I have Xcode version 8.2.1 and to update Simulator you go to: XCode - Preferences - Components. The Simulators segment filter will be selected by default. Double-click the particular version you would like to install. It still has the checkbox as well to: Check for and install simulator. It lets you embed simulator apps into HTML code using iframes, which is useful for marketing your app or displaying demo presentations. Appetize.io is compatible with many generations of iPhone from the iPhone 4S all the way up to the iPhone 11 Pro Max, along with some iPad models. The free trial allows for one concurrent user and 100 minutes.
Emulators make it easy to run and test iOS apps on Windows PC or Mac. These are especially useful for developers who want to know how a specific app will appear and function on the iPhone and iPad. Emulator software works by replicating Apple’s design, interface, and some limited functionality. If that sounds interesting, try these best iOS emulators for PC.
1. iPadian
iPadian is more of a simulator than an emulator. That is, it does not create a local version of iOS on your device but gives you a taste of using it. You cannot access the iOS app store, but you can use the apps that have been specially designed for iPadian. These include the likes of Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Tiktok, Whatsapp, Crossy road, and more.
This software imitates the design and appearance of iOS but not the features and system actions. The interface is clean and clutter-free while also not consuming a large amount of power. So it’s perfect and the most popular option for all those who simply want to get a feel of iOS on their Windows or Mac computers.
Platform: Windows and Mac
Pricing: $25.00
2. Smartface
This is one of the best iOS emulators for PC because it provides an incredibly user-friendly experience. It is widely utilized by developers to test the iOS apps that they are creating. This requires an Apple device with the Smartface app to be connected to a Windows system that has iTunes installed.
Once that setup is in place, you can initiate emulation with a couple of clicks and experience a cross-platform programming experience. Further, it is frequently updated to keep up with changes in operating systems. In case you don’t have an Apple device and just want to run some iOS apps, Smartface lets you do so in a browser.
Platform: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Pricing: Free
3. Appetize
Although one can only use this for 100 minutes a month for free, it is an emulator that very closely resembles what an actual iPhone would run like. This is due to features that help users easily develop, test, and update iOS and Android apps. Moreover, it also offers iCloud access, which is an additional benefit.
You can upload your app to its website or through an API. Download oracle database 10g for mac os. And within mere seconds, your app runs within any major web browser on your PC. The interface is easy to use, and there is a demo available on the website. This is best suited for both independent developers as well as large scale enterprises. There is flexible pricing according to your needs.
Platform: Windows (works in any browser)
Pricing: $40 per month for the basic plan
4. Xamarin
This is a plugin that you can use in Microsoft Visual Studio to develop iOS apps. It’s quite an advanced iOS emulator that is pretty complicated to configure on PC. But once you do the hard work, you have a powerful tool to code iOS apps from Visual Studio IDE on your Windows computer.
The minimum requirements include a PC with the latest version of Visual Studio and a network-connected Mac that has Xamarin.iOS and the Apple build tools installed. It is powerful enough to support enterprise applications.
Platform: Windows
Pricing: $99/Month
5. Xcode
Xcode is Apple’s own Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which helps developers create and review the performance of apps. Moreover, they can check the compatibility of their apps on several different iPhone models.
Unlike other emulators, Xcode is made for macOS only; hence, you cannot use it on Windows systems. For iOS developers, they can take full advantage of SwiftUI, which has a declarative Swift syntax.
In a single click, you can bring your iPad app to Mac. Xcode 11 has support for Swift packages; therefore, you can share code among all of your apps or use packages created by the community.
Platform: Mac
Pricing: Free
6. Adobe Air
This iPhone emulator can replicate the graphical user interface of iOS. Before any developer goes for the final release of their apps, they can use AIR to upload the app. Here, they can check how the app will look like.
However, it should be noted that hardware replication limits do not give an entirely accurate comparison of an app’s behavior. What you see within this emulator may not be precisely what renders or occurs on an actual iOS device. Nonetheless, it’s suitable to get a feel of what your iOS app will look like.
