Set the location in iPhone Simulator

Question

How can I set the location (as it's picked up in CoreLocation services) in the iPhone Simulator?

I added a method for Xcode 6. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19694205/customize-ios-simulator-preset-locations-to-fake-as-current-location/27299841#27299841 — Ohmy, Dec 04 '14 at 17:13
Has anyone managed to get this to work in React native, simulator? — Nikos, Nov 05 '15 at 18:44
With iOS 13 beta 2, I could only see "None" and "Custom" options. Is any one else having this issue? https://stackoverflow.com/q/56733625/1364053 — nr5, Jul 08 '19 at 02:28

score 137 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 19 '13 at 08:23

137

As of iOS 5, the simulator has a configurable location.

Under the Debug menu, the last entry is "Location"; this gives you a sub menu with:

None
Custom Location
Apple Stores
Apple
City Bicycle Ride
City Run
Freeway Drive

Custom Location lets you enter a Lat/Long value. Bicycle ride, City Run, and Freeway Drive are simulation of a moving location (in Cupertino, of course).

Of course, this does nothing to help with debugging for iOS 4 (or earlier); but it's a definite improvement!

edited Apr 19 '13 at 08:23

Monolo

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answered Nov 17 '11 at 22:46

Robert Altman

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where is debug menu in IOS simulator? – Lucky_girl Feb 06 '18 at 14:07
1

this works but it's for the **debug menu on the simulator** not the one on xcode – Lance Samaria Sep 28 '19 at 01:53
12

For iOS simulator, it is now located under "Features" – Sludge Jun 08 '20 at 16:53
For recent version of simulator using iOS 15.2, "Location" is now under the Features menu – kodeKhalifa Feb 06 '22 at 07:55
I'm running the iphone 12 emulator and there are only two options for location, None and Custom. Should I try another emulator? – Scott Daniel May 17 '22 at 18:38

beryllium · Answer 2 · 2014-06-11T11:33:29.417

89

Run project in iPhone Simulator
Create in TextEdit file following file, call it MyOffice for example. Make extension as .gpx

<?xml version="1.0"?> <gpx version="1.0" creator="MyName"> <wpt lat="53.936166" lon="27.565370"> <name>MyOffice</name> </wpt> </gpx>
Select in Xcode at the Simulate area Add GPX File to Project...
Add created file from menu to project.
Now you can see your location in Simulate area:

edited Jun 11 '14 at 11:33

answered Sep 28 '12 at 09:44

beryllium

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TextEdit doesn't save file .gpx. How I do? – Oct 31 '12 at 15:01
2

save it as .txt (or .xml) and then rename to .gpx – beryllium Oct 31 '12 at 15:08
8

Thanks! Very easy, works great. In case anyone else uses this heres the sample GPX file in text so you can copy & paste it: Office – RyanG Dec 20 '12 at 14:59
3

can we include time in this? I want to test startMonitoringSignificantLocationChanges method – Durgaprasad Jul 17 '13 at 08:58
Here's a helpful post on doing more with GPX files: http://blackpixel.com/blog/2013/05/simulating-locations-with-xcode.html – robotspacer Apr 02 '14 at 02:02
i cant create new file ....error like this ...You cannot save this document with extension “.gpx” at the end of the name. The required extension is “.rtf”. – Paresh Hirpara Sep 02 '14 at 09:03
Saved my loads of Efforts +1 – parilogic Mar 15 '16 at 05:29

score 59 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 14 '20 at 12:13

59

XCode 11.3 and prior:

Debug -> Location -> Custom Location

XCode 11.4+:

Features -> Location -> Custom Location

To find out which XCode version you have
$ /usr/bin/xcodebuild -version

answered Apr 14 '20 at 12:13

Samuel Hulla

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Thanks. This is the latest instruction you should follow – ANDYNVT Mar 06 '22 at 02:14

score 26 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 24 '22 at 08:52

26

in iOS Simulator menu, go to Features -> Location -> Custom Location. There you can set the latitude and longitude and test the app accordingly. This works with mapkit and also with CLLocationManager.

edited Sep 24 '22 at 08:52

Md. Kamrul Amin

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answered Jul 06 '15 at 05:07

Ravi Chokshi

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In version 12.1 of the simulator it is in Features -> Location -> Custom Location – Yossi Jan 31 '21 at 12:05

score 17 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 18 '08 at 02:51

17

In my delegate callback, I check to see if I'm running in a simulator (#if TARGET_ IPHONE_SIMULATOR) and if so, I supply my own, pre-looked-up, Lat/Long. To my knowledge, there's no other way.

answered Oct 18 '08 at 02:51

Ben Gottlieb

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Starting with Xcode 4.2, there is now a way under the `Debug` menu on the simulator using the `Location` entry that allows setting a custom location or selecting from some predefined rides and locations. – progrmr Nov 30 '11 at 14:54

score 11 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 30 '20 at 17:28

You can easily share any desired location from the macOS Maps application to the Xcode simulator.

