Clicking on Download in Xcode didn't do anything - the progress bar did not progress (does that make it a regress bar?).

This is what worked for me:

  1. Open Xcode, open preferences, go to the Components section.

  2. Open the Console App, clear the console.

  3. Go back to the Xcode preferences. Start the simulator download, then cancel it.

  4. Now in the Console, you will see something about the cancellation with the download URL.

  5. Copy the URL from the Console. Then in Terminal in some suitable scratch folder, download it:

    curl [the url you copied] -O (the letter O, not a zero)

  6. Finally, copy this file to ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode/Downloads
    Remove all *.dvtdownloadableindex files (maybe it doesn't matter, but I removed them).

  7. In Xcode, in the Downloads section, start the Simulator download again, it should find the file you downloaded and install it.

How easy was that! Only 7 steps, hah!

Answer from emp on Stack Overflow
🌐
BrowserStack
browserstack.com › home › guide › how to install ios simulators
How to Install iOS Simulators | BrowserStack
February 28, 2025 - Navigate to the Components tab. ... In the Components section, you will see a list of available simulators for various iOS versions. Click on the download icon next to the iOS version you want to install.
🌐
Apple Developer
developer.apple.com › forums › thread › 738623
How to download iOS 14 Simulator on Xcode 15?
You can download the available ones from the Settings/Platforms tab, + in lower left, choose iOS. Then you get a list of simulator runtimes to install. The oldest is iOS 15.0. ... hopefully, someone responsible for the development of xcode will wake up and actually provide this support sometime ...
🌐
LambdaTest
lambdatest.com › software-testing-questions › how-to-install-ios-simulators
How to install iOS simulators?
From the dropdown menu, select Xcode > Preferences > Select Components and select the simulator version you wish to download. You can also check out LambdaTest’s iOS Simulator Online or iOS Simulator For Mac to test your websites, web apps, and iOS apps.
Top answer
1 of 16
194

Clicking on Download in Xcode didn't do anything - the progress bar did not progress (does that make it a regress bar?).

This is what worked for me:

  1. Open Xcode, open preferences, go to the Components section.

  2. Open the Console App, clear the console.

  3. Go back to the Xcode preferences. Start the simulator download, then cancel it.

  4. Now in the Console, you will see something about the cancellation with the download URL.

  5. Copy the URL from the Console. Then in Terminal in some suitable scratch folder, download it:

    curl [the url you copied] -O (the letter O, not a zero)

  6. Finally, copy this file to ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode/Downloads
    Remove all *.dvtdownloadableindex files (maybe it doesn't matter, but I removed them).

  7. In Xcode, in the Downloads section, start the Simulator download again, it should find the file you downloaded and install it.

How easy was that! Only 7 steps, hah!

2 of 16
173

To add iOS Simulator in XCode perform below steps:

  • Download iOS Simulator from Below Link:

  • After download completes, copy this file to ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode/Downloads In some cases, we have to remove all *.dvtdownloadableindex files (maybe it doesn't matter, I didn't remove them).

  • In case directory ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode don't have download folder then, just click Show package content create Downloads folder, before moving the dmg file.

  • In Xcode, in the Downloads section, start the Simulator download again, it should find the file you downloaded and install it.

(Newest on top. only the latest revision is kept in the list.)

  • Simulator Link:

iOS 18.1

iOS 18.0

iOS 17.4

iOS 17.2

iOS 17.0.1

https://download.developer.apple.com/Developer_Tools/iOS_17.0.1_Simulator_Runtime/iOS_17.0.1_Simulator_Runtime.dmg

iOS 15.5

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK15_5-15.5.1.1653527639.dmg

iOS 15.4

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK15_4-15.4.1.1650505652.dmg

iOS 15.2

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK15_2-15.2.1.1643410298.dmg

iOS 14.5

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_5-14.5.1.1621461325.dmg

iOS 14.4

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_4-14.4.1.1611903691.dmg

iOS 14.3

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_3-14.3.1.1611873653.dmg

iOS 14.2

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_2-14.2.1.1605311653.dmg

iOS 14.1

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_1-14.1.1.1604100028.dmg

iOS 14.0

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK14_0-14.0.1.1604100028.dmg

iOS 13.7

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_7-13.7.1.1599165590.dmg

iOS 13.6

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_6-13.6.1.1597276955.dmg

iOS 13.5

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_5-13.5.1.1591226335.dmg

iOS 13.4

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_4-13.4.1.1586370836.dmg

iOS 13.3

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_3-13.3.1.1580170331.dmg

iOS 13.2

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_2-13.2.1.1575590084.dmg

iOS 13.1

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_1-13.1.1.1571440502.dmg

iOS 13.0

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK13_0-13.0.1.1571440502.dmg

iOS 12.4

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK12_4-12.4.1.1568665771.dmg

iOS 12.2

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK12_2-12.2.1.1557987768.dmg

iOS 12.1

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK12_1-12.1.1.1543439531.dmg

iOS 12.0

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK12_0-12.0.1.1537588161.dmg

iOS 11.4

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK11_4-11.4.1.1527703358.dmg

iOS 11.3

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK11_3-11.3.1.1524350608.dmg

iOS 11.2

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK11_2-11.2.1.1516308624.dmg

iOS 11.1

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK11_1-11.1.1.1510784422.dmg

iOS 11.0

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK11_0-11.0.1.1508875951.dmg

iOS 10.3.1

https://devimages-cdn.apple.com/downloads/xcode/simulators/com.apple.pkg.iPhoneSimulatorSDK10_3-10.3.1.1495751597.dmg

