feat: Add iOS 17+ location simulation support via pymobiledevice3 by bhargavchintam · Pull Request #219 · Schlaubischlump/LocationSimulator

bhargavchintam · 2026-02-25T07:39:25Z

Summary

This PR adds iOS 17+ location simulation support using pymobiledevice3, since Apple removed the legacy com.apple.dt.simulatelocation lockdown service starting with iOS 17.

Changes

New Files

PMD3Helper.swift — Wraps the pymobiledevice3 CLI for iOS 17+ devices:
- Auto-discovers the pymobiledevice3 binary
- Manages tunneld lifecycle (starts with admin privileges via osascript)
- Uses DVT instruments protocol (developer dvt simulate-location) for persistent location simulation
- Handles negative coordinates with -- separator
PMD3DeviceWrapper.swift — Device protocol wrapper that routes simulateLocation/disableSimulation through pymobiledevice3 for iOS 17+, while delegating everything else to the original IOSDevice

Modified Files

Device+Extension.swift — Starts tunneld during the pairing step for iOS 17+ devices
SidebarViewController.swift — Wraps iOS 17+ devices in PMD3DeviceWrapper when selected
MapViewController.swift — Shows iOS 17+ specific error messages with installation instructions
AppDelegate.swift — Removed auto-opening Info view on version update
Main.storyboard — Removed Info preference tab
project.pbxproj — Added new source files; disabled ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_ASSET_SYMBOLS to fix Xcode 26 build conflicts with existing NSColor extensions

Documentation

README.md — Added iOS 17+ setup section with prerequisites, instructions, and troubleshooting table

How It Works

When an iOS 17+ device is selected, it's wrapped in PMD3DeviceWrapper
During pairing, tunneld is started as a background daemon (requires one-time admin password)
Location simulation uses pymobiledevice3 developer dvt simulate-location set --tunnel <UDID> -- <lat> <lon>
The DVT process runs persistently to maintain the simulated location
On reset/quit, the process is terminated and real GPS resumes

Testing

Tested with iPhone 15 Pro running iOS 26.3
Verified tunneld starts and tunnel is accessible at http://127.0.0.1:49151
Confirmed location changes on device using Apple Maps

Prerequisites for Users

Python 3.8+
pymobiledevice3 (pip install pymobiledevice3)
Developer Mode enabled on the iOS device

- Add PMD3Helper.swift: Wraps pymobiledevice3 CLI for iOS 17+ devices - Add PMD3DeviceWrapper.swift: Device protocol wrapper for iOS 17+ - Modify Device+Extension.swift: Start tunneld during pairing for iOS 17+ - Modify SidebarViewController.swift: Wrap iOS 17+ devices in PMD3DeviceWrapper - Modify MapViewController.swift: Show iOS 17+ specific error messages - Remove Info preference tab (storyboard + AppDelegate auto-open) - Disable Xcode 26 auto-generated asset symbols (conflict with extensions) - Update README with iOS 17+ setup instructions and troubleshooting

Copilot

Pull request overview

Adds iOS 17+ location simulation support by integrating pymobiledevice3 (RemoteXPC/tunneld + DVT simulate-location) while updating UI, pairing flow, and documentation to reflect the new backend.

Changes:

Introduces PMD3Helper and PMD3DeviceWrapper to route iOS 17+ location simulation through pymobiledevice3.
Updates device selection/pairing and error messaging to support the new iOS 17+ flow and show setup guidance.
Removes the Info preferences tab/auto-open behavior and updates docs/build configuration accordingly.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 12 out of 12 changed files in this pull request and generated 9 comments.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
README.md	Documents iOS 17+ prerequisites, setup, and troubleshooting.
LocationSimulator/ViewController/SidebarViewController/SidebarViewController.swift	Wraps selected iOS 17+ devices with `PMD3DeviceWrapper`.
LocationSimulator/ViewController/MapViewController/MapViewController.swift	Shows iOS 17+ specific setup messaging on pairing failures.
LocationSimulator/Storyboard/Main.storyboard	Removes Info preference tab UI.
LocationSimulator/Extensions/LocationSpoofer/PMD3Helper.swift	Implements CLI discovery, tunneld management, and DVT-based simulation process handling.
LocationSimulator/Extensions/LocationSpoofer/PMD3DeviceWrapper.swift	Routes simulate/disable calls to `PMD3Helper` for iOS 17+.
LocationSimulator/Extensions/LocationSpoofer/Device+Extension.swift	Adds `requiresPMD3` and updates pairing logic to start tunneld for iOS 17+.
LocationSimulator/AppDelegate.swift	Removes version-update auto-open of Info preferences, leaving onboarding behavior.
LocationSimulator.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/LocationSimulator.xcscheme	Updates scheme metadata (upgrade version).
LocationSimulator.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved	Adds SwiftPM resolution file.
LocationSimulator.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj	Adds new sources and modifies several build settings related to Xcode upgrade/signing/platforms.