From Xcode run the application in the simulator as you usually do.
Open the maps application on macOS (for convenience I usually make a new Desktop where I have both the simulator and the map application).
Inside the maps (macOS), long click on any point on the map, or search for a place to let the map draw a pin where you need it.
Click on the pin, then on the information (i) icon (see image).
In the up right of the information view click on the share icon.
Share the location with the simulator (see image).
Confirm and enjoy :)

This let you test some locations quickly, having an understanding on where geographically the location is (e.g. for testing geofencing), and deciding at runtime where to go next (e.g. for debugging and fine-tuning stuff).

Tested this on MacOS Catalina 10.15.4 and Xcode 11.4.

bravo! This inconvinient feature blows my mind for all these years. I mean when you need to set a location manually each time. I'm always asking myself, why apple doesnt make simple Favourites list of location where one can add any location he uses and then switch between them easily. — heximal, Sep 07 '21 at 09:38

score 6 · Answer 7 · answered Aug 17 '20 at 07:20

6

As of Xcode 11.6 and Swift 5.3, facility to simulate custom location has been moved from "Debug" to "Features" in iOS Simulator menu.

answered Aug 17 '20 at 07:20

Ashutosh Shukla

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score 6 · Answer 8 · edited Aug 17 '19 at 05:36

Pre iOS 5 you could do it in code:

I use this snippet just before the @implementation of the class where I need my fake heading and location data.

#if (TARGET_IPHONE_SIMULATOR)
@interface MyHeading : CLHeading
    -(CLLocationDirection) magneticHeading;
    -(CLLocationDirection) trueHeading;
@end

@implementation MyHeading
    -(CLLocationDirection) magneticHeading { return 90; }
    -(CLLocationDirection) trueHeading { return 91; }
@end

@implementation CLLocationManager (TemporaryLocationFix)
- (void)locationFix {
    CLLocation *location = [[CLLocation alloc] initWithLatitude:55.932 longitude:12.321];
    [[self delegate] locationManager:self didUpdateToLocation:location fromLocation:nil];

    id heading  = [[MyHeading alloc] init];
    [[self delegate] locationManager:self didUpdateHeading: heading];
}

-(void)startUpdatingHeading {
    [self performSelector:@selector(locationFix) withObject:nil afterDelay:0.1];
}

- (void)startUpdatingLocation {
    [self performSelector:@selector(locationFix) withObject:nil afterDelay:0.1];
}
@end
#endif

