Here’s how to simulate a different iOS device with the iOS simulator: What good would an iOS simulator be without the ability to switch between the different dimensions of the iPhone 4, iPhone 5, and the different versions of the iPad? The simulator lets you use them all on your Mac. To rotate the simulator back again, select a rotation option from the Hardware menu. The simulator will rotate, as shown below.

Open the iOS simulator, if it’s not already open.įrom the Hardware menu, select Rotate Left or Rotate Right. The simulator can rotate, too! It can be a useful tool when you’re developing a responsive website or web app. For example, if you turn the device horizontally, iOS will automatically rotate the screen if you’re using an app that supports the feature.

Rotating the SimulatorĮvery iOS device has a gyroscope that keeps track of the screen’s orientation. The iOS simulator is now installed and running on your Mac, as shown below.Īs mentioned earlier, you’ll notice that the simulator is missing a lot of the applications and settings that come with every iOS device. You can find the alias in Contents → Applications, as shown below.įor easy access to the iOS simulator in the future, drag and drop the iOS Simulator alias on to your Desktop or the Applications folder. Right click on the Xcode icon in the Applications folder and select Show Package Contents, as shown below. Here’s how to install the iOS simulator on your Mac:ĭownload and install Xcode from the Mac App Store. Ready to get started? The first step is downloading Xcode and installing the iOS simulator on your Mac. Here’s the bottom line: This stripped-down simulator is great for testing websites, but not much else. And many of the apps that come preinstalled on iOS devices are not available in the simulator. You can’t install apps from the App Store in the simulator, so forget about playing Need for Speed: Most Wanted. It looks exactly the same as it does on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. This functional demo, complete with the mobile Safari web browser, allows you to preview your website or web application in iOS. Anybody can do it by installing Apple’s iOS simulator on their Mac for free. But short of stocking up on a bunch of Apple products, how can developers preview their websites in iOS?Īctually, it’s easy. And with the growing popularity of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, it’s only natural that they’ll also want to test their websites on all of those devices. Web developers know it’s important to test their websites on every web browser and device possible.

Setting Up an iOS Simulator on Your Mac.

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