# How to run/test iOS-AUv3 plugin (simulator vs. device)

**URL:** <https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697>\
**Category:** iOS\
**Created:** [30 August 2022 11:40 UTC](https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697 "2022-08-30T11:40:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@kurt](https://iplug2.discourse.group/u/kurt)\
**Post date:** [30 August 2022 11:40 UTC](https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697/1 "2022-08-30T11:40:20Z")

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Hi all! I’m new here, and going to be getting into iOS AUv3 development a lot now, but since i’m just getting started, i may ask a lot of stupid questions.

First of all, I’m attempting to make an auv3 plugin for iOS, and so I followed [getting\_started\_mac\_ios](https://github.com/iPlug2/iPlug2/wiki/01_Getting_started_mac_ios#compile-an-example-project) guide, and got the standalone app running, but at the bottom of the guide, it says compiling for AUv3 is much the same, which it is, but i have no idea how to run it so far. Is it not possible to run the plugin on a simulator, and only on a real device with some kind of DAW installed?  
Many thanks

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**Author:** ![olilarkin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/iplug2.discourse.group/olilarkin/32/2_2.png) [@olilarkin](https://iplug2.discourse.group/u/olilarkin)\
**Post date:** [30 August 2022 11:48 UTC](https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697/2 "2022-08-30T11:48:20Z")

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If you want to debug your AUv3 on the iOS simulator, you need to have a host on the simulator. Since you can’t get e.g. Garageband or AUM on the simulator, your best bet is to build [the Apple AUv3 hosting example](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/audiotoolbox/audio_unit_v3_plug-ins/incorporating_audio_effects_and_instruments?language=objc) and use that.

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**Author:** ![kurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@kurt](https://iplug2.discourse.group/u/kurt)\
**Post date:** [30 August 2022 11:57 UTC](https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697/3 "2022-08-30T11:57:11Z")

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Ah ha… thanks for the super quick answer! I’ll try that. You should put exactly what you wrote here in the getting started guide too! 🙂

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**Author:** ![kurt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@kurt](https://iplug2.discourse.group/u/kurt)\
**Post date:** [30 August 2022 12:06 UTC](https://iplug2.discourse.group/t/how-to-run-test-ios-auv3-plugin-simulator-vs-device/697/4 "2022-08-30T12:06:19Z")

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Wow, that worked right out of the box! I didn’t expect that. thanks!