After iOS 5 simply include a GPX file in your project like this to have the location updated continuously Hillerød.gpx:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="Xcode"> 
    <wpt lat="55.93619760" lon="12.29131930"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93625770" lon="12.29108330"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93631780" lon="12.29078290"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93642600" lon="12.29041810"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93653420" lon="12.28998890"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93660630" lon="12.28966710"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93670240" lon="12.28936670"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93677450" lon="12.28921650"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93709900" lon="12.28945250"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93747160" lon="12.28949540"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93770000" lon="12.28966710"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93785620" lon="12.28977440"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93809660" lon="12.28988170"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93832490" lon="12.28994600"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93845710" lon="12.28996750"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93856530" lon="12.29007480"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93872150" lon="12.29013910"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93886570" lon="12.28975290"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93898590" lon="12.28955980"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93910610" lon="12.28919500"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93861330" lon="12.28883020"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93845710" lon="12.28868000"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93827680" lon="12.28850840"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93809660" lon="12.28842250"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93796440" lon="12.28831520"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93780810" lon="12.28810070"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93755570" lon="12.28790760"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93739950" lon="12.28775730"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93726730" lon="12.28767150"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93707500" lon="12.28760710"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93690670" lon="12.28734970"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93675050" lon="12.28726380"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93649810" lon="12.28713510"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93625770" lon="12.28687760"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93596930" lon="12.28679180"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93587310" lon="12.28719940"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93575290" lon="12.28752130"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93564480" lon="12.28797190"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93554860" lon="12.28833670"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93550050" lon="12.28868000"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93535630" lon="12.28900190"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93515200" lon="12.28936670"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93505580" lon="12.28958120"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93481550" lon="12.29001040"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93468320" lon="12.29033230"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93452700" lon="12.29063270"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93438280" lon="12.29095450"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93425050" lon="12.29121200"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93413040" lon="12.29140520"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93401020" lon="12.29168410"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93389000" lon="12.29189870"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93372170" lon="12.29239220"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93385390" lon="12.29258530"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93409430" lon="12.29295010"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93421450" lon="12.29320760"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93433470" lon="12.29333630"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93445490" lon="12.29350800"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93463520" lon="12.29374400"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93479140" lon="12.29410880"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93491160" lon="12.29419460"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93515200" lon="12.29458090"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93545250" lon="12.29494570"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93571690" lon="12.29505300"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93593320" lon="12.29513880"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93617360" lon="12.29522460"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93622170" lon="12.29537480"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93713510" lon="12.29505300"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93776000" lon="12.29378700"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93904600" lon="12.29531040"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94004350" lon="12.29552500"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94023570" lon="12.29561090"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94019970" lon="12.29591130"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94017560" lon="12.29629750"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94017560" lon="12.29670520"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94017560" lon="12.29713430"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94019970" lon="12.29754200"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94024780" lon="12.29816430"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94051210" lon="12.29842180"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94084860" lon="12.29820720"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94105290" lon="12.29799270"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94123320" lon="12.29777810"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94140140" lon="12.29749910"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94142550" lon="12.29726310"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94147350" lon="12.29687690"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94155760" lon="12.29619020"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94161770" lon="12.29576110"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94148550" lon="12.29531040"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94093270" lon="12.29522460"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94041600" lon="12.29518170"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94056020" lon="12.29398010"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94024780" lon="12.29352950"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94001940" lon="12.29335780"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93992330" lon="12.29325050"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93969490" lon="12.29299300"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93952670" lon="12.29277840"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93928630" lon="12.29260680"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93915410" lon="12.29232780"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93928630" lon="12.29202740"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93933440" lon="12.29174850"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93947860" lon="12.29116910"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.93965890" lon="12.29095450"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94001940" lon="12.29061120"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94041600" lon="12.29084730"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94076450" lon="12.29101890"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94080060" lon="12.29065410"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94086060" lon="12.29031080"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94092070" lon="12.28990310"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94099280" lon="12.28975290"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94119710" lon="12.28986020"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94134130" lon="12.28998890"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94147350" lon="12.29007480"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94166580" lon="12.29003190"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94176190" lon="12.28938810"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94183400" lon="12.28893750"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94194220" lon="12.28850840"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94199030" lon="12.28835820"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94215850" lon="12.28859420"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94250700" lon="12.28883020"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94267520" lon="12.28893750"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94284350" lon="12.28902330"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94304770" lon="12.28915210"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94325200" lon="12.28925940"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94348030" lon="12.28953830"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94366060" lon="12.28966710"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94388890" lon="12.28975290"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94399700" lon="12.28994600"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94379280" lon="12.29065410"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94364860" lon="12.29095450"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94350440" lon="12.29127640"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94340820" lon="12.29155540"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94331210" lon="12.29198450"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94315590" lon="12.29269260"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94310780" lon="12.29318610"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94301170" lon="12.29361530"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94292760" lon="12.29408740"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94290350" lon="12.29436630"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94287950" lon="12.29453800"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94283140" lon="12.29533190"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94274730" lon="12.29606150"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94278340" lon="12.29621170"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94280740" lon="12.29649060"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94284350" lon="12.29679100"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94284350" lon="12.29734890"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94308380" lon="12.29837890"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94315590" lon="12.29852910"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94263920" lon="12.29906550"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94237480" lon="12.29910850"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94220660" lon="12.29915140"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94208640" lon="12.29902260"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94196620" lon="12.29887240"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94176190" lon="12.29794970"></wpt>
    <wpt lat="55.94156970" lon="12.29760640"></wpt>
</gpx>

I use GPSies.com to create the base file for the gpx data. A bit of cleanup is required though.

