visionOS Simulators

Before you dive in with the Vision Pro Simulator, take a minute to learn what’s new. Since it simulates a 3D space, by default a modern living room, the Simulator’s navigation controls are adapted from common 3D authoring tools. To move around the room in the Simulator and Canvas view in Xcode, use these five basic control modes from the Device menu in the Simulator app.

• Interaction Mode: Interact with the content as if you’re tapping or swiping. Pro Tip: Remember to return to this tool when you want to tap an item. Key command: Cmd Ctrl 1.

• Look Around Mode: Analogous to tilting your head up, down, left, or right. Imagine you’re the camera. Key command: Cmd Ctrl 2.

• Pan Mode: Move vertically and horizontally as if you’re moving your position, like moving to sitting or standing. Key command: Cmd Ctrl 3.

• Orbit Mode: Move around the content as if you’re walking around the room. Your window stays put as you circle or move under or over it. Key: Cmd Ctrl 4.

• Dolly Mode: Move closer or farther from the object. Key command: Cmd Ctrl 5.

In the Canvas, you can turn off the Live view and see just your window and objects. You can also change the virtual scene that your content appears in. Using the Simulator app, you can press the Home icon (or Cmd Shift H) to return to the home view. Your app will fade as the other app icons appear.

Below each Window is a bar you can “grab” to move the Window left, right, closer, or farther. To the left of the bar is a close button ornament that closes or dismisses your app, like going to home or Springboard on your iPhone.

Now that you understand the controls, it’s time to create a new visionOS project with a Window.