iOS Simulator
automation
A comprehensive CLI tool for automating iOS Simulators using Apple's Accessibility APIs and HID functionality. Single binary, no servers, no external dependencies.
Everything you need for simulator automation
Complete control over iOS Simulators through accessibility APIs and HID input.
Touch & Gestures
Precise tap events, swipe gestures, and low-level touch down/up events. Tap by coordinates, accessibility ID, or label.
Text & Keyboard Input
Comprehensive text typing with automatic shift handling. Individual key presses, key sequences, and key combos like Cmd+A.
Hardware Buttons
Simulate Home, Lock/Power, Side, Siri, and Apple Pay buttons with configurable duration and timing controls.
Screenshots & Streaming
PNG screenshot capture and real-time streaming at 1-30 FPS in multiple formats including MJPEG and raw JPEG.
Video Recording
H.264 MP4 video recording with hardware-friendly encoding. Configurable quality and scale factors.
Accessibility Inspection
Extract full accessibility information from any screen. Query accessibility at specific coordinates for precise automation.
Intuitive CLI commands
Every interaction is a simple command. Tap, swipe, type, capture screenshots, and record video — all from your terminal.
- No server setup or background daemons required
- Built-in gesture presets for common interactions
- Pre/post delay controls for precise timing
- Pipe text input via stdin for flexible scripting
# Tap the email field and enter address tap --label "Email" type "user@example.com" # Tap the password field and enter password tap --label "Password" type "s3cureP@ss" # Submit and capture result tap --label "Sign In" sleep 2 screenshot --output result.png
Batch automation
Execute multi-step interaction workflows in a single invocation. Perfect for login flows, form filling, and complex UI navigation.
- Sequential execution across multi-screen flows
- Built-in sleep delays between steps
- Accessibility caching for faster execution
- Fail-fast or best-effort execution modes
- Configurable text submission strategies
Built for AI agents
Native integration with AI coding assistants for autonomous iOS simulator testing.
One command setup
Run axe init to install AI skill files into ~/.claude/skills and ~/.agents/skills. Your AI assistant instantly learns how to automate simulators.
Autonomous testing
AI agents use AXe to interact with your running app — tapping buttons, filling forms, capturing screenshots, and verifying UI state.
Works with your favorite AI tools
Why AXe?
A lightweight, focused alternative to idb for iOS Simulator UI automation.
Single Binary
No test runner or harness to install in the simulator. Works out of the box with any booted simulator.
No Setup Required
No external frameworks to install, no servers to run. Works out of the box on macOS 14+.
Fast & Lightweight
Purpose-built for UI automation. Minimal overhead, maximum performance for simulator interactions.
Gesture Presets
Built-in presets for scroll, edge swipes, and common gestures. No coordinate math needed.
Batch Execution
Run multi-step workflows in a single invocation. Dramatically reduces latency for complex flows.
Accessibility-First
Built on Apple's Accessibility APIs. Tap elements by label, not just coordinates.
Get started in seconds
Install AXe via Homebrew or build from source.
Install via Homebrew:
brew tap cameroncooke/axe && brew install axeVerify installation:
axe --helpOpen source, community driven
AXe is MIT licensed and welcomes contributions. Help shape the future of iOS Simulator automation.