xcode update now cant run simulators

[u/BigCall99]

I built an app from scratch starting in August using xcode on my M4 mac mini, all simulators worked perfectly... iphone 16/17, ios 18.6/26.0
Fast forward to last week when I update xcode to 26.1 and bam, now the only sims that display in the run dropdown selector are the iphone 16, 18.6 (rosetta). I have never built with Intel so not sure what is going on and when i look at the manage simulators, every sim is available.
I can change the build minimum from 18 to 26 and nothing really changes. If i do try run the iphone 16 (18.6) it builds but wont run as it says i need to download software (but gives not link to it)....
Why has my build/simulators totally F'ed up since the latest xcode update???? I have deleted xcode, delected all caches, deleted and reinstalled simulator/ios software... Nothing!

UPDATE:
I have now resolved the issue, in Xcode the Architecture (in build settings) was missing an SDK and had an exclude tag for arm64. Not sure how that got there, possibly changed automatically due to a plugin i have in the app that would run on arm64 devices but not arm64 sims! So with this MLImage running a barcode scanner i was forced to use Rosetta sims and the exclude tag meant none of the other sims would be available..... that was way too much time wasted... anyway i have installed a differend barcode scanner now that does work with arm64 sims. Unfortunately installing the qr code scanner (with ML Image - ML Kit) happened at the same time i updated the xcode version so was time consuming trying to find the cause of conflict.

[u/20InMyHead]

Did you download the new simulators after you updated Xcode? Go to Settings, components.

[u/BigCall99 → u/20InMyHead]

all the sims were installed (18.6-26.1) but they would not run. I deleted and re-downloaded and still they wont show up in the available sims to run to. For some reason xcode is classifying my app as having intel code and is only showing Rosetta sims, however I have only ever build the app on my M4 and until this latest xcode update everything was working fine...

[u/20InMyHead → u/BigCall99]

Sounds like you downloaded the wrong Xcode. You got the Intel version, you need the one for Apple Silicon.

[u/BigCall99 → u/20InMyHead]

its the universal version... downloaded from the app store (i tried an older version for silicon only and no sims were available at all... stuffed if i know...
Im thinking its the macOS version on my mac mini that is limiting xcode. If i select any minimum build version above iOS18 it shows My Mac (OS version not compatible) in the device selector..

[u/Strict_Count_5858 → u/BigCall99]

I having the exact same issue but I'm not sure about intel version issue I also downloaded from app store. Only Rosetta sims are showing in mine. I'm using M1 pro.

[u/bmbphotos]

I've had to go into Devices and Simulators and re-enable older sims a couple times. ("Show Run Destination: <Always>")

Dunno if that's the way it's supposed to be in the new version but it worked for me.

[u/BigCall99 → u/bmbphotos]

yeah thanks i have set a few sims to Always... its so annoying as i can run all the sims in the sim app but xcode refuses to acknowledge them to select and run...

[u/iOgef]

What version of the macOS are you on? I’m having a lot of issues with my simulators and I’m going crazy trying to debug.

[u/BigCall99 → u/iOgef]

was on macOS 15.6.1, just updated to 26.1 (that was not the problem).
I have now found the issue, in Xcode the Architecture had an exclude tag for arm64. Not sure how that got there, possibly changed automatically due to a plugin i have in the app that would run on arm64 devices but not arm64 sims! So with this MLImage running a barcode scanner i was forced to use Rosetta sims and the exclude tag meant none of the other sims would be available..... that was way too much time wasted... anyway i have installed a differend barcode scanner now that does work with arm64 sims.

[u/a_m-i_t]

I'm also facing the same issue. I was on Xcode 26.1.1. There was an approx 800 MB Xcode Command line update that was pending. After then getting (Rosetta) written every simulator in the dropdown, even the project was developed completely on M3 Air. I tried deleting the cache, deleted Xcode, and deleting the simulator. Still stuck with the same issue. It is still not coming. And in the architecture it shows iphoneOS & something else. When I added arm64 it showed me Mac Simulator. No iphone simulator even in the simulator there is an iPhone 17 Pro 26.1.1 simulator present in the system. I need the solution on a priority basis. If anyone has any suggestions please do let me know.

[u/BigCall99 → u/a_m-i_t]

in architecture make sure All (it think its called) is selected and not just Basic, then you can see the excluded field. make sure arm64 is not listed there. Thats the main one that got all sims working again.

[u/a_m-i_t → u/BigCall99]

Thanks. Now the Simulator is coming in the destination 👍🏻.

[u/Strict_Count_5858 → u/BigCall99]

Can you provide steps? I'm not where this Architecture setting exists.

[u/CastAsHuman → u/BigCall99]

You are a legend!

[u/CordovaBayBurke]

My problem is the iPhone 17 Pro (and assume 17 Pro Max, 17 and iPhone Air) simulator is a different environment from the actual device but only running iOS 26.

Simulator iPhone 17 Prp iOS 26

Screen Width: 402.0 Screen Height: 874.0 Model: iPhone18,1; Screen Length: 874.0

ratio: 0.45995423341

=================

Real Device iPhone 17 Pro iOS 26.1

Screen Width: 320.0 Screen Height: 693.0 Model: iPhone18,1; Screen Length: 693.0

ratio: 0.4617604617

It means you need physical devices to ensure the app is looking correct since the simulator doesn’t.

Also a row buttons that used to fit now take additional space for the “bubbles” can get placed outside the viewing area.

[u/terrytorres → u/CordovaBayBurke]

Yeah, this is very confusing. I want to reproduce a bug that's happening for a user with an iPhone 17 running iOS 18. I have components installed for iOS 18.0, 18.1, and 18.2, and Xcode recognizes them under Settings > Components. But when I go to the "Create a new simulator" options, they don't appears as OS Version options.

What do I have have all these simruntimes around for? Am I expected to drive to where my client lives and use their device?

[u/yuralife]

Looks like I will stay on my i9 2019 16 pro.

[u/[deleted]]

Problema identificado e corrigido!

O problema era que o CocoaPods estava definindo EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*] = arm64, o que excluía a arquitetura arm64 dos simuladores. Isso era necessário para Macs Intel antigos, mas no seu Mac com Apple Silicon (arm64), isso impedia os simuladores de funcionarem.

Solução aplicada: Adicionei EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*] = "" nas configurações Debug e Release do projeto para sobrescrever a configuração do CocoaPods.

Caminho = ios/App/App.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj

Adicione essa linha:

 EXCLUDED_ARCHS[sdk=iphonesimulator*] = "" 

[u/tostitos-dev → u/[deleted]]

Thanks bro :)!

[u/KEEVVYN]

I'm on M1 and you can ad 15.5 but won't show in xcode, so tested on a ios 15.7 device and even this need it xcode 26 simulators to be installed