How to Hide Unwanted Xcode Logs: A Comprehensive Guide

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

Developers often encounter excessive logging in Xcode, especially when working with iOS simulators in Xcode 8 and newer versions. These logs can clutter the console, making it difficult to focus on relevant output. This guide provides a practical solution to manage and hide these unwanted logs effectively.

Understanding the Issue

When running applications in Xcode, especially after the introduction of Xcode 8, users have reported seeing a series of logs related to system frameworks. These logs, although sometimes useful for debugging, can become overwhelming and obscure important application-specific logs.

Solution: Using Environment Variables

A practical method to suppress these unwanted logs involves modifying the environment variables in your Xcode scheme. Follow these steps to implement this solution:

1. Open your project in Xcode.
2. Navigate to Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme.
3. Select the Run option from the left pane.
4. In the Environment Variables section, add the variable OS_ACTIVITY_MODE and set its value to disable.

This configuration effectively suppresses the excessive system logs, allowing you to focus on your custom debug messages and application-specific logs.

Alternative Approach

For users who prefer not to disable logs entirely, another approach involves leveraging user-defined settings for more granular control:

1. Under Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme > Run (Debug), set the OS_ACTIVITY_MODE environment variable to ${DEBUG_ACTIVITY_MODE}.
2. Go to your project build settings and add a user-defined setting named DEBUG_ACTIVITY_MODE.
3. Set this value to disable for the iOS Simulator platform.

Final Thoughts

Managing logs efficiently is crucial for effective debugging and application development. By using these methods, developers can streamline their debugging process and reduce noise in the console.

Enhancing Testing with Repeato

While managing logs is a crucial aspect of development, ensuring robust testing is equally important. This is where Repeato offers a seamless solution. As a no-code test automation tool, Repeato helps in creating, running, and maintaining automated tests for iOS, Android, and web apps. With its fast test recording capabilities and support for advanced testing techniques, Repeato ensures your application remains robust and error-free. The tool’s compatibility with data-driven and keyword-driven testing, along with its AI-based approach, provides a comprehensive platform for developers seeking efficient testing solutions.

For more insights and advanced testing techniques, visit our documentation page.

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