argent-ios-simulator-setup: a skill that finds and boots an iOS simulator

argent-ios-simulator-setup makes your agent find a booted iOS simulator, or boot one, and get its UDID before it interacts with the app.

Installs: 28K; on skills.sh
Stars: 3.1K; on GitHub
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

The skill is two steps. The agent calls the Argent list-devices tool, keeps entries with platform ios, skips physical iPhones, and picks a booted simulator. If none is booted it calls boot-device with the chosen UDID.

It triggers when you start a session, boot an iOS simulator, need an iOS UDID, or before any simulator interaction. SKILL.md says the interaction tools such as gesture-tap and gesture-swipe start the server by themselves. It is a short file of 858 bytes and bundles no scripts.

Good for

iOS and React Native developers who let an agent drive the simulator
Anyone using the Argent tools who needs a simulator ready first

Install argent-ios-simulator-setup

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the argent-ios-simulator-setup skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx @swmansion/argent@latest init

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

This runs the Argent installer. It sets up the Argent tools (an MCP server) that these skills call, plus the Argent skills, in the editors you pick. Skills copied on their own with the skills CLI have no tools to call. The installer offers to add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list. The default Automatic skills option installs all Argent skills, not only this one. Telemetry is on by default and argent telemetry disable turns it off.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Set up and connect to an iOS simulator using argent MCP tools. Use when starting a new session, booting an iOS simulator, getting an iOS UDID, or before any iOS simulator interaction task.

Sections in SKILL.md

1. Setup Steps
2. Notes

Key facts

Author: Software Mansion (Argent)
Repo: software-mansion/argent, path packages/skills/skills/argent-ios-simulator-setup
Installs on skills.sh: 28,023 (as of Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 3,138 (shared repo, Nov 2, 2026)
License: Apache-2.0 for source code; some bundled binaries are proprietary
Last repo commit: Oct 31, 2026
Files: 1 file: SKILL.md (no bundled scripts)
Needs: The Argent tools (MCP server), set up by the installer in the box above

What it includes

Finds booted iOS simulators
Keeps platform ios, skips entries with kind device (a physical iPhone), and lists booted simulators first.
Read · list-devices
Boots a simulator by UDID
Used only when no simulator is booted.
Runs code · boot-device
Interaction tools start the server themselves
gesture-tap, gesture-swipe and gesture-custom start the server if it is not running.
Verify connection
Give sub-agents MCP permissions
If you delegate simulator tasks to sub-agents, they need permission to use the Argent tools.
Sub-agent note

From the official docs

Permissions

Low risk

It boots an iOS simulator and calls Argent device tools on your machine. It does not use an account or API key.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Installer can auto-approve Argent tools
`argent init` asks whether to add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list and its prompt defaults to yes. Say no if you want a confirmation on every tool call. github.com
It boots a simulator through the Argent tools
The skill calls boot-device when no simulator is booted. Delegated sub-agents also need MCP permission, which gives them the same device control. github.com
Argent telemetry is on by default
The README says telemetry is opt-out. Run `argent telemetry disable` to turn it off; the privacy notice says it collects no source code, file paths or tool inputs, and records a hashed installation identifier derived from a device identifier, never the raw one. github.com

Technical details

Talks to	Argent telemetry (on by default)
Sign-in and keys	The skill text does not use an account or API key.

Questions

What does argent-ios-simulator-setup do?

It makes your agent look for a booted iOS simulator, boot one if none is running, and note its UDID. Other Argent skills and tools then use that UDID.

How do I install it in Claude Code?

Use the install box above. It runs the Argent installer, which sets up the Argent tools and skills together. The skill alone has no tools to call.

Will it touch my real iPhone?

SKILL.md tells the agent to skip entries with kind device, because a physical iPhone is never a simulator target.

Is it safe to run?

It boots a simulator and calls Argent device tools on your machine, and the file bundles no scripts. The installer can add Argent tools to your editor's auto-approve list, which you can decline.

Is there an Android version?

Yes, argent-android-emulator-setup does the same job for Android emulators and also covers adb setup for Metro.

What does a UDID look like?

SKILL.md gives the shape A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: software-mansion/argent
Folder: packages/skills/skills/argent-ios-simulator-setup

software-mansion/argent skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 5

SKILL.md · github.com
Argent README · github.com
Argent installer: editor adapters · github.com
Argent installer: auto-approve step · github.com
init-skills.ts · github.com