Configuring your iOS device in Zoho QEngine
What does this page cover
This page covers how to configure physical iOS devices and simulators for use with Zoho QEngine, including setting up Xcode, the local agent, and meeting Apple's code signing requirements, so they can be used to create and execute test cases during mobile testing.
1. Overview
Zoho QEngine supports iOS testing on both physical devices and simulators. Simulators create virtual devices on the user’s computer, enabling testing without a physical device. This provides a flexible environment for thorough mobile application testing.
Setting up for testing requires having Xcode installed on the test machine to support both simulator and physical device environments. Additionally, Zoho QEngine’s local agent should be in place to manage device connections and enable efficient testing workflows.
For physical device testing, Zoho QEngine adheres to Apple’s strict security requirements, including code signing. Each device must be registered in the certificate signing request and provisioning profile, ensuring that the app is authenticated and can only run on specified devices. Testing with simulators, however, is easily accessible through Xcode, allowing seamless testing without the need for physical devices.
2. Prerequisites
2.1 System requirements
- macOS version
- Xcode can only run on macOS. The required version of macOS depends on the Xcode version:
- Xcode 15 (latest as of publishing) requires macOS 13.0 Ventura or later.
- Older versions of Xcode have different macOS requirements. For example, Xcode 14 requires macOS 12 Monterey or later.
Note: If you're using a non-macOS machine, options to run Xcode include using cloud-based macOS services (such as MacStadium or MacinCloud) or running a macOS virtual machine on supported hardware. Be mindful of Apple's licensing terms when considering options like virtual machines or Hackintosh setups.- Hardware requirements
- Processor: Intel-based Mac or Apple silicon (M1 and newer chips) is supported.
- RAM: A minimum of 8 GB of RAM is recommended, although 16 GB or more is ideal for better performance, especially when running simulators.
- Storage: Xcode is a large application (typically 12–15 GB). Ensure you have at least 30–40 GB of free storage to accommodate Xcode, associated tools, and any project files.
2.2 Download and install Xcode
- You can download and install Xcode from the official Apple website or directly from the App Store.
- Once installed, check for any software updates in your Mac’s System Settings to ensure everything is up to date, especially the command line tools.
Note: If the command line tools aren’t already installed, open Xcode and go to Settings > General. From there, check for updates and ensure the checkbox for command line tools is selected.
2.3. Download and install the agent
Ensure that you’ve downloaded and installed the local agent on your test machine. This agent manages device connections and enables smooth testing workflows for both physical devices and simulators.
3. Connect your physical device with the agent
Step 1: Generate the code signing certificate and provisioning profile
To enable Zoho QEngine to install and run tests on your physical device, you need permissions from Apple, which require a code signing certificate and provisioning profile.
- Log in to your Apple Developer account and generate the necessary code signing certificate and provisioning profile.
- Open the certificate in Keychain Access on your machine. Verify the certificate's validity. If it’s marked as Not Trusted, navigate to Trust > Get Info in Keychain Access and set it to Use System Defaults.
Note: Save the certificate and provisioning profile in the Zoho QEngine dependency folder on your machine. This is a required setup to ensure Zoho QEngine can access these files during test execution.Step 2: Connect your device to your machine and Zoho QEngine agent
To physically connect your device with Zoho QEngine, follow these steps:
- Link your device to the machine where the Zoho QEngine agent is installed, either via cable or by ensuring both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Enable Developer Mode on the device:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode.
- Toggle Developer Mode on. Your device may restart to apply this setting.
Step 3: Enable developer options
- Once Developer Mode is enabled, go to Developer Options on your device.
- Enable UI Automation to allow Zoho QEngine to interact with the device’s UI elements during testing.
Step 4: Configure iOS settings in Zoho QEngine
Next, configure iOS settings in Zoho QEngine to recognize your device with the following steps:
- Navigate to iOS Settings and click + Add Code Sign-In.
- Provide a name for the configuration, enter the Certificate Name and Profile Path, and the location of the saved provisioning profile. Then select the desired device(s) from the dropdown list, which shows available agents and connected devices.
Notes- Ensure the certificate and provisioning profile are saved in the Zoho QEngine dependency folder to streamline configuration.
- A single provisioning profile is mapped to a single agent. Each provisioning profile is associated with a single agent, so make sure to assign the correct one.
Click Create to finalize the configuration.
Note: The format for the provisioning profile should follow the structure "com.zoho". Double-check that both the certificate and provisioning profile are up to date and verified for validity before proceeding.
4. Connect your virtual device with the agent
To use your virtual devices for automated testing, ensure that Xcode is installed on your machine, along with the required simulators.
Step 1: Set up the simulators
Xcode includes default simulator configurations. You can use these or create custom simulators if needed.
Option 1: Set up in Xcode
- Open Xcode and go to Window > Devices and Simulators.
In the Simulators tab, click the + icon to add a new simulator.
- Give the simulator a name and select the desired device type and OS version.
- Click Create to finalize the setup.
![](https://download-accl.zoho.com/webdownload?x-service=writer&event-id=oegvqd5253e9a7f7a405c9abbc48cecf7c005&x-cli-msg={"imgurl":"r-oegvqd5253e9a7f7a405c9abbc48cecf7c005-c3996b1ab0644ffa87c9609f1f5b737bh2iqd1e8syfj","rid":"oegvqd5253e9a7f7a405c9abbc48cecf7c005","module":"image"})
Option 2: Set up in the Simulator application
- Open the Simulator application on your Mac.
- Go to File > New Simulator.
Provide a name, choose the device type, and select the OS version.
Click Create.
Step 2: Connect your simulators with the Zoho QEngine agent
To connect your simulators with Zoho QEngine:
- Open the Simulator application on your Mac. This action automatically connects all available simulators with the Zoho QEngine agent.
5. Related links
6. What's Next
Next step
Previous step
Next step
After configuring your desired devices to link physical devices and simulators to the local agent, you can use these configurations to perform iOS testing with Zoho QEngine. You can create test cases by using the recorder for quick generation or write them easily using Editor or Builder modes.
Previous step
To get started, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with testing on your iOS devices. Refer to the Understand Mobile Testing document to learn more.
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