How to Take Screenshots in the iOS Simulator

28 February 2025 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Xcode

When developing iOS applications, capturing screenshots in the simulator can be a vital part of your workflow, whether for documentation, sharing progress with your team, or preparing for app store submissions. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to take screenshots in the iOS simulator effectively.

Using Built-in Simulator Features

The iOS Simulator offers a straightforward method to capture screenshots:

• Mac Keyboard Shortcut: Press ⌘ + S while the simulator is active. This will save a screenshot to your desktop by default.
• File Menu Option: Navigate to File > Save Screen Shot within the simulator’s menu. This is particularly useful if you prefer using menu options over keyboard shortcuts.
• Top Bar Camera Icon: In Xcode 11.4 and later, you can also click the ‘Camera’ icon in the simulator’s toolbar to take a screenshot.

Advanced Screenshot Techniques

For those looking to refine their screenshots or change default paths, consider these tips:

• Disable Optimize Rendering for Window Scale: To capture screenshots at the actual device size (100% scale), disable this option from the Debug menu.
• Changing Default Save Path: Hold the ⌥ Option key while taking a screenshot to change the save location.
• Including Device Bezel: Enable Show Device Bezel from the Window menu, then use ⌘ + shift + 4 + Spacebar to capture the simulator window with the bezel.

Command-Line Options

For developers who prefer command-line interfaces, the following command can be used:

xcrun simctl io booted screenshot

This command captures a screenshot of the active simulator and saves it to the default location.

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