Efficiently Removing Unneeded Simulators in Xcode

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

When working with Xcode, especially in older versions like Xcode 4.3.1, developers often find themselves needing to install various iOS simulators for testing. Once these tests are complete, however, removing these simulators can be a bit challenging. This guide provides a clear and efficient method to remove unneeded simulators and reclaim valuable disk space.

Why Remove Older Simulators?

• Reduce clutter in the Scheme menu, enhancing navigation.
• Reclaim disk space used by unnecessary simulator versions.
• Improve overall performance by freeing up system resources.

Steps to Remove Unneeded Simulators

To efficiently manage and delete simulators, follow these steps:

Using Terminal Commands

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Use the following command to remove simulators that are no longer supported:

   xcrun simctl delete unavailable

   This command deletes all simulators that are not compatible with the current version of Xcode.

3. To delete a specific simulator, first list all simulators:

   xcrun simctl list devices

   Then, use the command:

   xcrun simctl delete <device udid>

   Replace <device udid> with the specific simulator’s UDID you wish to delete.

Using Xcode Interface

1. Open Xcode.
2. Navigate to Window > Devices and Simulators.
3. Select the simulator you wish to remove and click the minus (–) button to delete it.

Additional Tips

To prevent Xcode from re-downloading old simulator runtimes, you can delete the corresponding .dmg files from:

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.dt.Xcode/Downloads

Restart Xcode after making these changes to ensure that they take effect.

Streamlining Your Testing Workflow with Repeato

While managing simulators is a crucial aspect of iOS development, automating your testing process can significantly enhance productivity. This is where Repeato comes into play. As a no-code test automation tool, Repeato allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests for iOS, Android, and web apps with ease.

Repeato offers a fast test recording feature, leveraging computer vision and AI to streamline the process. Its capabilities extend to running command line scripts or JavaScript code, making it versatile for complex task automation. Plus, with data-driven and keyword-driven testing support, Repeato ensures comprehensive coverage of your testing needs.

For more information on how Repeato can enhance your development workflow, visit our Getting Started page.

Check it out!

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