[Solved] Xcode 15: Unable to boot the Simulator – Xcode

The Problem:

Unable to boot the simulator in Xcode 15 despite trying various solutions, including clearing caches, reinstalling Xcode, downgrading to Xcode 14, and upgrading to macOS 14 (Sonoma). iOS 15 works on the simulator, while iOS 16 and iOS 17 don’t. The issue resolved itself spontaneously after some time, suggesting a potential bug fix by Apple.

The Solutions:

Solution 1: Download Missing iOS Versions

1. Launch the Xcode application.
2. Navigate to the menu bar and select "Xcode" > "Settings".
3. Click the "Platforms" tab in the settings dialog.
4. Check if any necessary iOS versions are not downloaded, as in your case, iOS 17.0.
5. If there are missing iOS versions, click the "Download" button to initiate the download process.
6. Once the download is complete, restart your computer to complete the installation process.
7. Launch the Simulator again.

With this updated solution, you’ll ensure that all required iOS versions are downloaded and installed, maximizing the chances of the Simulator launching successfully.

Solution 2: Remove Xcode caches and data

If you’re facing the “Unable to boot the Simulator” issue in Xcode 15, try the following steps to resolve it:

1. Open System Settings on your Mac.
2. In the search bar, type “Storage” and select “Storage & iCloud Usage”.
3. Click on “Manage” next to “Storage”.
4. In the sidebar, scroll down and select “Developer”.
5. You’ll see a list of Xcode caches, project archives, and project build data. Select all of them and click on the “Delete” button.

Once you’ve deleted the caches and data, try booting the Simulator again.

Additional Tips:

• Make sure you have the latest version of Xcode installed.
• If you’re still having issues, try restarting your Mac.
• You can also try creating a new project and see if the Simulator boots successfully.

Solution 3: Delete Corrupted Simulator and Re-create a New One

Steps:

1. Navigate to ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator using Finder or Terminal.

2. Delete all the folders present in the CoreSimulator directory. These folders represent individual simulators.

3. Now, open Xcode and go to Window > Devices and Simulators.

4. In the Devices and Simulators window, click the "+" button at the bottom left corner.

5. In the Choose Device dialog box, select the desired device and iOS version, then click Create.

6. A new simulator will be created and added to the list of available simulators.

7. Select the newly created simulator and run your app or project.

Note: Make sure to thoroughly delete all the old simulator folders in ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator. Any lingering corrupted files can cause issues even after creating a new simulator.

Solution 4: Reset the iPhone Simulator

You can reset the iPhone Simulator by running the following commands in the Terminal:

xcrun simctl shutdown all
xcrun simctl erase all

This will shut down all running Simulators and erase all data and settings on the Simulator devices.

After running these commands, try running your app again using the Simulator. This should resolve the issue.

If you are still having problems, try the following additional steps:

• Quit Xcode and relaunch it.
• Restart your Mac.
• Install the latest Xcode version.

If you are still unable to boot the Simulator, you can contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Solution 5: Check for User Account Login and Potential Xcode Updates

It appears that the inability to boot the Simulator in Xcode 15 was caused by a combination of factors. Here’s a revised solution:

1. User Account Login:

• Ensure that you are logged into your User account within Xcode. If you recently changed your password or updated your developer account, you may need to re-enter your credentials.
• Check the Xcode preferences by going to Xcode > Preferences and selecting the Accounts tab. Verify that your User account is listed and logged in.

2. Xcode Updates:

• Check for any pending Xcode updates by going to App Store > Updates. Install any available updates for Xcode.

3. Reopen Xcode:

• Close Xcode completely and then reopen it. This may resolve any temporary issues that could be causing the Simulator boot failure.

4. Verify Developer Account Status:

• Ensure that your developer account is up to date and active. Check the expiration date and any recent changes related to your account.

5. Apple Updates:

• Keep an eye on Apple’s updates and announcements. Occasionally, Apple may silently release fixes for known issues, which could potentially resolve the Simulator boot problem.

By following these steps, you can attempt to resolve the Simulator boot issue in Xcode 15.

Video Explanation: