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.

Importing files to Files.app in iOS 26 Simulator
 
 
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