Search code examples
iosxcodeapple-push-notificationsios-simulator

How to test PushNotification in IOS simulator Xcode

How to Test push notification in IOS simulators using Xcode 11.4 and above without using an ios device.

Solution

  • Xcode 11.4 and above support testing of push notifications using simulators.

    To test,

    Option 1 - Using the "ControlRoom" Mac app created by Paul Hudson (author of https://www.hackingwithswift.com/)

    Controlroom is an amazing app which i came across recently which allows to control the simulators. It provides a nice UI to customise the notifications. Special thanks to Paul Hudson for sharing the source code in git. Git URL - https://github.com/twostraws/ControlRoom

    enter image description here

    Option 2 - Using Terminal

    run the following command in the terminal

    xcrun simctl push <simulator identifier> <bundle identifier of the app> <pushcontentfile>.apns"

    How to get Simulator identifier using Xcode

    Xcode Menu => Window => Devices and Simulators

    enter image description here

    Format of .apns file

    • Save the push notification payload (json format) to a file with an extension ".apns"
    {
    "aps": {
        "alert": "Push Notifications Test",
        "sound": "default",
        "badge": 1
    }
}

    Option 3 - Drag and Drop .apns file to the simulator

    The .apns file should contain the bundle identifier of the app as a part of the payload

    {
    "Simulator Target Bundle": "<bundle identifier of the app>",
    "aps": {
        "alert": "Push Notifications Test",
        "sound": "default",
        "badge": 1
    }
}