React Native Change Default iOS Simulator Device

Question

When I run this command:

react-native run-ios

My app runs by default in the iPhone6 simulator device:

Found Xcode project RN.xcodeproj
Launching iPhone 6 (9.2)...

How can I have the app run in a different simulator device (like iPhone5s) by default?

I don't know how to setup default device, but after running react-native run-ios you can change device in Simulator > Hardware > Device > iOS x.x > iPhone 5. This will work until you quit simulator. — sealskej, Commented Jan 5, 2017 at 14:43

Himanshu padia · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-05 16:14:14Z

773

Specify a simulator using the --simulator flag.

These are the available devices for iOS 14.0 onwards:

npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 8"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 8 Plus"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11 Pro"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11 Pro Max"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone SE (2nd generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 12 mini"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 12"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 12 Pro"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 12 Pro Max"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 13 Pro"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 13 Pro Max"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 13 mini"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 13"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPod touch (7th generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (9.7-inch)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad (9th generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Air (4th generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (11-inch) (3rd generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (5th generation)"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad mini (6th generation)"

List all available iOS devices:

xcrun simctl list devices

There is currently no way to set a default.

React Native Docs: Running On Simulator

edited Oct 5, 2021 at 16:14

Himanshu padia

7,5931 gold badge47 silver badges46 bronze badges

answered May 19, 2016 at 17:10

Daniel Basedow

13.3k2 gold badges33 silver badges31 bronze badges

4

And if you want; react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Air"
– Burak Tokak
Commented Feb 6, 2017 at 11:32
31

To see all the available devices you can use xcrun simctl list devices more info here
– robd
Commented Mar 9, 2017 at 15:49
2

Just in case if you have multiple simulator with same name for example iPhone 6s for ios 11 , iPhone 6s for ios 12 etc, then you can set specific name to simulator from Xcode -> Window -> Devices and Simulators
– Chirag Purohit
Commented Aug 1, 2019 at 13:47
Why multiple "iPad Pro"s ?
– kojow7
Commented Sep 14, 2019 at 4:06
13

If you need a specific OS version add it in parentheses: react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11 Pro Max (13.4)"
– stephen_liu
Commented Apr 23, 2020 at 4:55

| Show 1 more comment

Ian L · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-07 16:06:10Z

70

You can also use npm for this by adding an entry to the scripts element of your package.json file. E.g.

"launch-ios": "react-native run-ios --simulator \"iPad Air 2\""

Then to use this: npm run launch-ios

answered Feb 7, 2017 at 16:06

Ian L

5,5911 gold badge23 silver badges37 bronze badges

3

IMHO this is the best answer as it allows you to store the config in code/version control. Means you dont need to remember the command line syntax.
– Nick
Commented Oct 2, 2017 at 11:37
3

I agree with this answer. You can also get by with singlequotes: "launch-ios": "react-native run-ios --simulator 'iPad Air 2'"
– lfkwtz
Commented Dec 27, 2017 at 16:07
just a small improvement of = and single qotes as mentioned by @ifkwtz, i used in my scripts like : "ios:tpmx": "npx react-native run-ios --simulator='iPhone 12 Pro Max'"
– Wasit Shafi
Commented Apr 3, 2022 at 19:15
I also think this should be marked as the answer since it kinda addresses the "default" device issue with the script entry
– BlueIcedPen
Commented Apr 11, 2023 at 0:36

Add a comment |

Fangxing · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-15 02:10:27Z

There are multiple ways to achieve this:

By using --simulator flag
By using --udid flag

Firstly you need to list all the available devices. To list all the devices run

xcrun simctl list devices

This will give output as follows:

These are the available devices for iOS 13.0 onwards:

