Xcode 5 - "iOS Simulator failed to install application" every time I switch simulators

Question

Using Xcode 5 GM, anytime I switch to the 5.1, 6.0 or 6.1 simulators to test, I get the error "iOS Simulator failed to install application." When I reset the simulator it works, but this is getting very tiring.

Anybody have a permanent fix or workaround?

Solution 1

Looks like this is a known issue. From the Xcode 5 release notes:

After switching the minimum deployment target of an application from iOS 7.0 to a release prior to iOS 7.0, building and running the application may fail with the message “iOS Simulator failed to install the application.”

• Go to the iOS home screen, click and hold the application icon, then tap the hovering “X” button to delete the application. 13917023

Another release note:

iOS Simulator

• If an iOS app is detached, relaunching the same app from Xcode will result in a black screen in the Simulator even though the new app is launched. Terminate the app in the Simulator or relaunch it for the second time. 14648784

Solution 2

Delete the old version app in your simulator (usually iOS 6.x).

Solution 3

Alternatively, header over to iOS Simulator - Reset Content and Settings.

This can be easier when you have a lot of apps on the simulator and can't remember which one you're currently working on.

You need to do this for every iOS Simulator version that causes the problem.

Solution 4

if you have already developed project and you used xib to develop views then

X-Code > Inspector Selector Bar > Interface Builder Document > opens in > and change from Xcode Default(5.o) to Xcode 4.6 .

Build and Run your app it will run successfully, if it won't run again then, header over to iOS Simulator - Reset Content and Settings. delete old app from simulator then Run again.

Solution 5

None of the other suggestions worked for me. However, after comparing my existing app settings to a new vanilla project, I noticed that the "Build" field for my Target was blank. Once I put something in that field, the app installed just fine!

View more solutions

Comments

[DanielR]

Using the hint from TRedman I changed the deployment target from 5.0 to 5.1 and the error is gone (for now). I ran the application ten consecutive times and no error message.

[Bagusflyer]

Unfortunately the simulator always in black screen even when there is no application running at all.

[Tom Redman]

@bagusflyer Please see the edit to the answer. Sound like it's another known issue.

[Tom Redman]

I'm running into this randomly: some projects exhibit this behaviour, others don't. So I can't mark this as correct unfortunately.

[Den Telezhkin]

This is happening since developer preview 1, i think. Error message "iOS simulator failed to install an application" pops up even when application is not installed on simulator. There's no application to remove, and error does not go away for one of my projects. For other projects it's fine. Resetting simulator, removing derived data and cleaning does not help.

[Steven Kramer]

Thanks, that did it (I had previously deployed the app to the 5.1 and 6.0 Simulators using Xcode 4)

[deko]

Brilliant! That worked for me after I'd reset simulator content and removed all applications data manually many times!

[Preetam Jadakar]

I am getting same issue for iPhine(4 inch retina) what should i do?

[Preetam Jadakar]

Simply Brilliant...! you allowed to leave office now.

[shah1988]

man! awesome. I had been sitting behind this issue for quite a long. Thanks a lot.

[Jake]

Where can I find the 'Build' field for my Target?

[Robert Altman]

For me, this seems to be associated with switching between running in the simulator for iOS6 and iOS7; iOS7 works reliable and iOS6 works only after a reset or after deleting the app (deleting the app is much faster than reseting the simulator). @TRedman, Thanks for asking and posting this answer. Too bad Apple left us to clean up there mess.

[Yas Tabasam]

It can also happen if Build field in your project settings is empty, does not have a number. Make sure to have at least 1.0 in it.

[z33]

Where is the "Build" field??

[grandouassou]

Another trick about the black screen if you know the app is running, you can go back to Home screen and tap the app icon and you will see the app as expected. Works most of the time.

[Raunak]

Nothing described here worked for me. Finally I just restarted my machine and it worked.

[JOM]

Basically you reset the simulator content: open simulator, choose "iOS Simulator" from (Mac OSX) menubar and "Reset Content and Settings..." submenu item.

[cate]

Does this mean location of folder enclosing project in Finder hierarchy? If so, doesn't work from me (my search continues...)

[Shaik Riyaz]

@cate yes , in my case i moved the folder from documents to desktop , it worked for me