> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.prog88.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.prog88.com/mobile-dev/mobile-tools/simctl.md). # iOS Simulator Usually when you've installed/updated Xcode, it will also prompt a notification suggesting to you to update your 'command line tools'. From here `simctl` is accessible through the `xcrun` command in your terminal. ```bash xcrun simctl ``` ## Managing Simulator Devices * Running list command, it will prompt a list of the available runtimes devices informations. * Each devices are ordered by iOS, has a name, associated UUID and status (Booted|Shutdown). ``` xcrun simctl list ``` > ``` > ... > -- iOS 13.4 -- > iPhone 8 (D3A196A0-E332-4A6A-95F4-07ECFEEADE00) (Shutdown) > iPhone 8 Plus (02D8F4FD-F8F4-4474-AD69-CAE7F98A00AB) (Shutdown) > iPhone 11 (18C54542-DD6B-4D18-A008-352955341915) (Shutdown) > iPhone 11 Pro (6F2D5BB9-C3E9-4196-81DE-F8B2A060838E) (Shutdown) > iPhone 11 Pro Max (1DFAEF2A-090C-4E32-8534-CB3F96485EA7) (Shutdown) > ... > ``` * It's possible to launch a specific simulator by providing it UUID value: ``` xcrun simctl boot 18C54542-DD6B-4D18-A008-352955341915 ``` * To access to booted simulator: ``` open /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app/ ``` * To check which simulator are booted, combine the `list` subcommand with `grep`: ``` xcrun simctl list | grep Booted ``` > ``` > iPhone 11 (18C54542-DD6B-4D18-A008-352955341915) (Booted) > ``` * To access booted device UUID, can be done completing previous command with a regexp ``` xcrun simctl list devices | \ grep "(Booted)" | \ grep -E -o -i "([0-9a-f]{8}-([0-9a-f]{4}-){3}[0-9a-f]{12})" 18C54542-DD6B-4D18-A008-352955341915 ``` * It's also possible by using -j or --json subcommand to have an output as JSON. Which could be convenient when managing simulators using scripts or programs. ``` xcrun simctl list -j ``` * Finally using `shutdown` and `erase` subcommands, can be use to close and clear your simulator contents. ``` xcrun simctl shutdown $UUID xcrun simctl erase $UUID ``` Tips: You've been working for a while and update Xcode version for few times. You've probably accumulate several version of old devices. For most, you will probably using the latest simulators version. The following command will free you few gigabytes of disk space. ``` xcrun simctl delete unavailable ``` ## Simctl subcommands examples ### addmedia ``` xcrun simctl addmedia booted ~/Desktop/bunny.jpg ``` ### screen/video capture ``` xcrun simctl io booted screenshot app-screencapture.png xcrun simctl io booted recordVideo app-videocapture.mp4 ``` ### openurl * Case to open in the simulator by providing a web link: ``` xcrun simctl openurl booted "https://google.com" ``` * Case to open in the simulator by using URL Scheme: ``` xcrun simctl openurl booted "app-prefs://" ``` ## Simctrl Xcode 11.4 ### Dark/Light mode * Toggle appearance modes: light/dark ``` xcrun simctl ui booted appearance dark ``` ### keychain * Install certificates for trusted connections via drag and drop or terminal: ``` xcrun simctl keychain booted add-root-cert my-selfsigned.cer ``` ### privacy location and permission * Changing or reset simulator-device privacy permissions: location always, when app in use... ``` xcrun simctl privacy booted grant location xcrun simctl privacy booted grant location-always ``` * resetting or applying all permissions: ``` xcrun simctl privacy booted reset all xcrun simctl privacy booted grant all ``` ### push notifications * Simulator supports background content fetch notifications and remote push notifications. Also, simctl has the subcommand push for remote push notifications. ``` xcrun simctl push booted ``` ### Status bar * Change device status bar properties: ``` xcrun simctl status_bar booted override --dataNetwork "4g" --cellularBars 3 --operatorName "prog88" ``` --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://www.prog88.com/mobile-dev/mobile-tools/simctl.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.