Where do iOS simulator screenshots go?

Question

I have taken some screenshots using the iOS simulator. Where can I access these screenshots on the file system of my local machine?

The screenshots are not ending up on my desktop as other responses to similar questions have indicated.

Answer 1

Usually, the simulator will generate a thumbnail beside it, you can drop it where you want, if you do nothing, the thumbnail will save to desktop automatically.

Here is a link that may help you Take screenshots in the iOS simulator

Answer 2

The default screenshot save location is determined by checking these settings in this order. As soon as we find a directory that exists we stop looking.

1. Simulator-specific location. Set with defaults write com.apple.iphonesimulator ScreenShotSaveLocation <path_to_directory>
2. The macOS default screenshot location. Set with defaults write com.apple.screencapture location <path_to_directory>
3. The configured Desktop directory for the user, found with URLForDirectory:inDomain
4. If nothing else works, try $HOME/Desktop

If you ever set that user default for Simulator or if you configured macOS screen capture to save to a different location that would explain it.

You can always force Simulator to use a folder on your desktop with: mkdir ~/Desktop/Screenshots && defaults write com.apple.iphonesimulator ScreenShotSaveLocation ~/Desktop/Screenshots

Answer 3

There are two ways to take a screenshot on Xcode Simulator.

• Through the Simulator's menu bar at the top of the screen: Device > Trigger Screenshot. This will take a screenshot as if it were a real device, saving it to the Photos app. This is of no use to you, apparently.

• At the top of the Simulator window itself by pressing the Save Screen icon. This will take a "computer-generated" screenshot, allowing you to drag it to a destination right after taking it, such as your computer's Desktop.