool success = [nativescript liveSync];
+               if (success) {
+                   notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
+               } else {
+                   NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
+                   notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
+               }
+           });
 
-       TNSInitializeLiveSync();
-       if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
-           baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+           initializeLiveSync();
+           if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
+               baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+           }
        }
-#endif
 
        void* metadataPtr = &startOfMetadataSection;
 
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
index 6a2167c83..ed2bfbad2 100644
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ FRAMEWORK_SEARCH_PATHS[sdk=*] = $(inherited) "$(SRCROOT)/internal/" "$(CONFIGURA
 LD = $SRCROOT/internal/nsld.sh
 LDPLUSPLUS = $SRCROOT/internal/nsld.sh
 
+// * Frameworks only debug builds use: file names separated by spaces. They are weak-linked,
+// * and only configurations based on build-debug.xcconfig embed them.
+NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = TKLiveSync.framework
+// * Debug frameworks to embed in every configuration, e.g. in App_Resources/iOS/build.xcconfig:
+// * NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = TKLiveSync.framework
+EXCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES[sdk=*] = $(inherited) $(NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
+INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES[sdk=*] = $(inherited) $(NS_EMBEDDED_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS) $(NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
+
 // * Uncomment this setting to generate TypeScript declarations for the iOS SDK and all linked libraries.
 // * They will be generated on each build, so you can find them after running "ns build ios" in "YOUR_APP/platforms/ios".
 // NS_TYPESCRIPT_DECLARATIONS_PATH = $(SRCROOT)/typescript-declarations
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-post-build b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-post-build
index a9ed8f914..476c99973 100755
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-post-build
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-post-build
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 set -e
 
 pushd "$SRCROOT/internal"
+./remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
 ./strip-dynamic-framework-architectures.sh
 popd
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-pre-build b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-pre-build
index 61556db7d..f0b585bec 100755
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-pre-build
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/nativescript-pre-build
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ else
     mv "$ENV_FILE.tmp" "$ENV_FILE"
 fi
 
+# Xcode reads these as lists too (EXCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES / INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES)
+# and only splits on spaces, so a comma would leave the frameworks linked and embedded.
+case "$NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS $NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS" in
+    *,*)
+        echo "error: NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS and NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS take framework file names separated by spaces, not commas." >&2
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
 # create temporary empty metadata files for XCode LD/LDPLUSPLUS flag analysis.
 # Never touch existing ones: the link step reads them, so a newer timestamp
 # would make Xcode relink on every build.
@@ -17,10 +26,11 @@ do :
     [ -e "$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-$arch.bin" ] || touch "$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-$arch.bin"
 done
 
