Importing files to Files.app in iOS 26 Simulator

In previous versions of the simulator, it was possible to import files into the Files app by dragging them from the Finder into the Simulator. It appears that in the iOS 26 Simulator, this opens the file in Safari.

I've only tried it with .json files so far.

The documentation at https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/sharing-data-with-simulator says that the original behaviour should happen:

To add files to Simulator, select one or more files in Finder on your Mac, then click the Share button. Select Simulator from the share destination list. Choose the simulated device from the drop-down list. Simulator opens the Files app, and lets you select where to save the files.

I'd love to learn if this is intentional behaviour, and if so, what workarounds there might be. I use this pattern quite a lot, as I have a HealthKit app, and I've built a system that allows me to export workouts as JSON files from a real device, that I can then import into a simulator for testing.

Edit: I found a workaround. Make a folder in Files.app, then search for it within ~/Library/Developer/CoreSimulator/Devices. Open the folder in Finder, then add any files you want to be available in the Simulator.

I'm glad to hear you found a workaround. Since this is documented behavior where you're seeing different results with iOS 26, it'd be great to file a bug report, and include the detail you did here (including the documentation link). A sysdiagnose from the simulator would also be great to see, which you can get by running xcrun simctl diagnose. Once you have the report filed, please post the FB number here.

— Ed Ford,  DTS Engineer

Well, I have this problem on Xcode 16 on a Macbook Pro running Sequoia and have just submitted feedback number: FB19888064 . I have never been able to import files to any IPadOS simulator using the share or drag and drop mechanisms.

I'm grateful to Shaundon for their workaround.

I'm getting this issue too. Your edit was very helpful for me. Actually, the file app is in "./data/Containers/Shared/AppGroup/(File App?)/File Provider Storage/". Just make some uniq folder on File app, and search with find . -type d -name "(folder name you created)". Add some file in this directory will adds that file in the simulator too.

Hi,

Still no fix for this issue ?

BTW great thank you to shaundon for the workaround but Apple please fix the underlying problem!

Please fix this! The files go to Safari and although you can "Download" the file, it's nowhere to be found.

I'm dismayed that my feedback number FB19888064, from August 25 is still open, still applies despite releases of Xcode 26.2, IOS 26 and MacOS 26, and that the feedback also states that there are no similar reports. Could anyone else here please report this as a bug and please quote my feedback number?

I created FB9832605 in January 2022 titled "Dragging folder onto Simulator causes permission error", but after answering some initial questions it never went forward. Though it displays "Recent Similar Reports: Less than 10".

Importing files to Files.app in iOS 26 Simulator
 
 
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