Platform: Windows and Mac
Pricing: Free
7. Electric Mobile Studio
Electric Mobile Studio allows full-fledged emulation of iPhone and iPad apps. You can test out responsive apps, and Windows users can integrate this tool with Visual Studio for convenience.
Further, you can add hot-key navigation for your favorite shortcuts. There are also integrated WebKit and Chrome debugging tools to take advantage of. Once you buy this product, you can use it on two machines to work seamlessly between them.
Platform: Windows
Pricing plans: $39.99 (Free 7-Day Trial)
8. TestFlight
This iPhone emulator is Apple’s officially recommended method for testing iOS apps. It comes with extensive documentation that makes it easier to use. It supports apps for iOS, iMessage, watchOS, and tvOS.
Further, there is an option for external beta testing of your app before a final review that helps get a better picture of any issues faced by users. However, the setup is quite technical, and you will need to have an Apple Developer account to use it.
Platform: Mac
Pricing: Free
Summing Up
So, which of these iPhone emulators have you tried out on your Windows or Mac computer? Share your experience with us in the comments below. You can also check out our guide to run Android apps on your Mac.
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I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman’s Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/Using 'Rebuild' Feature of Database Utility in Mac Entourage
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by Jenefey AaronUpdated on 2020-10-23 / Update for iPhone Tips
If you are someone who wants to get the feel of iOS on your device, this is where the ios emulator for PC comes in. The emulators are not something new they have existed for a long time, most users actually use them for gaming but the actual purpose of the app is much bigger than that. For Windows PC, these emulators can help you run iOS apps on your PC. There are emulators that can help run iOS apps on Mac. These can be used to play games on a bigger screen. There are also several other reasons to use an emulator such as it would save you from using two different devices with different OS. Most developers like to use emulators for app testing and also because it is very cost effective. A few outstanding PC, as well as Mac compatible emulators, are mentioned below.
1. Smartface
This is one of the best emulators to use if you just want to launch iOS apps on your Windows PC. Actually, the app was designed for professional use, as the developers use it to develop new apps and test those apps to see whether they are operational or not.
Smartface is one of the best feature packed iOS emulators in the market. Although the app is a bit expensive, that is mostly because it attracts more professional users. The prices start at $99. There is also a free version available on the Internet and you can use it to test some iOS apps on your PC.
Advantages:
- User-friendly
- Good for both professional and amateur use.
Disadvantages:
- A bit pricy
- Supports only Windows
2. App.io
One of our favorite iOS emulators on the market is App.io. The app is free and it is very easy to use. The interface is so simple that it can be used by almost anyone. The App.io is available on both platforms; you can use it as iOS emulator for Mac and for Windows.
When you look at App.io you will see that the developers mainly focused on the simplicity of the emulator. The users will only have to synchronize with the APK and then they can use the emulator. And once you finish the complete setup, you can test apps, play iOS games and practically do whatever you want with the emulator.
Advantages:
- Free to use
- Can be used by everyone for testing apps as well as for playing games etc.
- Compatible with almost every browser Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla
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Disadvantages:
- There are reports of slow uploading times.
3. iPadian
Another very useful iOS emulator is iPadian. If you are looking for something simple and easy to use for screen mirroring iPhone to Windows PC, then you do not have to look far, iPadian will be an excellent choice for you. iPadian is a very flexible app and that is why even the professional users are so attracted to this. The installation is easy and the interface is very simple and user-friendly, it won't cause any trouble and there are no reports of any issues as well.
Advantages:
- Compatible with Windows, Mac and even Linux
- Great user-experience
- Don't expect it to run all apps.
4. Appetize.io
Don't get a wrong idea because of the name of this app, Appetize.io is a very effective emulator to successfully launch and use iOS applications on Windows PC as well as on Mac. You can download and use the emulator for free but only for first the 100 hours. This app also lets the users develop their own cross-platform applications but you have to be connected with Cloud.