Activate by running the simulator and choosing your file

_{(source: castleandersen.dk)}

Zsolt · Answer 9 · 2014-03-12T09:22:16.533

5

you can add gpx files to your project and use it:
edit scheme > options > allow location simulation > pick the file name that contains for example:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="Xcode"> 
    <wpt lat="41.92296" lon="-87.63892"></wpt>
</gpx>

optionally just hardcode the lat/lon values that are returned by the location manager. This is old style though.

so you won't add it to the simulator, but to your Xcode project.

edited Mar 12 '14 at 09:22

answered Aug 19 '11 at 04:38

Zsolt

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2

How can i use the predefined location. can u please explain in detail ??? I want to know about it. – Shreyash Mahajan Aug 23 '11 at 07:20
click on xcode then product > schemes > Edit scheme > core location – Mumthezir VP Dec 15 '15 at 09:50

score 4 · Answer 10 · answered Oct 16 '14 at 10:17

4

Open iOS Simulator application from Debug Menu -> Location ->

None
Custom Location
Apple Stores ...

answered Oct 16 '14 at 10:17

Atef

2,872
1
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score 3 · Answer 11 · answered Feb 21 '11 at 09:20

The kind folks at FutureTap have made the FTLocationSimulator available for free at GitHub. It allows you to prepare a test route using for instance Google Earth, and then have the simulator feed these coordinates to your app.

I've written a blog post about how to use FTLocationSimulator to easily switch between multiple routes during testing of the location features.

score 3 · Answer 12 · answered Mar 26 '20 at 23:31

3

As of the writing of this, the location option for IOS simulator has been moved to Features -> Location -> Custom Location

answered Mar 26 '20 at 23:31

s-hunter

24,172
16
88
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score 2 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 15 '21 at 14:23

2

In Xcode itself (not the Simulator app), a simulated location can be set via Debug menu > Simulate Location.

That menu option becomes enabled when the app is actively running (either on the Simulator, or on a real device).

(As of XCode 13.0)

answered Oct 15 '21 at 14:23

Jon Schneider

25,758
23
142
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score 2 · Answer 14 · answered Feb 06 '22 at 07:48

As of iOS 15.2 and Xcode 13.2.2, the simulator has a configurable location.

Under the Features menu, the last entry is "Location"; this gives you a sub menu with:

None
Custom Location
City Run
City Bicycle Ride
Freeway Drive
Apple

Custom Location lets you enter a Lat/Long value. Bicycle ride, City Run, and Freeway Drive are simulation of a moving location (in Cupertino, of course).

score 0 · Answer 15 · answered Aug 29 '09 at 14:31

Better late than never :)

I just came across this iSimulate which allows you to send Fake location to the app. The solution is NOT free.

> Q: How does iSimulate work? 

> A: When added to your project, the iSimulate
> SDK library creates a listening server
> on your iPhone Simulator that waits
> for a connection from an iPhone/iPod
> running the iSimulate client. When
> such connection is established, the
> iSimulate client running on your
> iPhone/iPod captures all data from the
> accelerometer sensor, the touch
> events, the location and device ID and
> streams them to the server. The
> iSimulate SDK library then recreates
> all input events synthetically. This
> is entirely transparent to your
> application and does not interfere
> with your application's functionality.

Anyway, i am planning to get this. will update more soon!

I just contacted the developers: "In the Options of iSimulate, accessible from the top-right button in the "Select Computer to Connect to" screen, you can select one of four other locations to use." So, not much help really. — Simon Woodside, Sep 01 '09 at 21:44
https://bitbucket.org/gnucoop/xamarin-ios-simulator-enhancements This helps simulating locations for free — Pierre, Jan 30 '17 at 06:54

score 0 · Answer 16 · answered Nov 07 '09 at 08:19

0

Where you want to set your location? you can use mapkit api to show u location's. see icodeblog.com for more detail on how to use mapkit. Also you can store your desired cordinates just create an object CLLocation2D *location; location.longitude=your desired longitude value; location.latitude=your desired latitude value;

answered Nov 07 '09 at 08:19

Rahul Vyas

28,260
49
182
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This was an old question from when I wasnew to the SDK. I now realize there is no support for automating CoreLocation in the Simulator, which is a shame. – Cliff Nov 08 '09 at 00:42

score 0 · Answer 17 · answered Sep 25 '21 at 06:16

Changing Location of simulator does not affect already built, loaded apps. For example, if you have an app with Google map view running on simulator the map won't be updated till you rebuild the app. Also, keep in mind that when entering custom lat and long you should be careful with longitudes with (-) sign and without. Replacing existing custom longitude of the simulator with new one but keeping (-) sign mistakenly or entering incorrect lat/long will result empty map screen with blue background - probably indicates oceans or poles.

score -1 · Answer 18 · answered Mar 29 '23 at 20:48

-1

Here is a Good place to look into

go to Debug Menu and Simulate Location

https://sarunw.com/posts/how-to-simulate-location-in-xcode-and-simulator/

answered Mar 29 '23 at 20:48

WhiteDeer

1

Set the location in iPhone Simulator

18 Answers18

XCode 11.3 and prior:

XCode 11.4+:

Linked

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