diff --git a/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.cpp b/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.cpp
index 0841443eba6..8db6ef390ef 100644
--- a/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.cpp
+++ b/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.cpp
@@ -195,9 +195,13 @@ Error GDExtensionLibraryLoader::open_library(const String &p_path) {
 		&abs_dependencies_paths, // library_dependencies
 	};
 
-	err = OS::get_singleton()->open_dynamic_library(is_static_library ? String() : abs_path, library, &data);
+	// Apple has a complex lookup system which goes beyond looking up the filename, so we try that first.
+	err = OS::get_singleton()->open_dynamic_library(abs_path, library, &data);
 	if (err != OK) {
-		return err;
+		err = OS::get_singleton()->open_dynamic_library(String(), library, &data);
+		if (err != OK) {
+			return err;
+		}
 	}
 
 	return OK;
@@ -361,8 +365,6 @@ Error GDExtensionLibraryLoader::parse_gdextension_file(const String &p_path) {
 		return ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND;
 	}
 
-	is_static_library = library_path.ends_with(".a") || library_path.ends_with(".xcframework");
-
 	if (!library_path.is_resource_file() && !library_path.is_absolute_path()) {
 		library_path = p_path.get_base_dir().path_join(library_path);
 	}
diff --git a/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.h b/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.h
index 75ad0ebedf7..d416c83da79 100644
--- a/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.h
+++ b/core/extension/gdextension_library_loader.h
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ private:
 	String library_path;
 	String entry_symbol;
 
-	bool is_static_library = false;
-
 #ifdef TOOLS_ENABLED
 	bool is_reloadable = false;
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/apple_embedded/os_apple_embedded.mm b/drivers/apple_embedded/os_apple_embedded.mm
index eab16ead8bb..aac51febfdc 100644
--- a/drivers/apple_embedded/os_apple_embedded.mm
+++ b/drivers/apple_embedded/os_apple_embedded.mm
@@ -279,6 +279,11 @@ Error OS_AppleEmbedded::open_dynamic_library(const String &p_path, void *&p_libr
 		path = get_framework_executable(get_executable_path().get_base_dir().path_join(p_path.get_file().get_basename() + ".framework"));
 	}
 
+	if (!FileAccess::exists(path)) {
+		// Load .dylib from within the executable path.
+		path = get_framework_executable(get_executable_path().get_base_dir().path_join(p_path.get_file().get_basename() + ".dylib"));
+	}
+
 	if (!FileAccess::exists(path)) {
 		// Load .dylib or framework from a standard iOS location.
 		path = get_framework_executable(get_executable_path().get_base_dir().path_join("Frameworks").path_join(p_path.get_file()));
@@ -289,8 +294,16 @@ Error OS_AppleEmbedded::open_dynamic_library(const String &p_path, void *&p_libr
 		path = get_framework_executable(get_executable_path().get_base_dir().path_join("Frameworks").path_join(p_path.get_file().get_basename() + ".framework"));
 	}
 
-	ERR_FAIL_COND_V(!FileAccess::exists(path), ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND);
+	if (!FileAccess::exists(path)) {
+		// Load .dylib from a standard iOS location.
+		path = get_framework_executable(get_executable_path().get_base_dir().path_join("Frameworks").path_join(p_path.get_file().get_basename() + ".dylib"));
+	}
 
+	if (!FileAccess::exists(path) && (p_path.ends_with(".a") || p_path.ends_with(".xcframework"))) {
+		path = String(); // Try loading static library.
+	} else {
+		ERR_FAIL_COND_V(!FileAccess::exists(path), ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND);
+	}
 	p_library_handle = dlopen(path.utf8().get_data(), RTLD_NOW);
 	ERR_FAIL_NULL_V_MSG(p_library_handle, ERR_CANT_OPEN, vformat("Can't open dynamic library: %s. Error: %s.", p_path, dlerror()));