This is an excellent emulator and users have found it simple and efficient. Also after your first 100 hours are over you have to pay $0.05 for each hour you use the app.
Advantages:
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- Supports cross-platform applications.
Disadvantages:
- Not completely free
5. AIR iPhone
If you are familiar with Adobe AIR framework then you would know that this app is also very impressive. AIR iPhone app is based on the same framework as Adobe AIR and it is mainly for Windows users.
You will find the installation and use of this emulator fairly easy. You have to download and install this particular emulator along with AIR framework. Once all the installations are complete you can use AIR iPhone without any problem.
Advantages:
- Great for recreating the original iPhone user-interface
- Good user- interface experience
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows
- A bit tough to setup.
6. iPhone Simulator
Another inclusion to the iOS simulator for Windows is the iPhone Simulator. Previously there was an iPad Simulator but currently, it is not available on the market. The iPhone Simulator was mainly designed for games as it does not have any new features.
The iPhone Simulator is hassle-free and overall easy to use. It is very mainly useful for advanced to intermediate users.
Advantages:
- Very useful for advanced as well as intermediate users.
- Drag and drop applications easily
- Good graphics
- Free of cost
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows PC
7. Xamarin TestFlight
Xamarin TestFlight is an iOS emulator that lets you run iOS apps on Windows PC and also lets you airplay iPhone to Mac as well. And it runs on both really well! For the moment the app is owned by Apple, so, it is very reliable. Unfortunately, it is not a free app and the installation is also a bit complicated but the performance is great. Still, the app mainly attracts the developers who want to test cross-platform apps and various websites.
Advantages:
- Available for both Windows And Mac
- Excellent for developers and professional use.
- Apple certified
- Easy to setup and use
Disadvantages:
There are some reports on limited support.
8. Electric Mobile Studio
The next emulator in our list is a professional grade iOS emulator, Electro Mobile Studio. It has been mainly used by professional users. This app offers various options to iPhone and iPad web-development.
You have to pay $40 for the app but the trial is free, it may seem a bit expensive but it is an exceptional long-term investment. Works for Windows only.
Advantages:
- Very usable
- Good for professional use
Disadvantages:
- Very costly
9. Ripple
A lot of people prefer Ripple. It is a great iOS emulator for Windows and has some good reviews from users as well. Most emulators are only developed for intermediate use but Ripple goes beyond that and provide the users with a lot of valuable options. You can test various old and new apps through this emulator; it is also a Chrome extension.
Advantages:
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- Good for amateur users, intermediate users as well as for professional users
- Chrome extension available
Disadvantages:
- Only for Windows and compatible only with Google Chrome
10. iMAME
iMAME is another iOS emulator that lets the user play iOS games on Windows computer. Most people like to play the iOS exclusive games, and for them, iMAME is a viable option. Basically, it is an amazing emulator and will let you play any game you want.
Advantages:
- Supports any games from iOS 9 and iOS 10
- Good graphics
Disadvantages:
- Not the best in the industry when it comes to compatibility and overall user experience.
Conclusion
Emulators are quickly becoming a part of our daily life, mainly because the price of a new device is much greater than the price of emulators. The developers also prefer them as they need to test the apps before they launch them. So, if you are looking for the best iPhone emulator for PC, then you need to go through the above list and choose one. All of them are potent and offers great value. Choose the one that suits your requirements the best.
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If you want to manage all your iPhone data and improve the overall experience of using an iDevice, we highly recommend you to go for the Tenorshare iCareFone app. Available for both Windows and Mac, it is a professional data transfer tool that can transfer, backup and even restore your data safely and securely. Before you upgrade to iOS 14, we highly recommend you to backup iPhone beforehand. And if you get a new iPhone 12/12 Pro (Max), this iOS transfer tool can help to transfer data from computer to new iPhone effortlessly.