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Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:06Z

 				);
 				LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATHS = "";
 				MACH_O_TYPE = mh_execute;
+				MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 11.0;


MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET is raised to 11.0 here, but the README still states macOS 10.15+ support. If dropping 10.15 is intentional, the README (and any release notes) should be updated; otherwise, revert this to keep the documented minimum supported macOS version.

Suggested change

MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 11.0;

MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 10.15;

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:07Z

+                        // Wrap iOS 17+ devices in PMD3DeviceWrapper for pymobiledevice3 support
+                        if let iosDevice = device as? IOSDevice,
+                           PMD3Helper.deviceRequiresPMD3(iosDevice.majorVersion) {
+                            mapViewController.device = PMD3DeviceWrapper(wrapping: iosDevice)
+                        } else {
+                            mapViewController.device = device


The wrapper is applied to all iOS 17+ IOSDevices even when pymobiledevice3 isn’t available. In that case PMD3DeviceWrapper.usesPMD3 is false and pair() short-circuits (because self is no longer an IOSDevice), so the user may see a “connected” state but location simulation won’t work and they won’t get the intended install guidance. Consider only wrapping when PMD3Helper.shared.isAvailable is true, or ensure the wrapper forwards pair()/setup errors so missing pymobiledevice3 is surfaced during pairing.

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:07Z

        // Only real iOS Devices require a pairing if the DeveloperDiskImage is not already mounted
        guard let device = self as? IOSDevice, !device.developerDiskImageIsMounted else { return }

+        // For iOS 17+ without pymobiledevice3, warn the user
+        if PMD3Helper.deviceRequiresPMD3(device.majorVersion) && !PMD3Helper.shared.isAvailable {
+            logError("Device+Extension: iOS 17+ detected but pymobiledevice3 is not installed!")


When a device is wrapped in PMD3DeviceWrapper but usesPMD3 is false (e.g., pymobiledevice3 not installed), this method falls through to the guard let device = self as? IOSDevice ... else { return } and silently returns. That bypasses the iOS 17+ “install pymobiledevice3” error path and incorrectly reports pairing success. Consider handling the wrapper case explicitly when usesPMD3 == false (delegate to wrappedDevice.pair() and/or throw a clear error for iOS 17+).

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:07Z

+				SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = "iphoneos iphonesimulator macosx";
+				SUPPORTS_MACCATALYST = NO;
 				SWIFT_OBJC_BRIDGING_HEADER = "LocationSimulator-Bridging-Header.h";
 				SWIFT_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = "-Onone";
 				SWIFT_VERSION = 5.0;
+				TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = 1;


SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS is set to include iphoneos iphonesimulator and TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY is set, but this target is a macOS app. Including iOS platforms here can lead to invalid build settings, confusing scheme destinations, and code signing/entitlement issues. Suggest reverting SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS to macOS-only and removing iOS-only settings like TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY.

Suggested change

SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = "iphoneos iphonesimulator macosx";

SUPPORTS_MACCATALYST = NO;

SWIFT_OBJC_BRIDGING_HEADER = "LocationSimulator-Bridging-Header.h";

SWIFT_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = "-Onone";

SWIFT_VERSION = 5.0;

TARGETED_DEVICE_FAMILY = 1;

SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = macosx;

SUPPORTS_MACCATALYST = NO;

SWIFT_OBJC_BRIDGING_HEADER = "LocationSimulator-Bridging-Header.h";

SWIFT_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = "-Onone";

SWIFT_VERSION = 5.0;

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:07Z

 			isa = XCBuildConfiguration;
 			buildSettings = {
 				ALWAYS_SEARCH_USER_PATHS = NO;
+				ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = YES;


The PR description mentions disabling asset symbol generation to avoid Xcode build conflicts, but this configuration enables ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = YES. This can reintroduce the same conflicts depending on which build configuration is used. Consider aligning this setting with the others (set to NO) or document why Homebrew differs.