== Devices ==
-- iOS 13.6 --
    iPhone 8 (5C7EF61D-6080-4065-9C6C-B213634408F2) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 8 Plus (5A694E28-EF4D-4CDD-85DD-640764CAA25B) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 11 (D6820D3A-875F-4CE0-B907-DAA060F60440) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 11 Pro (B452E7A1-F21C-430E-98F0-B02F0C1065E1) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 11 Pro Max (94973B5E-D986-44B1-8A80-116D1C54665B) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone SE (2nd generation) (90953319-BF9A-4C6E-8AB1-594394AD26CE) (Booted) 
    iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (9247BC07-00DB-4673-A353-46184F0B244E) (Shutdown) 
    iPad (7th generation) (3D5B855D-9093-453B-81EB-B45B7DBF0ADF) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Pro (11-inch) (2nd generation) (B3AA4C36-BFB9-4ED8-BF5A-E37CA38394F8) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (4th generation) (DBC7B524-9C75-4C61-A568-B94DA0A9BCC4) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Air (3rd generation) (03E3FE18-AB46-481E-80A0-D37383ADCC2C) (Shutdown) 
-- tvOS 13.4 --
    Apple TV (41579EEC-0E68-4D36-9F98-5822CD1A4104) (Shutdown) 
    Apple TV 4K (B168EF40-F2A4-4A91-B4B0-1F541201479B) (Shutdown) 
    Apple TV 4K (at 1080p) (D55F9086-A56E-4893-ACAD-579FB63C561E) (Shutdown) 
-- watchOS 6.2 --
    Apple Watch Series 4 - 40mm (D4BA8A57-F9C1-4F55-B3E0-6042BA7C4ED4) (Shutdown) 
    Apple Watch Series 4 - 44mm (65D5593D-29B9-42CD-9417-FFDBAE9AED87) (Shutdown) 
    Apple Watch Series 5 - 40mm (1B73F8CC-9ECB-4018-A212-EED508A68AE3) (Shutdown) 
    Apple Watch Series 5 - 44mm (5922489B-5CF9-42CD-ACB0-B11FAF88562F) (Shutdown)

Then from the output you can select the name or the uuid then proceed as you wish.

To run using --simulator run:

npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone SE"

To run using --udid flag run:

npx react-native run-ios --udid 90953319-BF9A-4C6E-8AB1-594394AD26CE

I hope this answer helped you.

this is best answer and most straight forward one .... thank you — Ebrahim Sayed, Commented Aug 3, 2021 at 14:42
I managed to run the app from Xcode on my device, but when I was running npx react-native run-ios, it was always running on simulator. npx react-native run-ios --udid [device id] did the trick for me. Thank you! +1 — Ovidiu Cristescu, Commented Sep 29, 2021 at 7:25

Bruno Lemos · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-22 21:44:50Z

28

You can create an alias at your ~/.bash_profile file:

alias rn-ios="react-native run-ios --simulator \"iPhone 5s (10.0)\""

And then run react-native using the created alias:

$ rn-ios

edited Aug 22, 2016 at 21:44

answered Aug 10, 2016 at 18:07

Bruno Lemos

9,1855 gold badges41 silver badges51 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Shaked Sayag · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-26 08:15:05Z

28

There is a project setting if you hunt down:

{project}/node_modules/react-native/local-cli/runIOS/runIOS.js

Within there are some options under module.exports including:

options: [{ command: '--simulator [string]', description: 'Explicitly set simulator to use', default: 'iPhone 7', }

Mine was line 231, simply set that to a valid installed simulator and run react-native run-ios it will run to that simulator by default.

edited Jun 26, 2018 at 8:15

Shaked Sayag

5,7522 gold badges32 silver badges40 bronze badges

answered Jul 1, 2017 at 0:55

svarrall

9,0792 gold badges28 silver badges32 bronze badges

6

This actually worked, although file was hidden inside {project}/node_modules/react-native/local-cli/runIOS/
– Matej Ukmar
Commented Aug 30, 2017 at 3:47
Great solution. Thanks!
– Ahmet Ardal
Commented Dec 11, 2017 at 11:02
I don't actually have that module under node modules folder.
– Abdul Sadik Yalcin
Commented Jun 13, 2018 at 23:41
1

Yup, adding "runArguments": [ "--simulator", "iPhone 5s" ] to my launch configuration worked perfectly.
– Can Poyrazoğlu
Commented Jun 17, 2019 at 7:38

Add a comment |

Lijith Vipin · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-27 09:11:13Z

24

1) Rename your simulator, If simulator with same name but different iOS version

Xcode -> Window -> Devices and Simulators -> Simulators.

