Xcode/Simulator: How to run older iOS version?

Question

I'm thinking of upgrading to iOS SDK 4.2. But what I'm wondering is if I'll still be able to run the simulator as iOS 3.2. This is because I'm creating iAds for iPad but I still want to check if my program will run with iOS 3.2.

Note: I have seen a similar post to this in the past, but they weren't really helpful in giving the exact steps in how this could be done.

Answer 1

If you have iAds in your binary you will not be able to run it on anything before iOS 4.0 and it will be rejected if you try and submit a binary like this.

You can still run the simulator from 3.2 onwards after upgrading.

In the iPhone Simulator try selecting Hardware -> Version -> 3.2

Answer 2

To anyone else who finds this older question, you can now download all old versions.

Xcode -> Preferences -> Components (Click on Simulators tab).

Install all the versions you want/need.

To show all installed simulators:

Target -> In dropdown "deployment target" choose the installed version with lowest version nr.

You should now see all your available simulators in the dropdown.

Answer 3

XCODE 10.1

1. Goto Xcode -> Preferences (Shortcut CMD,)

2. Select Components

3. Download Simulator version

4. XCode -> Open Developer Tool -> Simulator This will launch Simulator as stand alone application

5 Hardware -> Device -> Manage Devices...

6. Click on + iCon to create new simulator version.

7. Specify Simulator Name, Device Type and Choose OS version from drop down.

8. Click Create.

9. Hardware -> Device -> iOS 11.0 -> iPhone 6

Thats it run enjoy coding!

Answer 4

Open xcode and in the top menu go to xcode > Preferences > Downloads and you will be given the option to download old sdks to use with xcode. You can also download command line tools and Device Debugging Support.

Answer 5

In XCode under Targets, right-click on your project and Get Info. Under the Build tab look for iOS Deployment Target. By changing this you should be able to test different iOS version.

Answer 6

To add previous iOS simulator to Xcode 4.2, you need old xcode_3.2.6_and_ios_sdk_4.3.dmg (or similar version) installer file and do as following:

• Mount the xcode_3.2.6_and_ios_sdk_4.3.dmg file
• Open mounting disk image and choose menu: Go->Go to Folder...
• Type /Volumes/Xcode and iOS SDK/Packages/ then click Go. There are many packages and find to iPhoneSimulatorSDK(version).pkg
• Double click to install package you want to add and wait for installer displays.
• In Installer click Continue and choose destination, Choose folder...
• Explorer shows and select Developer folder and click Choose
• Install and repeat with other simulator as you need.
• Restart Xcode.

Now there are a list of your installed simulator.

Answer 7

I was searching for how to do this on a much newer version of xcode than the original question and while the answers here got me where I needed to go, they aren't quite accurate for location anymore. Xcode 11.3.1, you need to go into Preferences -> Components, then select the desired Simulators. You can also select tvOS and watchOS similators from the same window.

Answer 8

Choosing older simulator versions is not obvious in Xcode 3.2.5. Older Xcodes had separate lists of "iOS Device SDKs" and "iOS Simulator SDKs" in the "Base SDK" build setting popup menu, but in Xcode 3.2.5 these have been replaced with a single "iOS SDKs" list that only offers 4.2 and "latest".

If you create a new default iOS project, it defaults to 4.2 for both Base SDK and Deployment Target, and in the "Overview" popup in the project's top-left corner, only the 4.2 Simulator is available.

To run an older iOS simulator, you must choose an older iOS version in the "iOS Deployment Target" build setting popup. Only then will the "Overview" popup offer older Simulators: back to 4.0 for iPhone and to 3.2 for iPad.

Answer 9

The simulator CANNOT be downloaded from:

Xcode -> Preferences -> Downloads

Only the iOS devices symbols. As this option says:

This package includes information and symbols that Xcode needs for debugging your app on iOS devices running versions of iOS prior to iOS 4.2. If you intend to debug your app on a device running one of these versions of iOS you should install this package.

That is, you need an iOS 4.2 device to test an iOS 4.2 application