Suggested change

ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = YES;

ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = NO;

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:08Z

 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSPrincipalClass = "";
 				INSTALL_PATH = "$(LOCAL_LIBRARY_DIR)/Bundles";
-				MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 10.15;
+				MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 11.0;


The Help target deployment target is bumped to macOS 11.0 here. If the app is still intended to support macOS 10.15 (per README), this change will prevent the bundled help from working on older supported systems. Consider keeping the Help bundle’s deployment target aligned with the app’s minimum supported macOS version.

Suggested change

MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 11.0;

MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 10.15;

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:08Z

+        // Use osascript to run tunneld with sudo — this prompts the user for their password
+        let script = """
+        do shell script "\(pmd3Path) remote tunneld -d" with administrator privileges
+        """
+
+        let task = Process()
+        task.launchPath = "/usr/bin/osascript"
+        task.arguments = ["-e", script]
+
+        let stdoutPipe = Pipe()
+        let stderrPipe = Pipe()
+        task.standardOutput = stdoutPipe
+        task.standardError = stderrPipe
+
+        do {
+            try task.run()
+            task.waitUntilExit()
+


osascript “do shell script” runs synchronously until the invoked command exits. If pymobiledevice3 remote tunneld -d is a long-running foreground daemon (as implied by the README description of a background service), waitUntilExit() will block indefinitely and pairing will never complete. Start tunneld in a way that returns immediately (e.g., background the command, use a launchd job, or spawn sudo with a helper) and then poll for readiness.

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:08Z

 				COMBINE_HIDPI_IMAGES = YES;
 				DEAD_CODE_STRIPPING = YES;
-				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = YJ8XYES89R;
+				DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = 7C252RKZ47;


These build settings hardcode a specific DEVELOPMENT_TEAM value. This typically breaks building/signing for other contributors/CI and shouldn’t be committed to a shared project. Prefer leaving DEVELOPMENT_TEAM unset (or $(DEVELOPMENT_TEAM)/DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = "") and let developers set it locally.

Suggested change

DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = 7C252RKZ47;

DEVELOPMENT_TEAM = "";

Copilot · 2026-02-25T07:50:08Z

+        // Use osascript to run tunneld with sudo — this prompts the user for their password
+        let script = """
+        do shell script "\(pmd3Path) remote tunneld -d" with administrator privileges
+        """


The ensureTunneld method builds an AppleScript do shell script command by interpolating pmd3Path directly into the shell string that is executed with administrator privileges. If an attacker can influence the resolved pymobiledevice3 path (for example via a crafted PATH entry that contains quotes or shell metacharacters and is picked up by findPMD3Path()), they can inject arbitrary commands into this root shell. To mitigate this, avoid composing shell command strings from untrusted paths (e.g. either properly escape/quote pmd3Path for AppleScript or bypass the shell entirely by invoking pymobiledevice3 via Process with argument arrays).

bslatyer

.

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings February 25, 2026 07:39

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of bhargavchintam February 25, 2026 07:39 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Feb 25, 2026

View reviewed changes

docs: Update README with DMG download link and install instructions

db8dfb8

bslatyer requested changes Mar 20, 2026

View reviewed changes

bslatyer closed this May 29, 2026

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feat: Add iOS 17+ location simulation support via pymobiledevice3 - #219

feat: Add iOS 17+ location simulation support via pymobiledevice3#219
bhargavchintam wants to merge 2 commits into
Schlaubischlump:masterfrom
bhargavchintam:feature/ios17-pymobiledevice3-support

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	MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 11.0;
	MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET = 10.15;

	ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = YES;
	ASSETCATALOG_COMPILER_GENERATE_SWIFT_ASSET_SYMBOL_EXTENSIONS = NO;

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bhargavchintam commented Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Changes

New Files

Modified Files

Documentation

How It Works

Testing

Prerequisites for Users

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