-# The metadata generator reads these during linking, which Xcode would skip when
-# only they changed.
+# The link step reads these (the metadata generator its filters, nsld.sh
+# NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS), and Xcode would skip it when only they changed.
 FILTERS_STAMP="$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-filters.stamp"
 FILTERS_HASH=$(cd "$SRCROOT" && shasum whitelist.mdg blacklist.mdg 2>/dev/null || true)
+FILTERS_HASH="$FILTERS_HASH NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS=$NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS"
 if [ ! -e "$FILTERS_STAMP" ] || [ "$FILTERS_HASH" != "$(cat "$FILTERS_STAMP")" ]; then
     for arch in $VALID_ARCHS
     do :
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/nsld.sh b/project-template-ios/internal/nsld.sh
index c61a8c094..23c286fab 100755
--- a/project-template-ios/internal/nsld.sh
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/nsld.sh
@@ -117,6 +117,19 @@ if [[ -z "$CLANG_PATH" ]]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+# Weak-link NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS (file names): most configurations don't embed them.
+DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS=" ${NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS} "
+LINK_ARGS=()
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    if [[ "$1" == "-framework" && $# -gt 1 && "$DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS" == *" $2.framework "* ]]; then
+        LINK_ARGS+=("-weak_framework" "$2")
+        shift 2
+        continue
+    fi
+    LINK_ARGS+=("$1")
+    shift
+done
+
 # For visibility downstream, set NS_LD to the resolved path and invoke.
 NS_LD="$CLANG_PATH"
-"$NS_LD" "$@"
+"$NS_LD" "${LINK_ARGS[@]}"
diff --git a/project-template-ios/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh b/project-template-ios/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..942dfd8f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project-template-ios/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Xcode embeds only the NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS that INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES lists, but it
+# never deletes the copy an earlier build left in the app.
+
+set -e
+
+INCLUDED=" ${INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES} "
+
+for FRAMEWORK in ${NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS}; do
+  if [[ "$INCLUDED" != *" $FRAMEWORK "* ]]; then
+    rm -rf "${TARGET_BUILD_DIR}/${FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH}/${FRAMEWORK}"
+  fi
+done
diff --git a/project-template-vision/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig b/project-template-vision/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
index 4526c0226..df536162b 100644
--- a/project-template-vision/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
+++ b/project-template-vision/__PROJECT_NAME__/build-debug.xcconfig
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 // @COCOAPODS_SILENCE_WARNINGS@ //
 #include "build.xcconfig"
 #include "../plugins-debug.xcconfig"
+// Debug configurations embed every debug framework.
+NS_EMBEDDED_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = $(NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/NativeScriptStart.m b/project-template-vision/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
index 563251a7f..2b6f562a4 100644
--- a/project-template-vision/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/NativeScriptStart.m
@@ -9,11 +9,9 @@
 #import <NativeScript/NativeScript.h>
 #import <NativeScriptStart.h>
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#include <dlfcn.h>
 #include <notify.h>
-#include <TKLiveSync/TKLiveSync.h>
 #include "macros.h"
-#endif
 
 extern char startOfMetadataSection __asm("section$start$__DATA$__TNSMetadata");
 NativeScript* nativescriptStart;
@@ -24,24 +22,27 @@ +(void)setup{
      @autoreleasepool {
          NSString* baseDir = [[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath];
 
-     #ifdef DEBUG
-             int refreshRequestSubscription;
-             notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
-                 notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
-                 bool success = [nativescriptStart liveSync];
-                 if (success) {
-                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
-                 } else {
-                     NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
-                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
-                 }
-             });
+             // TKLiveSync is in NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS: only debug configurations embed it, unless
+             // NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS lists it.
+             void (*initializeLiveSync)(void) = (void (*)(void))dlsym(RTLD_DEFAULT, "TNSInitializeLiveSync");
+             if (initializeLiveSync != NULL) {
+                 int refreshRequestSubscription;
+                 notify_register_dispatch(NOTIFICATION("RefreshRequest"), &refreshRequestSubscription, dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(int token) {
+                     notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshStarted"));
+                     bool success = [nativescriptStart liveSync];
+                     if (success) {
+                         notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshSucceeded"));
+                     } else {
+                         NSLog(@"__onLiveSync call failed");
+                         notify_post(NOTIFICATION("AppRefreshFailed"));
+                     }
+                 });
 
-             TNSInitializeLiveSync();
-             if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
-                 baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+                 initializeLiveSync();
+                 if (getenv("TNSBaseDir")) {
+                     baseDir = @(getenv("TNSBaseDir"));
+                 }
              }
-     #endif
 
              void* metadataPtr = &startOfMetadataSection;
 
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
index c90333496..e1869f622 100644
--- a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-build.xcconfig
@@ -12,6 +12,14 @@ FRAMEWORK_SEARCH_PATHS[sdk=*] = $(inherited) "$(SRCROOT)/internal/" "$(CONFIGURA
 LD = $SRCROOT/internal/nsld.sh
 LDPLUSPLUS = $SRCROOT/internal/nsld.sh
 
