Recording UI Automation

Guide to Xcode 26's Recording UI Automation feature, which lets you create UI tests by interacting with your app in the Simulator. Based on WWDC 2025-344.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Setting up UI test recording in Xcode 26
• Enhancing recorded test code for stability and CI
• Configuring test plans for multi-configuration replay
• Reviewing test results with video recordings and screenshots
• Converting fragile recorded queries into stable ones

Example Prompts

• "How do I record a UI test in Xcode 26?"
• "My recorded test breaks when I change languages."
• "How do I run the same UI test in English and Spanish?"
• "How do I review UI test failures with video?"
• "The recorded code is too fragile for CI."

What This Skill Provides

Three-Phase Workflow

1. Record -- Interact with your app in the Simulator while Xcode generates Swift test code for taps, text input, swipes, gestures, and hardware button presses.

2. Replay -- Run the same tests across devices, languages, and configurations using test plans. Supports light/dark mode, multiple locales, and timeout enforcement.

3. Review -- Watch video recordings of each test in the test report, see screenshots at failure points, and analyze the action timeline.

Enhancing Recorded Code

Recorded code is a starting point, not production-ready. The skill covers four essential enhancements:

• Replace localized labels with accessibilityIdentifier (survives localization)
• Add waitForExistence before interactions (prevents race conditions)
• Add assertions to verify outcomes (catches silent failures)
• Simplify overly specific queries (reduces brittleness)

Test Plan Configuration

How to create test plans that run the same test suite across multiple configurations -- language, region, dark/light mode, and device type -- with a single xcodebuild test invocation.

Common Templates

Ready-to-use patterns for login flows, navigation flows, and form validation that incorporate all stability enhancements.

Related

• xctest-automation -- Comprehensive XCUITest patterns for element queries, waiting strategies, and CI/CD integration
• swift-testing -- Swift Testing framework for unit tests (use XCUITest for UI tests)

Resources

WWDC: 2025-344, 2024-10206, 2019-413

Docs: /xcode/testing/recording-ui-tests, /xctest/xcuiapplication