🌐
Expo Documentation
docs.expo.dev › workflow › ios-simulator
iOS Simulator - Expo Documentation
Open up the Mac App Store, search for Xcode, and click Install (or Update if you have it already). ... Open Xcode, choose Settings... from the Xcode menu (or press cmd ⌘ + ,). Go to the Locations and install the tools by selecting the most ...
🌐
Apple Developer
developer.apple.com › forums › thread › 20257
How can I download and install an … | Apple Developer Forums
There is no app store in the simulator and Safari cannot download apps anyway from the app store.
🌐
ArcGIS
doc.arcgis.com › en › appstudio › extend-apps › installdevtoolsemulators.htm
Install development tools for simulators and emulators—ArcGIS AppStudio | Documentation
If you require a different version ... Components, and choose the simulator version you want to download. When a simulator is opened from AppStudio, AppStudio AppRun automatically installs (if necessary) and opens the selected app....
Find elsewhere
🌐
GitHub
gist.github.com › leilee › 64d9de9913b78f7bb0a977d1cc556fd3
Install iOS Simulators in Xcode Manually · GitHub
If Downloads exists, remove all *.dvtdownloadableindex files under it. Open Xcode -> Preferences -> Components, start the simulator download again, it should find the file you downloaded and install it.
🌐
Apple Developer
developer.apple.com › forums › thread › 695829
iOS Simulator Download | Apple Developer Forums
Xcode 13.2 Beta 2 Components Simulators: 15.0, 14.5, 14.4, 14.3, 14.2, 14.1, 14.0... ... OS Version > Download more simulator runtimes... ... Having said all that, my most recent Simulator is iOS 15.0, so perhaps that's all we get in XCode 13.1 (13A1030d)?
🌐
GitHub
gist.github.com › NicholasTD07 › 3ffbaee9973ae06b5a12
How to Download iOS Simulator (Xcode) in Command Line and Install it · GitHub
... Hey guys, sorry I haven't used this method for a while so can't really help out too much. Good luck though! ... Preferences > Components > Simulators ( if not already selected) > Download button for the simulator you want.
🌐
Rocketsim
rocketsim.app
Build Apps Faster - RocketSim
Boost your productivity and streamline your workflow with our powerful Xcode Simulator tools. Developers report building, testing, and verifying apps up to 2x faster with RocketSim. ... Discover features that help you code, test, and ship faster than ever. No credit card required. Just tools that make you a faster iOS developer.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/iosprogramming › no appstore on xcode ios simulator.
r/iOSProgramming on Reddit: No AppStore on XCode iOS simulator.
July 25, 2023 -

Okay, so im kind of broke and can't really afford a phone at the moment so I was researching some iPhone simulators that can run on my 2022 M2 13 Inch Mac Pro (which is what I blew my money on). I only really want it so I can use Snapchat so I can stay in the loop with my mates. I set Xcode 15 up and installed the iOS 17 runtime. Everything was looking great until I opened it and I was greeted with the phone already set up and it had celebrity names in the contacts which was interesting. Anyway, there wasn't an AppStore anywhere to be seen. I know that it isn't possible because of some reason I don't exactly understand but it seemed reasonable. Is there a way I can download and inject a build of Snapchat into the simulator?

🌐
Medium
medium.com › @pouyahallaj › how-to-manually-download-and-install-ios-simulator-files-for-xcode-on-mac-b146923fd198
How to Manually Download and Install iOS Simulator Files for Xcode on Mac | by Pouya Hallaj | Medium
December 9, 2023 - This command verifies the runtime's signature and installs it securely. Access Xcode Package Content: Right-click on the Xcode 15 Beta app and select ‘Show Package Content’. Open Simulator File: Double-click the iOS...
🌐
HackerNoon
hackernoon.com › manually-install-ios-simulators-in-xcode-f7e4bbe50753
Manually Install iOS Simulators in XCode | HackerNoon
March 29, 2017 - Blame it on the internet gods (or probably Apple), but I have the hardest time downloading large (like gigabyte size) downloads from Apple’s servers. I’ve had problems when downloading iOS updates in iTunes and problems when downloading new simulators in XCode.
🌐
Apple Developer
developer.apple.com › library › archive › documentation › IDEs › Conceptual › iOS_Simulator_Guide › GettingStartedwithiOSSimulator › GettingStartedwithiOSSimulator.html
Getting Started in Simulator
In the dialog that appears, enter a name in the Simulator Name text field and choose the device from the Device Type pop-up menu. Choose the OS version from the iOS Version pop-up menu. Alternatively, if the iOS version you want to use isn’t in the iOS Version pop-up menu, choose “Download more simulators” and follow the steps to download a simulator.
🌐
Apple Developer
developer.apple.com › forums › thread › 700013
How can I download iOS 15.3 for simulator with xcode 13.2.1
Also note the current Xcode beta has a 15.4 simulator, which may be worth a try. ... Same here... Apple said, 15.3 emulator makes crash. but I don't have 15.3.. and the app is working well on 15.3 real device 15.2 emulator also. How could I test the 15.3 on emulator?! @_@; ... Exactly same as me. I've been suffering from irreproducible error almost for a week even though my app work completely fine on my iOS 15.3 devices.
🌐
GitHub
gist.github.com › steipete › d9b44d8e9f341e81414e86d7ff8fb62d
Using iOS 15 devices with Xcode 12.5 (instead of Xcode 13) · GitHub
It's a real pain but you should be able to build with Xcode 11.5 or 11.6, open the "Products" folder, right click on the too and choose "Show in Finder" and copy the Xcode 11-built .app file somewhere safe. Then switch to Xcode 12 and launch an iOS 14 simulator.