Run iOS Simulator Without Launching Xcode By Using an Alias

Jul 9, 2012 - 9 Comments

Xcode

Apple recently simplified the way Xcode is installed, bundling everything into a single /Applications/Xcode.app/ directory and removing the /Developer directory that used to exist. There are some advantages to this approach, but one of the annoyances is that you now have to launch the iPhone or iPad simulator by opening Xcode first. Well, that’s not entirely true, you can actually still directly launch iOS Simulator without opening Xcode first by creating an alias.

Note that modern versions of Xcode and OS X call the iOS Simulator simply “Simulator”, where you go will depend on which version of OS X the Mac is running.

Create a Quick Launch Alias to iOS Simulator

This applies to all versions of OS X and Xcode, though you’ll want to vary the path depending on the system version:

  1. From the Finder, hit Command+Shift+G and paste in the following path, depending on your version of OS X:
    • Modern versions of OS X including Xcode 7 and El Capitan:
    • /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app

    • Older versions of OS X with Snow Leopard:
    • /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/

  2. Select “iOS Simulator.app” or “Simulator.app” and either drag it into the Dock, Launchpad, or hit Command+L to create an alias

Alternatively, you can grab a pre-made alias in a zip bundle that will open iOS Simulator automatically. Throw that on the desktop or in the Dock for easy access.

iOS Simulator running without Xcode

This applies to Xcode 4.3 and later, including Xcode 5, Xcode 6, and including Xcode 7, though Previous versions stored the iPhone/iOS simulator elsewhere so you’ll want to be sure to adjust the path depending on which version you are running.

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Posted by: William Pearson in Development, iPad, iPhone, Mac OS, Tips & Tricks

9 Comments

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  1. Lea says:

    Is there any way to stop the favorites list from jumping out from the left side screen when my mouse gets anywhere near it? A lot of these suggestions helped other issues so much, but this one won’t go away. Thanks for all your help! Lea

  2. Nilesh says:

    Now in El Capitan: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app

    Hope this helps someone.

  3. ptim says:

    Now at: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app

  4. Patrick says:

    Yep you can just right click when it is open and then select “Options” and “Keep in Dock”.

    Or in 6.1.1 open Finder and go to
    /Applications/Xcode/Contents/Developer/Applications
    and drag “iOS Simulator” to the Dock or your desktop.

  5. Richard Chen says:

    doesn’t work anymore (OS 10.9.5, Xcode 5.1.1 or 6.0.1), “find /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/ -name Simulator” has 0 results

  6. Jose Apollo says:

    Thank you!!!!

  7. spoo says:

    Alternatively, you can also hit cmd + space, and search for it in Spotlight.

  8. Dave says:

    Or you can launch it once via XCode and simply add it to your dock via a right click. That’s what I’ve been doing since I started coding iOS apps.

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