Use when setting up UI test recording in Xcode 26, enhancing recorded tests for stability, or configuring test plans for multi-configuration replay. Based on WWDC 2025-344 "Record, replay, and review".
Guides Xcode 26's UI test recording workflow for creating stable, multi-configuration tests.
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Guide to Xcode 26's Recording UI Automation feature for creating UI tests through user interaction recording.
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 │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
// 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()
}
Critical: Recorded code is often fragile. Always enhance it for stability.
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"
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()
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")
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()
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 |
element(boundBy: 0))Test plans allow running the same tests across multiple configurations.
{
"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
}
| 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 |
# 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
After tests complete:
In test plan or scheme:
"options": {
"systemAttachmentLifetime": "keepAlways",
"userAttachmentLifetime": "keepAlways"
}
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)
}
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))
}
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)
}
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()
}
app.launchArguments = ["--disable-animations"]
// 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()
// BAD - Coordinates from recording
app.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: 0.5, dy: 0.5)).tap()
// GOOD - Use element queries
app.buttons["centerButton"].tap()
// 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))
WWDC: 2025-344, 2024-10206, 2019-413
Docs: /xcode/testing/recording-ui-tests, /xctest/xcuiapplication
Skills: axiom-xctest-automation, axiom-ui-testing
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