Recording UI Automation (Xcode 26+)
Guide to Xcode 26's Recording UI Automation feature for creating UI tests through user interaction recording.
The Three-Phase Workflow
From WWDC 2025-344:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ UI Automation Workflow │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ 1. RECORD ──────► Interact with app in Simulator │ │ Xcode captures as Swift test code │ │ │ │ 2. REPLAY ──────► Run across devices, languages, configs │ │ Using test plans for multi-config │ │ │ │ 3. REVIEW ──────► Watch video recordings in test report │ │ Analyze failures with screenshots │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Phase 1: Recording Starting a Recording Open your UI test file in Xcode Place cursor inside a test method Debug → Record UI Automation (or use the record button) App launches in Simulator Perform interactions - Xcode generates code Stop recording when done What Gets Recorded Taps on buttons, cells, controls Text input into text fields Swipes and scrolling Gestures (pinch, rotate) Hardware button presses (Home, volume) Generated Code Example // Xcode generates this from your interactions func testLoginFlow() { let app = XCUIApplication() app.launch()
// Recorded: Tap email field, type email
app.textFields["Email"].tap()
app.textFields["Email"].typeText("user@example.com")
// Recorded: Tap password field, type password
app.secureTextFields["Password"].tap()
app.secureTextFields["Password"].typeText("password123")
// Recorded: Tap login button
app.buttons["Login"].tap()
}
Enhancing Recorded Code
Critical: Recorded code is often fragile. Always enhance it for stability.
- Add Accessibility Identifiers
Recorded code uses labels which break with localization:
// RECORDED (fragile - breaks with localization) app.buttons["Login"].tap()
// ENHANCED (stable - uses identifier) app.buttons["loginButton"].tap()
Add identifiers in your app code:
// SwiftUI Button("Login") { ... } .accessibilityIdentifier("loginButton")
// UIKit loginButton.accessibilityIdentifier = "loginButton"
- Add waitForExistence
Recorded code assumes elements exist immediately:
// RECORDED (may fail if app is slow) app.buttons["Login"].tap()
// ENHANCED (waits for element) let loginButton = app.buttons["loginButton"] XCTAssertTrue(loginButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 5)) loginButton.tap()
- Add Assertions
Recorded code just performs actions without verification:
// RECORDED (no verification) app.buttons["Login"].tap()
// ENHANCED (with assertion) app.buttons["loginButton"].tap() let welcomeLabel = app.staticTexts["welcomeLabel"] XCTAssertTrue(welcomeLabel.waitForExistence(timeout: 10), "Welcome screen should appear after login")
- Use Shorter Queries
Recorded code may have overly specific queries:
// RECORDED (too specific) app.tables.cells.element(boundBy: 0).buttons["Action"].tap()
// ENHANCED (simpler) app.buttons["actionButton"].tap()
Query Selection Guidelines
From WWDC 2025-344:
Scenario Problem Solution Localized strings "Login" changes by language Use accessibilityIdentifier Deeply nested views Long query chains break easily Use shortest possible query Dynamic content Cell content changes Use identifier or generic query Multiple matches Query returns many elements Add unique identifier Best Practices Prefer identifiers over labels Use the shortest query that works Avoid index-based queries (element(boundBy: 0)) Add identifiers to dynamic content Phase 2: Replay with Test Plans
Test plans allow running the same tests across multiple configurations.
Creating a Test Plan File → New → File → Test Plan Add test targets Configure configurations Test Plan Structure { "configurations": [ { "name": "iPhone - English", "options": { "targetForVariableExpansion": { "containerPath": "container:MyApp.xcodeproj", "identifier": "MyApp" }, "language": "en", "region": "US" } }, { "name": "iPhone - Spanish", "options": { "language": "es", "region": "ES" } }, { "name": "iPhone - Dark Mode", "options": { "userInterfaceStyle": "dark" } }, { "name": "iPad - Landscape", "options": { "defaultTestExecutionTimeAllowance": 120, "testTimeoutsEnabled": true } } ], "defaultOptions": { "targetForVariableExpansion": { "containerPath": "container:MyApp.xcodeproj", "identifier": "MyApp" } }, "testTargets": [ { "target": { "containerPath": "container:MyApp.xcodeproj", "identifier": "MyAppUITests", "name": "MyAppUITests" } } ], "version": 1 }
Configuration Options Option Purpose language Test localization region Test regional formatting userInterfaceStyle Test dark/light mode targetForVariableExpansion App target for configuration testTimeoutsEnabled Enable timeout enforcement defaultTestExecutionTimeAllowance Timeout in seconds Running with Test Plan
Command line
xcodebuild test \ -scheme "MyApp" \ -testPlan "MyTestPlan" \ -destination "platform=iOS Simulator,name=iPhone 16" \ -resultBundlePath /tmp/results.xcresult
In Xcode
Product → Test Plan → Select your plan
Then Cmd+U to run tests
Phase 3: Review Test Report Features
After tests complete:
View test results in Report Navigator Watch video recordings of each test See screenshots at failure points Analyze timeline of actions Enabling Attachments
In test plan or scheme:
"options": { "systemAttachmentLifetime": "keepAlways", "userAttachmentLifetime": "keepAlways" }
Capturing Custom Screenshots func testCheckout() { // ... actions ...
