The IOS simulator in my computer doesn't have app store. I want to use the app store to test a program I wrote on my simulator.
Is it possible to install the app store in my simulator?
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2To test your app in the simulator, open the project in Xcode and click the run button in the top right corner. – Mick MacCallum May 16 '12 at 02:16
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1This is an unusual request. What exactly are you trying to do? – borrrden May 16 '12 at 02:17
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1@MDT I don't mean to test a normal app. In the app I write, it will open another app link in appstore. – William May 16 '12 at 02:39
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1@borrrden install a app store in the simulator, like the real iphone or ipad – William May 16 '12 at 02:40
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3@William This is something that you should probably be testing on a real device. – Mick MacCallum May 16 '12 at 02:40
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See also: [Can the App Store be installed on Xcode's iOS Simulator on the new ARM/M1 powered Macs?](https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/408084) – hippietrail Dec 06 '20 at 11:29
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can we install apps from other developers? I want to test deep linking into another app (metamask) so it would be helpful on-device. – dcsan Sep 10 '22 at 06:30
3 Answers
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This is NOT possible
The Simulator does not run ARM code, ONLY x86 code. Unless you have the raw source code from Apple, you won't see the App Store on the Simulator.
The app you write you will be able to test in the Simulator by running it directly from Xcode even if you don't have a developer account. To test your app on an actual device, you will need to be a part of the Apple Developer program.
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8So if I need to know weather my app can open the appstore properly or not, I have to test it in real device? – William May 16 '12 at 02:42
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11Yes, if you are going to have your app open the App Store, then you would want to test it on an actual device. – WrightsCS May 16 '12 at 02:50
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2We can't install app store apps in simulator. This is updated link of apple doc https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/iOS_Simulator_Guide/InteractingwiththeiOSSimulator.html – RohitK Apr 13 '15 at 06:27
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3Quick search turns up this updated guide on the Simulator: https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/content/documentation/IDEs/Conceptual/iOS_Simulator_Guide/Introduction/Introduction.html – WrightsCS Jul 06 '16 at 14:50
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5It correct that it's not possible, but the reason why it's not possible turns out to have nothing to do with Intel x86 code vs ARM code, as [it's also not possible on Apple's new M1 ARM macs](https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/408129/11513). – hippietrail Feb 24 '21 at 06:02
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I assume this is out of date now that we have M1 macs? don't they run the same object code as iPhones? – dcsan Sep 10 '22 at 06:30
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@dcsan good point, but I think Apple intentionally doesn't want the iOS app store app running on anything other an an iOS device. Alternatively, they may have made available all of the iOS apps in the Mac app store as well, or will eventually once all intel machines are phased out. – WrightsCS Oct 14 '22 at 16:00
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you can install many iOS apps on desktop. i'm not sure if one has to add an extra target at dev time tho – dcsan Oct 17 '22 at 06:23
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No, according to Apple here:
Note: You cannot install apps from the App Store in simulation environments.
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3The link here and in the comments on WrightsCS answer all go to the base "Simulator Help" page now, so pretty much not helpful. – Dale Mar 10 '19 at 17:58
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You can install other builds but not Appstore build.
From Xcode 8.2,drag and drop the build to simulator for the installation.
