<!-- source: https://docs.codemagic.io/yaml-code-signing/ios-simulator-builds/ -->
<!-- last modified: 2024-11-25 -->

# iOS simulator builds

> How to build an iOS app without code signing to use in simulator

To test your app on simulators, Apple requires you to create an unsigned iOS app (with the `.app` extension).

## Building an unsigned native iOS app (.app)

For building an unsigned iOS app, please follow the steps outlined in the [Native iOS guide](/yaml-quick-start/building-a-native-ios-app), stopping short of the code signing step.

Adjust your build script to use this commands instead:


```yaml

  scripts:
    - name: Build the .app
      script: | 
        # build using workspace
        xcodebuild build \
          -workspace "MyXcodeWorkspace.xcworkspace" \
          -scheme "MyScheme" \
          -sdk iphonesimulator \
          -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15 Pro,OS=18.0' \
          -configuration Debug \
          CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY="" \
          CODE_SIGNING_REQUIRED=NO \
          CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO
        #
        # build using project
        # xcodebuild build \
        #    -project ""MyXcodeProject.xcodeproj" \
        #    -scheme "MyScheme" \
        #    -sdk iphonesimulator \
        #    -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15 Pro,OS=18.0' \
        #    -configuration Debug \
        #    CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY="" \
        #    CODE_SIGNING_REQUIRED=NO \
        #    CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO

```


Your artifact will be generated at the default Xcode path. You can access them by adding the following pattern in the `artifacts` section of `codemagic.yaml`:


```yaml

  artifacts:
    - $HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/**/Build/**/*.app

```


If you have Xcode Debugging Symbols enabled, the dSYM file will be generated in the same directory as the app and can be accessed with the following artifact pattern:


```yaml

  artifacts:
    - $HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/**/Build/**/*.dSYM

```


## Building an unsigned Maui .NET7 iOS app (.app)
Adjust your build script to use these commands:


```yaml

scripts:
  - name: Build the app for iOS Simulator
    script: |
      cd MauiNet7
      $DOTNET dotnet build -f net7.0-ios -c Debug  -o ../artifacts

```


Your artifact will be generated at the default artifacts path. You can access it by adding the following pattern in the `artifacts` section of `codemagic.yaml`:


```yaml

  artifacts:
    - ./artifacts/*.app

```


## Native iOS example
The following `codemagic.yaml` file shows a sample workflow that builds a `.zip` archive containing the `.app` file inside.


```yaml

workflows:
  simulator-native-ios:
    name: iOS simulator build
    max_build_duration: 120
    instance_type: mac_mini_m2
    environment:
      vars:
        XCODE_WORKSPACE: "your_workspace_name.xcworkspace"
        XCODE_SCHEME: "your_workspace_name"
      xcode: 13.0
      cocoapods: default
    scripts:
      - name: Install CocoaPods dependencies
        script: | 
          pod install
      - name: Build the .app
        script: | 
          xcodebuild build \
            -workspace "$XCODE_WORKSPACE" \
            -scheme "$XCODE_SCHEME" \
            -sdk iphonesimulator \
            -destination 'platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 15 Pro,OS=18.0' \
            -configuration Debug \
            CODE_SIGN_IDENTITY="" \
            CODE_SIGNING_REQUIRED=NO \
            CODE_SIGNING_ALLOWED=NO 
    artifacts:
      - /tmp/xcodebuild_logs/*.log
      - $HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/**/Build/**/*.app
      - $HOME/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/**/Build/**/*.dSYM

```


## Maui .NET7 example
The following `codemagic.yaml` file shows a sample workflow that builds a `.zip` archive containing the `.app` file inside.
You can find a complete project showcasing these steps in our [Sample projects repository](https://github.com/codemagic-ci-cd/codemagic-sample-projects/tree/main/dotnet-maui/dotnet7-maui-unsigned-ios-app).


```yaml

workflows:
  maui-ios-simulator-build:
    name: Dotnet MAUI iOS Simulator
    max_build_duration: 120
    instance_type: mac_mini_m2
    environment:
      xcode: latest
      vars:
        DOTNET_PATH: $CM_BUILD_DIR/dotnet
        DOTNET: $CM_BUILD_DIR/dotnet/dotnet
    scripts:
      - name: Install .NET SDK
        script: | 
          wget https://dot.net/v1/dotnet-install.sh
          chmod +x dotnet-install.sh
          ./dotnet-install.sh --channel 7.0 --install-dir $DOTNET_PATH
      - name: Add nuget source
        script: |
          $DOTNET nuget add source https://www.myget.org/F/caliburn-micro-builds/api/v3/index.json --name CaliburnNuGet.org
      - name: Install MAUI
        script: |
          $DOTNET_BIN nuget locals all --clear
          $DOTNET workload restore
          $DOTNET workload install maui-android maui-ios \
          --source https://aka.ms/dotnet7/nuget/index.json \
          --source https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json
      - name: Build the app for iOS Simulator
        script: |
          cd MauiNet7
          $DOTNET dotnet build -f net7.0-ios -c Debug  -o ../artifacts
    artifacts:
    - ./artifacts/*.app

```