// Manual screenshot at specific point
let screenshot = app.screenshot()
let attachment = XCTAttachment(screenshot: screenshot)
attachment.name = "Checkout Confirmation"
attachment.lifetime = .keepAlways
add(attachment)
}
Common Patterns Login Flow Template func testLoginWithValidCredentials() throws { let app = XCUIApplication() app.launch()
// Navigate to login
let showLoginButton = app.buttons["showLoginButton"]
XCTAssertTrue(showLoginButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
showLoginButton.tap()
// Enter credentials
let emailField = app.textFields["emailTextField"]
XCTAssertTrue(emailField.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
emailField.tap()
emailField.typeText("test@example.com")
let passwordField = app.secureTextFields["passwordTextField"]
passwordField.tap()
passwordField.typeText("password123")
// Submit
app.buttons["loginButton"].tap()
// Verify success
let welcomeScreen = app.staticTexts["welcomeLabel"]
XCTAssertTrue(welcomeScreen.waitForExistence(timeout: 10))
}
Navigation Flow Template func testNavigateToSettings() throws { let app = XCUIApplication() app.launch()
// Open tab bar item
app.tabBars.buttons["Settings"].tap()
// Verify navigation
let settingsTitle = app.navigationBars["Settings"]
XCTAssertTrue(settingsTitle.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
// Navigate deeper
app.tables.cells["Account"].tap()
XCTAssertTrue(app.navigationBars["Account"].exists)
}
Form Validation Template func testFormValidation() throws { let app = XCUIApplication() app.launch()
// Submit empty form
app.buttons["submitButton"].tap()
// Verify error appears
let errorAlert = app.alerts["Error"]
XCTAssertTrue(errorAlert.waitForExistence(timeout: 5))
XCTAssertTrue(errorAlert.staticTexts["Please fill all fields"].exists)
// Dismiss alert
errorAlert.buttons["OK"].tap()
}
Troubleshooting Recording Doesn't Start Ensure you're in a test method Check simulator is available Verify app builds and runs Try restarting Xcode Recorded Code Doesn't Work Add waitForExistence before interactions Check accessibility identifiers are set Simplify queries to shortest form Run app manually to verify flow works Tests Pass Locally, Fail in CI Increase timeouts for slower CI machines Add explicit waits for animations Check simulator configuration matches Disable animations in test setup: app.launchArguments = ["--disable-animations"]
Anti-Patterns Don't Use Raw Recorded Code in CI // BAD - Raw recorded code app.buttons["Login"].tap() app.textFields["Email"].typeText("user@example.com")
// GOOD - Enhanced for CI let loginButton = app.buttons["loginButton"] XCTAssertTrue(loginButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 10)) loginButton.tap()
Don't Hardcode Coordinates // BAD - Coordinates from recording app.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: 0.5, dy: 0.5)).tap()
// GOOD - Use element queries app.buttons["centerButton"].tap()
Don't Skip Assertions // BAD - Actions only app.buttons["Login"].tap() sleep(2) // Hope it works
// GOOD - Verify outcomes app.buttons["loginButton"].tap() XCTAssertTrue(app.staticTexts["Welcome"].waitForExistence(timeout: 10))
Resources
WWDC: 2025-344, 2024-10206, 2019-413
Docs: /xcode/testing/recording-ui-tests, /xctest/xcuiapplication
Skills: axiom-xctest-automation, axiom-ui-testing