iOS Simulator

# List all available simulators grouped by runtime
xcrun simctl list devices available

# List installed runtimes
xcrun simctl list runtimes

# List only booted devices
xcrun simctl list devices booted

# JSON output for scripting
xcrun simctl list -j devices available

# Find available device types and runtimes
xcrun simctl list devicetypes
xcrun simctl list runtimes

# Create a device — returns the new UDID
xcrun simctl create "My Test Phone" "iPhone 16 Pro" "com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-18-4"

# Boot a specific device
xcrun simctl boot <UDID>

# Shutdown a running device
xcrun simctl shutdown <UDID>

# Factory reset — wipes all data, keeps the device
xcrun simctl erase <UDID>

# Delete a specific device
xcrun simctl delete <UDID>

# Delete all devices not available in the current Xcode
xcrun simctl delete unavailable

# Shutdown everything
xcrun simctl shutdown all

xcrun simctl shutdown booted

# Build for simulator first
xcodebuild build \
    -scheme MyApp \
    -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16 Pro' \
    -derivedDataPath build/

# Install the .app bundle
xcrun simctl install booted build/Build/Products/Debug-iphonesimulator/MyApp.app

# Launch by bundle ID
xcrun simctl launch booted com.example.MyApp

# Launch and stream stdout/stderr to the terminal
xcrun simctl launch --console booted com.example.MyApp

# Pass launch arguments
xcrun simctl launch booted com.example.MyApp --reset-onboarding -AppleLanguages "(fr)"

# Terminate a running app
xcrun simctl terminate booted com.example.MyApp

# App bundle location
xcrun simctl get_app_container booted com.example.MyApp app

# Data container (Documents, Library, tmp)
xcrun simctl get_app_container booted com.example.MyApp data

# Shared app group container
xcrun simctl get_app_container booted com.example.MyApp group.com.example.shared

{
    "aps": {
        "alert": {
            "title": "New Message",
            "body": "You have a new message from Alice"
        },
        "badge": 3,
        "sound": "default"
    },
    "customKey": "customValue"
}

# Send push payload from file
xcrun simctl push booted com.example.MyApp payload.json

# Pipe payload from stdin
echo '{"aps":{"alert":"Quick test"}}' | xcrun simctl push booted com.example.MyApp -

# Set a fixed coordinate (latitude, longitude)
xcrun simctl location booted set 37.3349,-122.0090

# List available predefined scenarios
xcrun simctl location booted list

# Run a predefined scenario
xcrun simctl location booted run "City Run"

# Clear the simulated location
xcrun simctl location booted clear

# Grant a permission
xcrun simctl privacy booted grant photos com.example.MyApp

# Revoke a permission
xcrun simctl privacy booted revoke microphone com.example.MyApp

# Reset all permissions for the app
xcrun simctl privacy booted reset all com.example.MyApp

# Open a URL (triggers universal links or custom URL schemes)
xcrun simctl openurl booted "https://example.com/product/123"

# Custom URL scheme
xcrun simctl openurl booted "myapp://settings/notifications"

# Set a clean status bar for screenshots
xcrun simctl status_bar booted override \
    --time "9:41" \
    --batteryState charged \
    --batteryLevel 100 \
    --cellularMode active \
    --cellularBars 4 \
    --wifiBars 3 \
    --operatorName ""

# Clear all overrides
xcrun simctl status_bar booted clear

# Capture a screenshot
xcrun simctl io booted screenshot screenshot.png

# Record video (press Ctrl+C to stop)
xcrun simctl io booted recordVideo recording.mov

# Screenshot with specific display mask
xcrun simctl io booted screenshot --mask black screenshot.png

# Stream all logs at debug level and above
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --level debug

# Filter by subsystem
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --level debug \
    --predicate 'subsystem == "com.example.app"'

# Filter by subsystem and category
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --level debug \
    --predicate 'subsystem == "com.example.app" AND category == "networking"'

# Filter by process name
xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream \
    --predicate 'process == "MyApp"'

import os

let networkLogger = Logger(subsystem: "com.example.app", category: "networking")
let uiLogger = Logger(subsystem: "com.example.app", category: "ui")

func fetchData() async throws -> Data {
    networkLogger.debug("Starting request to /api/data")
    let (data, response) = try await URLSession.shared.data(from: url)
    networkLogger.info("Received \(data.count) bytes, status: \((response as? HTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode ?? 0)")
    return data
}

xcrun simctl spawn booted log stream --level debug \
    --predicate 'subsystem == "com.example.app" AND category == "networking"'

func registerForPush() {
    #if targetEnvironment(simulator)
    logger.info("Skipping APNs registration — running in Simulator")
    #else
    UIApplication.shared.registerForRemoteNotifications()
    #endif
}

var isSimulator: Bool {
    ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["SIMULATOR_DEVICE_NAME"] != nil
}

# WRONG — hardcoded UDID
xcrun simctl boot "A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890"

# CORRECT — look up by name and runtime
UDID=$(xcrun simctl list -j devices available | \
    jq -r '.devices["com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-18-4"][] | select(.name == "iPhone 16 Pro") | .udid')
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID"

# CORRECT — use "booted" when one simulator is running
xcrun simctl install booted MyApp.app

# WRONG — device is not booted
xcrun simctl install <UDID> MyApp.app  # fails

# CORRECT — boot first, then install
xcrun simctl boot <UDID>
xcrun simctl install <UDID> MyApp.app
xcrun simctl launch <UDID> com.example.MyApp

# WRONG — CI script creates and boots but never cleans up
xcrun simctl create "CI Phone" "iPhone 16 Pro" "com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-18-4"
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID"
# ... tests run, pipeline exits ...

# CORRECT — always clean up in CI teardown
cleanup() {
    xcrun simctl shutdown all
    xcrun simctl delete "$UDID"
}
trap cleanup EXIT

# WRONG — only testing with simctl, shipping without real device testing
xcrun simctl push booted com.example.MyApp payload.json
# "Push works!" — no, it only proves the app handles the payload

# CORRECT — use simctl for development iteration, then verify end-to-end on a real device
# 1. simctl push during development for fast iteration
# 2. Real device + APNs sandbox for integration testing before release

# WRONG — retry loop on a stuck device
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID"  # "Unable to boot device in current state: Booting"
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID"  # same error, forever

# CORRECT — shut down, erase, and retry
xcrun simctl shutdown "$UDID"
xcrun simctl erase "$UDID"
xcrun simctl boot "$UDID"

# If that fails, reset CoreSimulator entirely
xcrun simctl shutdown all
xcrun simctl erase all
# Last resort: rm -rf ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Caches