Xcode simulator & preview not loading

Question

Created Nov ’24

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Hello, I recently decided to start learning how to code for iOS. I don't have much coding experience but I still wanted to explore it for fun at least.

I downloaded Xcode on my Macbook, and opened a new iOS file after downloading iOS 18.1 so I could run the simulator/get a preview of my code.

Even though I only had the basic "Hello World!" that is auto-generated in my code, the preview would never show and sat at a loading screen for multiple hours, saying "Preparing (Automatic) iPhone Simulator" at the top.

There is probably a simple solution that I'm missing. I would appreciate any tips! Thanks.

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Answer 1

Developer Tools Engineer OP

Apple

Nov ’24

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are having problems getting previews working. There are some known issues with current xcode's and simulators, but if you want us to be sure you are hitting one of these then the best next step will be to file a feedback with diagnostics so we can take a look.

We will need the diagnostics Xcode Previews generates in order to make sure we understand the error the previews system is encountering.

If you are having issues with Xcode, macOS, catalyst or on-device iOS previews then download and install the logging profile for your device. Instructions and profiles are available here: https://developer.apple.com/bug-reporting/profiles-and-logs/?name=swift Attach the sysdiagnose to the radar as well as the diagnostics using the instructions below.

Then when you reproduce the problem in Xcode:

Either (a) an error banner will appear, click the "Diagnostics" button in that banner; or (b) if you're not seeing an error but you still want to provide diagnostics you can get the same diagnostics window by going under the Editor menu in the menu bar, then selecting the Canvas submenu, then selecting "Diagnostics".
In the sheet that appears, click "Generate Report" in the bottom left of the sheet
Attach (or make from the folder) the resulting zip file to the bug (will be named something like previews-diagnostics-0123456789.zip)
Generate the sysdiagnose(s) and attach those too

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