Push notifications on the iPhone simulator

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Created 1w

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I've been aware for some time that Push notifications work on the iOS simulator now -- I see them pop up while I'm working.

However, it would seem that SILENT push notifications do not work. I came to this conclusion only after several frustrating hours of debugging my app, thinking either the app was broken or the server wasn't sending the notification. Finally I tested it on a device and found that it actually works fine.

Why does such a limitation exist? If I can't depend on the simulator to handle ALL of the notifications, I'd rather it didn't work at all. Having it work part of the time on some notifications is really confusing.

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Answer 1

Engineer OP

Apple

1w

You can depend on the simulator to simulate real life conditions. In this case you have seen the fact that silent notifications will not be delivered every single time.

They are very heavily throttled, and you can expect 1-2 silent notifications to reach your app an hour, if the system considers the conditions appropriate.

Additionally, silent notifications, being low priority, may be held at APNs without being delivered to the device, waiting for another visible push to wake up the connection between the device and APNs. I guess there aren't other apps in your simulator that was receiving visible high priority notifications.

What you have observed is not only a difference between the simulator and a physical device, but something you will see in the filed from device to device, and for the same device from day to another day.

It seems like the simulator has done its job, and while has caused frustration in your office debugging the issue, you are now aware of how silent notifications behave, and will not have to be frustrated debugging this issue in the field when your customers are complaining of some app feature is failing because the silent notifications are not being received.

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