iOS Simulator
π π - An MCP server to control iOS Simulators
What is iOS Simulator?
iOS Simulator is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to π π - an mcp server to control ios simulators
π π - An MCP server to control iOS Simulators
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- π π - An MCP server to control iOS Simulators
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx simulatorConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use iOS Simulator
The iOS Simulator MCP Server gives AI assistants direct programmatic control over Apple's iOS Simulator via the Model Context Protocol. It exposes tools to list available simulators, boot or shut them down, install .app bundles, and launch apps by bundle IDβall through natural language. Mobile developers and QA engineers use it to let Claude automate simulator setup, deploy builds, and run launch sequences without leaving their conversation.
Prerequisites
- macOS with Xcode installed (iOS Simulator is part of Xcode)
- Node.js 16+ and npm for running the server via npx
- At least one iOS Simulator configured in Xcode (Xcode > Window > Devices and Simulators)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop
Install Xcode and iOS Simulators
iOS Simulator control requires Xcode to be installed from the Mac App Store. Open Xcode and download at least one simulator runtime via Xcode > Preferences > Components.
Install the MCP server package
The server is published as @joshuarileydev/simulator-mcp-server on npm. You can run it directly with npx or install it globally.
npx -y @joshuarileydev/simulator-mcp-serverAdd the server to Claude Desktop configuration
Edit your claude_desktop_config.json to register the simulator server. The -y flag ensures npx runs without prompting.
Restart Claude Desktop
Quit and reopen Claude Desktop to load the new MCP server. You should see the simulator tools available in the tool list.
Test the connection
Ask Claude to list available simulators to confirm the server is connected and Xcode simulators are visible.
iOS Simulator Examples
Client configuration
Add this block to your claude_desktop_config.json to enable iOS Simulator control.
{
"mcpServers": {
"simulator": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@joshuarileydev/simulator-mcp-server"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for controlling iOS Simulators through Claude.
- "List all available iOS simulators and their current status"
- "Boot the iPhone 15 Pro simulator"
- "Install the app at /path/to/MyApp.app on the booted simulator"
- "Launch the app with bundle ID com.mycompany.myapp on the simulator"
- "Shut down all running simulators"Troubleshooting iOS Simulator
Claude reports no simulators found
Run 'xcrun simctl list devices' in Terminal to confirm simulators are visible to the command-line tools. If xcode-select is pointing to the wrong Xcode installation, run 'sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app' to fix it.
App installation fails
Ensure the simulator is booted before installing. The .app bundle must be compiled for the simulator architecture (x86_64 or arm64 simulator slice), not the device architecture.
npx fails to find the package
Try installing the package explicitly with 'npm install -g @joshuarileydev/simulator-mcp-server' and then set the command to 'simulator-mcp-server' without npx in your config.
Frequently Asked Questions about iOS Simulator
What is iOS Simulator?
iOS Simulator is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that π π - an mcp server to control ios simulators It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install iOS Simulator?
Follow the installation instructions on the iOS Simulator GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with iOS Simulator?
iOS Simulator works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is iOS Simulator free to use?
Yes, iOS Simulator is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Browse More Browser Automation MCP Servers
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Set Up iOS Simulator in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use iOS Simulator?
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