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xcodeios-simulator

Can I start the iPhone simulator without "Build and Run"?


I want to delete an app in the simulator before I "build and run". How can I start the simulator so I can do the deletion? If I start it by "build and run" I get a long log output that takes a while because of a bug I'm trying to fix. I'd like to avoid that.


Solution

  • The simulator is just an application, and as such you can run it like any other application.

    To open it in Spotlight, search for Simulator.

    To run the simulator straight from terminal, prepend these locations with the open command.

    Xcode 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 13.x, 14.x, and 15.x

    In Xcode 7.x - 15.x, the iPhone Simulator has moved again: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app.

    Location of Simulator in Xcode 15.3

    Xcode 6.x

    In Xcode 6.x, the iPhone Simulator has moved yet again, and now resides here: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/iOS Simulator.app.


    Xcode 4.x, 5.x

    In Xcode 4.x (through 4.5 on Mountain Lion) and Xcode 5.0.x on Mavericks, it lives here: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/

    In my version of Xcode (4.5.2), I find it quite convenient to use the Open Developer Tool menu from either the dock icon or the Xcode menu:

    open iOS Simulator


    Xcode 3.x

    In Xcode 3.x, it lives here:

    /Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/iPhone Simulator.app


    In some future version of Xcode, it will probably move again, it's a squirrelly little app.