Review an iOS App with a Watch Companion
Review the iPhone app with SimPreview. Check Watch behavior with a paired Watch Simulator in Xcode.
Review the iPhone app
Build the shared iOS scheme and open it with SimPreview. Use the pull request preview to check the iPhone side of the change.
Do not assume that a Watch companion will open at the same time.
Check the Watch app in Xcode
Open the project in Xcode. Choose a compatible iPhone and Apple Watch Simulator pair. Run the companion and test the Watch-specific change.
Use this step for installation, launch, and communication between the two apps.
Keep a separate CI check
Build the iOS app with the same configuration used by the team. Add a watchOS build or test job when the pull request changes the companion.
Name each check clearly so reviewers know what passed.
What teams ask
Does SimPreview open a standalone watchOS app?
No. Use Xcode and a paired Watch Simulator for that app.
Will the Watch app appear on its own?
Do not rely on that. Run the companion from Xcode with paired Simulators.
Should Watch changes have another CI check?
Yes. Add a watchOS build or test job when the pull request changes Watch behavior.
Review the iPhone app and Watch app separately.
Use SimPreview for the iPhone side. Keep Watch checks in Xcode and CI.