Claude Code brings live iOS app testing into its Mac app – 9to5Mac

Claude Code’s Mac app now lets users test iOS apps in an interactive simulator pane, provided they have Xcode with the iOS platform installed. Here are the details.

Feature now available in public beta

Claude users on the Pro, Max, and Team plans can now build, launch, and test iOS apps in an interactive simulator pane within Claude Code Desktop, as spotted by MacRumors.

Claude can see the app as it runs, interact with it, and iterate until finished. Tap through the simulator yourself at any time.

Available in Claude Code on desktop (macOS only, requires Xcode).

— ClaudeDevs (@ClaudeDevs) July 21, 2026

The feature, available in Claude Desktop v1.24012.0 or later, lets users watch Claude run an app, interact with its interface, and iterate on changes while the simulator pane remains open alongside the conversation.

Users can also interact with the app directly in the simulator with taps and swipes, in addition to the usual shortcuts in Apple’s Simulator app.

Anthropic adds that this is a Mac-only feature, “since Apple’s iOS Simulator runs only on macOS.” The company also explains that users need to have Xcode with the iOS platform installed.

Here are Anthropic’s official instructions to run an iOS app in the simulator:

1. Open your iOS project: In Claude Code Desktop, open the Code tab and start a session with your app’s project as the project folder. Any project that builds an app for the iOS Simulator works.
2. Ask Claude to run or test the app: Phrase the task around running or verifying the app. For example: Build the app and run it in the simulator to check the onboarding flow.
3. Watch the app in the simulator pane: When the app launches in a simulator, the iOS Simulator pane opens next to the conversation. The first time Claude uses a device, the desktop app asks you to allow it; see Grant Claude access to a device. Claude installs the app, taps through it, and reads the screen to verify its own changes while you watch.

Anthropic explains that “the simulator pane drives the simulator directly, so it doesn’t need computer use and never takes over your screen or hides your other windows.” From the CLI, however, “Claude reaches the iOS Simulator through computer use instead, which controls the simulator on your screen the same way you would with a mouse.”

Importantly, the feature is available only in local sessions, as cloud and SSH sessions cannot access the simulators on the user’s Mac.

To learn more about the feature, including how sessions manage devices, how to grant Claude access to a device, and more, follow this link.

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