+// * Frameworks only debug builds use: file names separated by spaces. They are weak-linked,
+// * and only configurations based on build-debug.xcconfig embed them.
+NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = TKLiveSync.framework
+// * Debug frameworks to embed in every configuration, e.g. in App_Resources/visionOS/build.xcconfig:
+// * NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS = TKLiveSync.framework
+EXCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES[sdk=*] = $(inherited) $(NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
+INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES[sdk=*] = $(inherited) $(NS_EMBEDDED_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS) $(NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS)
+
 // * Uncomment this setting to generate TypeScript declarations for the iOS SDK and all linked libraries.
 // * They will be generated on each build, so you can find them after running "ns build ios" in "YOUR_APP/platforms/ios".
 // NS_TYPESCRIPT_DECLARATIONS_PATH = $(SRCROOT)/typescript-declarations
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-post-build b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-post-build
index a9ed8f914..476c99973 100755
--- a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-post-build
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-post-build
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 set -e
 
 pushd "$SRCROOT/internal"
+./remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
 ./strip-dynamic-framework-architectures.sh
 popd
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-pre-build b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-pre-build
index 61556db7d..f0b585bec 100755
--- a/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-pre-build
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/nativescript-pre-build
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ else
     mv "$ENV_FILE.tmp" "$ENV_FILE"
 fi
 
+# Xcode reads these as lists too (EXCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES / INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES)
+# and only splits on spaces, so a comma would leave the frameworks linked and embedded.
+case "$NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS $NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS" in
+    *,*)
+        echo "error: NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS and NS_SHIP_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS take framework file names separated by spaces, not commas." >&2
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
 # create temporary empty metadata files for XCode LD/LDPLUSPLUS flag analysis.
 # Never touch existing ones: the link step reads them, so a newer timestamp
 # would make Xcode relink on every build.
@@ -17,10 +26,11 @@ do :
     [ -e "$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-$arch.bin" ] || touch "$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-$arch.bin"
 done
 
-# The metadata generator reads these during linking, which Xcode would skip when
-# only they changed.
+# The link step reads these (the metadata generator its filters, nsld.sh
+# NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS), and Xcode would skip it when only they changed.
 FILTERS_STAMP="$CONFIGURATION_BUILD_DIR/metadata-filters.stamp"
 FILTERS_HASH=$(cd "$SRCROOT" && shasum whitelist.mdg blacklist.mdg 2>/dev/null || true)
+FILTERS_HASH="$FILTERS_HASH NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS=$NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS"
 if [ ! -e "$FILTERS_STAMP" ] || [ "$FILTERS_HASH" != "$(cat "$FILTERS_STAMP")" ]; then
     for arch in $VALID_ARCHS
     do :
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/nsld.sh b/project-template-vision/internal/nsld.sh
index c4773a2da..89757e85a 100755
--- a/project-template-vision/internal/nsld.sh
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/nsld.sh
@@ -117,6 +117,19 @@ if [[ -z "$CLANG_PATH" ]]; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
+# Weak-link NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS (file names): most configurations don't embed them.
+DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS=" ${NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS} "
+LINK_ARGS=()
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    if [[ "$1" == "-framework" && $# -gt 1 && "$DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS" == *" $2.framework "* ]]; then
+        LINK_ARGS+=("-weak_framework" "$2")
+        shift 2
+        continue
+    fi
+    LINK_ARGS+=("$1")
+    shift
+done
+
 # For visibility downstream, set NS_LD to the resolved path and invoke.
 NS_LD="$CLANG_PATH"
-"$NS_LD" "$@"
\ No newline at end of file
+"$NS_LD" "${LINK_ARGS[@]}"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/project-template-vision/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh b/project-template-vision/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..942dfd8f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project-template-vision/internal/remove-stale-debug-frameworks.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# Xcode embeds only the NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS that INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES lists, but it
+# never deletes the copy an earlier build left in the app.
+
+set -e
+
+INCLUDED=" ${INCLUDED_SOURCE_FILE_NAMES} "
+
+for FRAMEWORK in ${NS_DEBUG_FRAMEWORKS}; do
+  if [[ "$INCLUDED" != *" $FRAMEWORK "* ]]; then
+    rm -rf "${TARGET_BUILD_DIR}/${FRAMEWORKS_FOLDER_PATH}/${FRAMEWORK}"
+  fi
+done