2) Open your react native project folder

3) Edit package.json

"scripts": {
    "start": "node node_modules/react-native/local-cli/cli.js start",
    "test": "jest",
    "flow": "node_modules/.bin/flow",
    "start-iphone6": "react-native run-ios --simulator \"iPhone 6 11.3\""
}

4) npm run start-iphone6

edited Jul 27, 2018 at 9:11

answered Jul 27, 2018 at 9:05

Lijith Vipin

1,90822 silver badges29 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Vivek · Accepted Answer · 2023-05-18 09:41:52Z

Update:

npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 14"
npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 13"

Get device list with this command

xcrun simctl list devices

Console

== Devices ==
-- iOS 13.5 --
    iPhone 6s (9981E5A5-48A8-4B48-B203-1C6E73243E83) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 8 (FC540A6C-F374-4113-9E71-1291790C8C4C) (Shutting Down) 
    iPhone 8 Plus (CAC37462-D873-4EBB-9D71-7C6D0C915C12) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 11 (347EFE28-9B41-4C1A-A4C3-D99B49300D8B) (Shutting Down) 
    iPhone 11 Pro (5AE964DC-201C-48C9-BFB5-4506E3A0018F) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone 11 Pro Max (48EE985A-39A6-426C-88A4-AA1E4AFA0133) (Shutdown) 
    iPhone SE (2nd generation) (48B78183-AFD7-4832-A80E-AF70844222BA) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (2DEF27C4-6A18-4477-AC7F-FB31CCCB3960) (Shutdown) 
    iPad (7th generation) (36A4AF6B-1232-4BCB-B74F-226E025225E4) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Pro (11-inch) (2nd generation) (79391BD7-0E55-44C8-B1F9-AF92A1D57274) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (4th generation) (ED90A31F-6B20-4A6B-9EE9-CF22C01E8793) (Shutdown) 
    iPad Air (3rd generation) (41AD1CF7-CB0D-4F18-AB1E-6F8B6261AD33) (Shutdown) 
-- tvOS 13.4 --
    Apple TV 4K (51925935-97F4-4242-902F-041F34A66B82) (Shutdown) 
-- watchOS 6.2 --
    Apple Watch Series 5 - 40mm (7C50F2E9-A52B-4E0D-8B81-A811FE995502) (Shutdown) 
    Apple Watch Series 5 - 44mm (F7D8C256-DC9F-4FDC-8E65-63275C222B87) (Shutdown)

Select Simulator string without ID here is an example.

iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (4th generation)

Final command

iPhone

• iPhone 6s

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 6s"

• iPhone 8

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 8"

• iPhone 8 Plus

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 8 Plus"

• iPhone 11

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11"

• iPhone 11 Pro

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11 Pro"

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 11 Pro Max"

• iPhone SE (2nd generation)

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone SE (2nd generation)"

iPad

• iPad Pro (9.7-inch)

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (9.7-inch)"

• iPad (7th generation)

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad (7th generation)"

• iPad Pro (11-inch) (2nd generation)

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (11-inch) (2nd generation)"

• iPad Pro (12.9-inch) 4th generation

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (4th generation)"

• iPad Air (3rd generation)

react-native run-ios --simulator="iPad Air (3rd generation)"

But we don't want to run on simulator. We want to run on physical phone.... — IgorGanapolsky, Commented yesterday

Khairul · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-12 02:37:51Z

6

As answered by Ian L, I also use NPM to manage my scripts.

Example:

{
  "scripts": {
    "ios": "react-native run-ios --simulator=\"iPad Air 2\"",
    "devices": "xcrun simctl list devices"
  }
}

This way, I can quickly get what I need:

List all devices: npm run devices
Run the default simulator: npm run ios

answered Nov 12, 2018 at 2:37

Khairul

8909 silver badges14 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Sourabh · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-10 09:16:32Z

5

Here is new path for changing iOS simulator you just need to change

default: 'iPhone 6' or something else

Path:

<project_root>/node_modules/@react-native-community/cli/build/commands/runIOS/runIOS.js

edited May 10, 2019 at 9:16

Sourabh

8,39310 gold badges55 silver badges99 bronze badges

answered Apr 2, 2019 at 5:07

Tanveerbyn

7741 gold badge10 silver badges25 bronze badges

1

In my case file here : node_modules/@react-native-community/cli-platform-ios/build/commands/runIOS/index.js
– Jedsada Saengow
Commented Oct 5, 2021 at 3:43

Add a comment |

Gregoire Ducharme · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-09 15:14:16Z

5

You can use

npx react-native run-ios --simulator="iPhone 14"

