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?

I was told it was related to the deployment target being 5.1, but changing that hasn't been conclusive. — Tom Redman, Sep 12 '13 at 16:40
I got different situation. My simulator for 6.0 is no problem. But I got the error message in iOS 7 simulator. — Bagusflyer, Sep 13 '13 at 07:23

Tom Redman · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-26T14:47:47.827

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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

edited Sep 26 '13 at 14:47

answered Sep 12 '13 at 16:45

Tom Redman

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Unfortunately the simulator always in black screen even when there is no application running at all. – Bagusflyer Sep 13 '13 at 07:24
@bagusflyer Please see the edit to the answer. Sound like it's another known issue. – Tom Redman Sep 13 '13 at 14:47
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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. – Den Telezhkin Sep 19 '13 at 12:32
I am getting same issue for iPhine(4 inch retina) what should i do? – Preetam Jadakar Oct 09 '13 at 06:30
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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. – Robert Altman Oct 15 '13 at 14:58
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. – Yas Tabasam Nov 19 '13 at 01:22
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. – grandouassou Jan 31 '14 at 14:22
Nothing described here worked for me. Finally I just restarted my machine and it worked. – Raunak Feb 19 '14 at 05:30
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. – DanielR Sep 12 '13 at 16:47
I'm running into this randomly: some projects exhibit this behaviour, others don't. So I can't mark this as correct unfortunately. – Tom Redman Sep 13 '13 at 22:04

score 17 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 14 '13 at 13:03

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

answered Sep 14 '13 at 13:03

Vince Yuan

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Thanks, that did it (I had previously deployed the app to the 5.1 and 6.0 Simulators using Xcode 4) – Steven Kramer Sep 30 '13 at 19:32

score 11 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 14 '13 at 12:36

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.

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 29 '13 at 18:10

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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!

answered Sep 29 '13 at 18:10

Greg Haygood

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Brilliant! That worked for me after I'd reset simulator content and removed all applications data manually many times! – deko Oct 08 '13 at 15:54
Simply Brilliant...! you allowed to leave office now. – Preetam Jadakar Oct 09 '13 at 13:41
man! awesome. I had been sitting behind this issue for quite a long. Thanks a lot. – shah1988 Oct 10 '13 at 06:31
Where can I find the 'Build' field for my Target? – Jake Oct 10 '13 at 23:31
Where is the "Build" field?? – z33 Jan 06 '14 at 10:11

Nico · Answer 5 · 2013-09-30T15:58:15.153

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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 .
enter image description here
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.

edited Sep 30 '13 at 15:58

answered Sep 30 '13 at 11:50

Nico

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Learning Programming · Answer 6 · 2014-03-14T12:48:22.643

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i got the same problem but solved by following way....

Launch the iOS Simulator
Go and click "iOS Simulator" menu
Click "Reset content and settings"
Close simulator and rebuild your app.

enter image description here

Above screen shot is showing the way how you can do this...

I think this works for you...!!!

edited Mar 14 '14 at 12:48

answered Mar 05 '14 at 08:47

Learning Programming

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score 7 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 08 '13 at 17:31

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Deleting the app in the simulator works for me. just wanted to add that this happen only if I open xib that created in xcode 4.6 If it's other files, this not happen

answered Oct 08 '13 at 17:31

user1105951

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score 3 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 11 '13 at 05:58

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try this ....

in my case nothing have worked for me , after resetting the content simulator also , i am not able to install the app on simulator . after that i just changed my project location . i just moved the project to other location . then it installed successfully.

answered Nov 11 '13 at 05:58

Shaik Riyaz

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Does this mean location of folder enclosing project in Finder hierarchy? If so, `doesn't` work from me (my search continues...) – cate Nov 04 '14 at 14:54
@cate yes , in my case i moved the folder from documents to desktop , it worked for me – Shaik Riyaz Nov 05 '14 at 06:07

score 2 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 27 '14 at 17:10

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None of the above things worked for me. I just reinstalled xcode and it worked.

answered Jan 27 '14 at 17:10

user2758888

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score 2 · Answer 10 · answered Feb 13 '14 at 21:33

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Ran into this issue today. Found it was an empty Reference Folder (blue folder) causing this. Removed the folder from Resources in Build Phase... cleaned build folder for the heck of it, and it went away.

answered Feb 13 '14 at 21:33

migs647

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score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Dec 24 '13 at 12:17

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/Users/YOURUSERNAME/Library/Developer/Xcode/ --> remove all contents of this folder, then simply launch the app from Xcode.

answered Dec 24 '13 at 12:17

Yasir Ayaz

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Sep 23 '13 at 09:28

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To check your Executable file settng ex.$(EXECUTABLE_NAME) (Project setting - info property page)

answered Sep 23 '13 at 09:28

bruce

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score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 09 '13 at 10:30

I have different issue when getting error message “iOS Simulator failed to install application”, the reason is because I have added a property in App-Info.plist without any value. For instance, [Application Category] with no value. Thus the error will show up as well.

score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Nov 01 '13 at 14:43

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When I got this error, the image of the phone actually appeared, but the image of the app I wanted to test did not. Instead, I was on the main page of the phone that shows the apps you have. I fixed this problem by deleting the many icons that appeared on the start screens - about 30 of them. These had been created when I testing apps over the months. So, not saying its a solution, but it started working after I deleted the old app images.

answered Nov 01 '13 at 14:43

DB Cooper

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Basically you reset the simulator content: open simulator, choose "iOS Simulator" from (Mac OSX) menubar and "Reset Content and Settings..." submenu item. – JOM Feb 21 '14 at 06:45

score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Apr 07 '14 at 12:47

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For me it was -framework XCTest.

It made the app die with iOS Simulator failed to install application

and on the device Could not inspect the application package.

Removed it and now works.

answered Apr 07 '14 at 12:47

Alistra

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score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Jun 30 '14 at 12:45

You are using Xcode GM which is under beta stage. Use latest Xcode 5.1.1 available. Also, these error occur while switching between simulator (32 bit and 64 bit).

Quit the simulator and re-build the application. OR
Reset simulator from "iOS simulator" -> "Reset content and settings.."

Error

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered Sep 20 '14 at 15:08

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I changed my app name and bundle id midway. I happened to delete the Executable File name in my plist. I changed it back to "${EXECUTABLE_NAME}" (no quotes) and I'm back in business.

answered Sep 20 '14 at 15:08

user1467534

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

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