How can I install a .ipa file to my iPhone simulator

yinglcs_60311 0
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I have an iphone simulator running on my Mac.

I have a .ipa file, can you please tell me how can I install it on the simulator?

ios-simulator macos iphone
13 Answers

You can't. If it was downloaded via the iTunes store it was built for a different processor and won't work in the simulator.

August_309660

Update for Xcode 9.4.1+

Hope my answer is getting seen down here as this took me a while to figure out but I just got it working.

First of all you need to build and run the App on your simulator. Then you open the Activity Monitor. Double click the name of your App to find its content.

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In the next screen open the Open Files and Ports tab and find the line with MyAppName.app/MyAppName.

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Copy the link but make sure to stop at the MyAppName.app. Do not copy the path following it.

Control click onto the finder icon and select Go to folder.

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Paste the path and click enter. You will see your MyAppName.app file. Copy it to the Desktop and zip it. Move it to your desired 2nd computer and unzip the file. Build a random project to have a simulator open.

Lastly: Literally drag and drop the App from your Desktop into your Simulator. You will see the install and the App opens and does not crash.

enter image description here

user_58965010

For Xcode 10, here's an easy way that worked for me for a debug IPA (development profiles)

  1. Unzip the IPA to get the Payload folder.
  2. Within the Payload folder is the app executable.
  3. Drag and drop the app to an open simulator. (You might see a green add button when you drag it over the simulator)

It should install that app on that simulator.

user_59934210

Step to run in different simulator without any code repo :-

First create a .app by building your project(under project folder in Xcode) and paste it in a appropriate location (See pic for more clarity)

enter image description here

  1. Download Xcode
  2. Create a demo project and Start simulator in which you want to run the app.
  3. Copy the .app file in particular location(ex :- Desktop).
  4. cd Desktop and Run the command (xcrun simctl install booted appName.app),
  5. App will be installed in the particular booted simulator.
user_37670170

Just drag and drop .app file to simulator it will install app automatically.

I have checked in iPhone simulator 13(iOS 15.4)

user_12379370
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