[xcode] 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.

This question is related to xcode ios-simulator

The answer is


This is an older question, but if you simply want to run the simulator from the Xcode 4.5 UI, you can do: Xcode > Open Developer Tool > iOS Simulator.


Use Spotlight.

But only the last simulator will be opened. If you used iPad Air 2 last time, Spotlight will open it. If you wanna open iPhone 6s this time, that's a problem.


To follow up on that the new command from @jimbojw to create a shortcut with the new Xcode (installing through preferences) is:

ln -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/iPhone\ Simulator.app /Applications/iPhone\ Simulator.app

Which will create a shortcut in the applications folder for you.


First, add the iOS Simulator to Applications:

ln -s /Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/iPhone\ Simulator.app /Applications/iPhone\ Simulator.app

From there you can open it in Finder or drag it to the launch bar.

Source: http://www.bram.us/2010/05/05/xcode-iphone-simulator-location/


Without opening Xcode:

open /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/iOS\ Simulator.app/

From Terminal you can use:

open -a iPhone\ Simulator
open -a iOS\ Simulator
open -a Simulator

This all depends on the application name of the simulator, this can change with each iteration of Xcode.


Since XCode 4.3 the location has changed, the simulator can now be found at:

/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/Applications/


For Xcode 7.2

open /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Applications/Simulator.app/Contents/MacOS/Simulator.app

sudo ./Simulator

And adding this path in your profile is the best way.


The easiest way is start the simulator from the Xcode, and then on the dock, Ctrl + Click on the icon and select Keep in Dockenter image description here


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