diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 982b5375fe..afc56191c8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ### Fixes
 
 - Accept ProGuard mapping files without line information instead of rejecting them ([#3192](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-cli/pull/3192)).
+- Improve error message when uploading `.xcarchive` or `.ipa` files on non-Apple Silicon Macs ([#3211](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-cli/pull/3211)).
 
 ### Experimental Feature 🧑‍🔬 (internal-only)
 
diff --git a/src/commands/build/upload.rs b/src/commands/build/upload.rs
index 96701b74e5..27b4b03cca 100644
--- a/src/commands/build/upload.rs
+++ b/src/commands/build/upload.rs
@@ -209,6 +209,20 @@ pub fn execute(matches: &ArgMatches) -> Result<()> {
             return Err(anyhow!("Path does not exist: {}", path.display()));
         }
 
+        // On non-Apple Silicon, reject xcarchive/IPA early before trying to
+        // open the path as a file (xcarchive is a directory, so ByteView::open
+        // would fail with a confusing I/O error).
+        #[cfg(not(all(target_os = "macos", target_arch = "aarch64")))]
+        {
+            let ext = path.extension().and_then(|e| e.to_str()).unwrap_or("");
+            if ext.eq_ignore_ascii_case("xcarchive") || ext.eq_ignore_ascii_case("ipa") {
+                return Err(anyhow!(
+                    "Uploading XCArchive and IPA files requires an Apple Silicon Mac: {}",
+                    path.display()
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
         let byteview = ByteView::open(path)?;
         debug!("Loaded file with {} bytes", byteview.len());
 
@@ -542,6 +556,7 @@ fn validate_is_supported_build(path: &Path, bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     debug!("File format validation failed");
+
     #[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", target_arch = "aarch64"))]
     let format_list = "APK, AAB, XCArchive, or IPA";
     #[cfg(not(all(target_os = "macos", target_arch = "aarch64")))]
diff --git a/tests/integration/_cases/build/build-upload-ipa-not-arm64.trycmd b/tests/integration/_cases/build/build-upload-ipa-not-arm64.trycmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8975f3d9d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/_cases/build/build-upload-ipa-not-arm64.trycmd
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+```
+$ sentry-cli build upload tests/integration/_fixtures/build/ipa.ipa
+? failed
+error: Uploading XCArchive and IPA files requires an Apple Silicon Mac: tests/integration/_fixtures/build/ipa.ipa
+
+Add --log-level=[info|debug] or export SENTRY_LOG_LEVEL=[info|debug] to see more output.
+Please attach the full debug log to all bug reports.
+
+```
diff --git a/tests/integration/build/upload.rs b/tests/integration/build/upload.rs
index 94c2dfd294..3a07ddb4b6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/build/upload.rs
+++ b/tests/integration/build/upload.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ fn command_build_upload_no_path() {
     TestManager::new().register_trycmd_test("build/build-upload-no-path.trycmd");
 }
 
+#[cfg(not(all(target_os = "macos", target_arch = "aarch64")))]
+#[test]
+fn command_build_upload_ipa_not_arm64() {
+    TestManager::new()
+        .register_trycmd_test("build/build-upload-ipa-not-arm64.trycmd")
+        .with_default_token();
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn command_build_upload_invalid_aab() {
     TestManager::new()