Or Go to xcode and add a new simulator with the name "iPhone 6 (9.2)" (if you don't want to add --simulator="iPhone 14" each time )

edited Nov 9, 2022 at 15:14

Gregoire Ducharme

1,10813 silver badges25 bronze badges

answered Nov 7, 2022 at 6:45

user20437544

511 silver badge1 bronze badge

Add a comment |

FinHead · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-18 12:42:49Z

2

I had an issue with XCode 10.2 specifying the correct iOS simulator version number, so used:

react-native run-ios --simulator='iPhone X (com.apple.CoreSimulator.SimRuntime.iOS-12-1)'

answered Apr 18, 2019 at 12:42

FinHead

5174 silver badges12 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Harvinder Singh · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-24 10:31:43Z

2

for iPhone Xʀ Simulator

    "iosxr": "react-native run-ios --simulator=\"iPhone Xʀ\"",

just add this to your scripts in package.json file

the letter "ʀ" used here is a different Unicode than "R"

then hit $ yarn iosxr to launch the app on iPhone Xʀ Simulator

answered May 24, 2021 at 10:31

Harvinder Singh

2,01922 silver badges16 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Nazır Dogan · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-14 21:42:10Z

1

I developed CLI tool for it.You can just type "rndcli".and select device

https://github.com/nazrdogan/rndcli

answered Dec 14, 2017 at 21:42

Nazır Dogan

1,59016 silver badges32 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Thao Le · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-26 18:32:19Z

1

If you want to change default device and only have to run react-native run-ios you can search in finder for keyword "runios" then open folder and fixed index.js file change 'iphone X' to your device in need.

[1]: https://i.sstatic.net/BCtR1.png

answered Oct 26, 2019 at 18:32

Thao Le

211 bronze badge

Add a comment |

flood paper · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-09 07:22:47Z

1

for RN 0.64.2, the configuration is located at node_modules/@react-native-community/cli-platform-ios/build/commands/runIOS/index.js, you can just revise the default simulator in the file

answered Nov 9, 2022 at 7:22

flood paper

313 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Fotios Tsakiris · Accepted Answer · 2021-10-22 07:53:27Z

1st case:
It happened on a login screen, where I had autoFocus on an TextInput. Commented that out and everything went back to normal.

2nd case:
With Expo!

After an update of XCode I was getting always the iPhone 12 Max simulator, but I prefered the iPhone 8. So here are the steps I took:

While simulator on focus, go to File -> Open Simulator and choose the one you wish to be the default.
Close the old simulator, close the localhost:19002 and stop the server in your terminal with ctr + C.
Run npm start and then press i.

Now it's running on the simulator you left open.

Happy coding!

Justin.Mathew · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-11 23:25:43Z

0

React Native will run the first device it finds in the list of simulators (If no simulator is supplied in the run command). To have it run a specific sim as the "default", you can re-order your x-code simulator list by deleting simulators and re-adding them. The first simulator (the one at the bottom of the list) is the one that will be run.

answered Apr 11, 2023 at 23:25

Justin.Mathew

4615 silver badges12 bronze badges

Add a comment |

eslam elameen · Accepted Answer · 2023-09-18 11:51:08Z

0

the best and the easiest way to change iOS device is : 1- open simulator 2- choose file > open simulator > then choose the device you want

answered Sep 18, 2023 at 11:51

eslam elameen

5386 silver badges6 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Breno Medeiros de Oliveira · Accepted Answer · 2023-09-22 05:48:48Z

0

SOLVED!

Run this command to see available simulators:

xcrun simctl list devices

and then run the command with the simulator that you want:

npm run ios -- --simulator="iPhone SE (3rd generation)"

Or tou can add an entry to the scripts element of your package.json file. E.g.

"launch-ios": "npm run ios -- --simulator=\"iPhone SE (3rd generation)\""

Then just use this:

npm run launch-ios

answered Sep 22, 2023 at 5:48

Breno Medeiros de Oliveira

88610 silver badges12 bronze badges

Add a comment |

tomnyson · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-25 03:15:44Z

-4

change line code of /node_modules/react-native/local-cli/runIOS/findMatchingSimulator.js

line 55

  if (
    simulator.availability !== '(available)' &&
    simulator.isAvailable !== true
  ) {
    continue;
  }

replace which:

   if (
                simulator.availability !== '(available)' &&
                simulator.isAvailable !== true
              ) {
                continue;
     }

answered Aug 25, 2020 at 3:15

tomnyson

3073 silver badges7 bronze badges

Add a comment |

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

React Native Change Default iOS Simulator Device

20 Answers 20

Your Answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged
ios
react-native
or ask your own question.

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

20 Answers 20

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged iosreact-native or ask your own question.

Linked

Related

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged
ios
react-native
or ask your own question.