Device Hub sucks

Question

Created 7h

Replies 3

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Participants 2

Or maybe I suck? Is there really no way with the new Xcode to take a simple screenshot from the device you're testing?You have to connect this Device Hub? An entirely separate app. And not only that, then you have to pair it, which maintains a live connection to the phone?

Fine. Okay then. But now I can no longer test the microphone functions of my app because that shared session is interfering with it. Oh, well, I'll just disconnect the session then, right? Nope. The button to disconnect the session doesn't work. Device Hub thinks it's disconnected, but my phone still shows the blue sharing session icon in the upper left hand corner. The only way to stop that is to unpair the phone completely.

So then every time I want to take a screenshot, I've got to do this pairing crap? I think I'll be running a second copy of Xcode 26 for quite a while just to use the screenshot button.

Answer 1

Developer Tools Engineer OP

Apple

4h

Hi, I'm sorry you are having trouble with Device Hub, and hopefully I can help you out here.

First of all, pairing is not a new requirement with iOS 27 or Xcode 27, and does not in itself persist a connection. You needed to pair your devices for development in all prior versions of Xcode as well.

Next, if you don't want an interactive session with your physical device, that's fine too. You don't need one to take a screenshot. Just select the device and take the screenshot from the menu. It sounds like you still see the screen sharing indicator upon disconnect, which should disappear within a few seconds after the session finishes tearing down. If you don't see it disappear within a minute, please file a feedback report with sysdiagnoses collected from both the device and host.

You can also use the devicectl command line tool to take screenshots (and a whole lott more).

Can you elaborate on how Device Hub is interfering with the microphone functions of your app? I don't see how it could be as it does not do anything with mic input.

Answer 2

bsabiston OP

4h

Thank you for the reply. Can you elaborate on what you mean by "Just select the device and take the screenshot from the menu. " What menu are you referring to?

regarding the right-click "Stop Screen Sharing" - In Device Hub, the UI goes back to just showing a button that says "View Screen", indicating that there is no screen sharing session active. but my phone continues showing the purple screen sharing indicator.It does not go away. I can quit Device Hub to make it go away.

As far as the microphone, I don't know what to tell you.My app is a custom audio transcription app.And when I try to transcribe with that sharing session active, It doesn't work.I suspect it has something to do with also trying to simultaneously run in the on-screen simulator thing.

Answer 3

Developer Tools Engineer OP

Apple

3h

Ah, thanks for that response. That clears things up.

While an interactive session is active, mic and camera input is disabled for privacy reasons. I believe that is what you are running into.

The "Stop Screen Sharing" button and quitting Device Hub should do the exact same thing as far as the device is concerned. Both will disconnect the active screen sharing session. The device will not tear it down immediately. You will see the session indicator for a little while longer before the device tears down capture.

You should see a "Screenshot" menu item (shift-cmd-s) right below device rotation and various menu items for device input events.