At this time, the public API provided by Xcode, the Simulator and the Swift Package Manager does not appear have any method callable from setUp() and tearDown() XCText subclasses to "Reset Contents and Settings" for the simulator.

There are other possible approaches which use public APIs:

1. Application Code. Add some myResetApplication() application code to put the application in a known state. However, device (simulator) state control is limited by the application sandbox ... which is not much help outside the application. This approach is OK for clearing application controllable persistance.

2. Shell Script. Run the tests from a shell script. Use xcrun simctl erase all or xcrun simctl uninstall <device> <app identifier> or similar between each test run to reset the simulator (or uninstall the app). see StackOverflow: "How can I reset the iOS Simulator from the command line?"

xcrun simctl --help
# Uninstall a single application
xcrun simctl uninstall --help
xcrun simctl uninstall <device> <app identifier>


# Erase a device's contents and settings.
xcrun simctl erase <device>
xcrun simctl erase all      # all existing devices


# Grant, revoke, or reset privacy and permissions
simctl privacy <device> <action> <service> [<bundle identifier>]

3. Xcode Schema Script Action. Add xcrun simctl erase all (or xcrun simctl erase <DEVICE_UUID>) or similar commands to an Xcode Scheme section such as the Test or Build section. Select the Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme… menu. Expand the Scheme Test section. Select Pre-actions under the Test section. Click (+) add "New Run Script Action". The command xcrun simctl erase all can be typed in directly without requiring any external script.

Options for invoking 1. Application Code to reset the application:

A. Application UI. [UI Test] Provide a reset button or other UI action which resets the application. The UI element can be exercised via XCUIApplication in XCTest routines setUp(), tearDown() or testSomething().

B. Launch Parameter. [UI Test] As noted by Victor Ronin, an argument can be passed from the test setUp() ...

class AppResetUITests: XCTestCase {


override func setUp() {
// ...
let app = XCUIApplication()
app.launchArguments = ["MY_UI_TEST_MODE"]
app.launch()

... to be received by the AppDelegate ...

class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {


func application( …didFinishLaunchingWithOptions… ) -> Bool {
// ...
let args = ProcessInfo.processInfo.arguments
if args.contains("MY_UI_TEST_MODE") {
myResetApplication()
}

C. Xcode Scheme Parameter. [UI Test, Unit Test] Select the Product > Scheme > Edit Scheme… menu. Expand the Scheme Run section. (+) Add some parameter like MY_UI_TEST_MODE. The parameter will be available in ProcessInfo.processInfo.

// ... in application
let args = ProcessInfo.processInfo.arguments
if args.contains("MY_UI_TEST_MODE") {
myResetApplication()
}

D. Direct Call. [Unit Test] Unit Test Bundles are injected into the running application and can directly call some myResetApplication() routine in the application. Caveat: Default unit tests run after the main screen has loaded. see Test Load Sequence However, UI Test Bundles runs as a process external to the application under test. So, what works in the Unit Test gives a link error in a UI Test.

class AppResetUnitTests: XCTestCase {


override func setUp() {
// ... Unit Test: runs.  UI Test: link error.
myResetApplication() // visible code implemented in application

You can ask your app to "clean up" itself

• You use XCUIApplication.launchArguments to set some flag

• In AppDelegate you check

  if NSProcessInfo.processInfo().arguments.contains("YOUR_FLAG_NAME_HERE") { // Do a clean up here }

You can add a "Run Script" phase to build phases in your test target to uninstall the app before running unit tests against it, unfortunately this is not between test cases, though.

/usr/bin/xcrun simctl uninstall booted com.mycompany.bundleId

Update

Between tests, you can delete the app via the Springboard in the tearDown phase. Although, this does require use of a private header from XCTest. (Header dump is available from Facebook's WebDriverAgent here.)

Here is some sample code from a Springboard class to delete an app from Springboard via tap and hold:

#Swift 4:

import XCTest


class Springboard {


static let springboard = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")
    

/**
Terminate and delete the app via springboard
*/
class func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()
        

// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons["Citizen"]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.press(forDuration: 1.3)
        

// Tap the little "X" button at approximately where it is. The X is not exposed directly
springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: (iconFrame.minX + 3) / springboardFrame.maxX, dy: (iconFrame.minY + 3) / springboardFrame.maxY)).tap()
        

springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
}
}
}

#Swift 3-:

import XCTest


class Springboard {


static let springboard = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.springboard")
    

/**
Terminate and delete the app via springboard
*/
class func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()
        

// Resolve the query for the springboard rather than launching it
springboard.resolve()
        

// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons["MyAppName"]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.pressForDuration(1.3)
            

if #available(iOS 13.0, *) {
springboard.buttons["Remove App"].tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete App"].tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
} else {
            

// Tap the little "X" button at approximately where it is. The X is not exposed directly
let xPosition = CGVector(dx: (iconFrame.minX + 3) / springboardFrame.maxX,
dy: (iconFrame.minY + 3) / springboardFrame.maxY)
springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: xPosition).tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
}
}
}
}

And then:

override func tearDown() {
Springboard.deleteMyApp()
super.tearDown()
}

The private headers were imported in the Swift bridging header. You'll need to import:

// Private headers from XCTest
#import "XCUIApplication.h"
#import "XCUIElement.h"

Note: As of Xcode 10, XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier:) is now exposed by Apple, and the private headers are no longer needed.

I used the @Chase Holland answer and updated the Springboard class following the same approach to reset the content and settings using the Settings app. This is useful when you need to reset permissions dialogs.

import XCTest


class Springboard {
static let springboard = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.springboard")
static let settings = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.Preferences")


/**
Terminate and delete the app via springboard
*/
class func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


// Resolve the query for the springboard rather than launching it
springboard.resolve()


// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons["MyAppName"]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.pressForDuration(1.3)


// Tap the little "X" button at approximately where it is. The X is not exposed directly
springboard.coordinateWithNormalizedOffset(CGVectorMake((iconFrame.minX + 3) / springboardFrame.maxX, (iconFrame.minY + 3) / springboardFrame.maxY)).tap()


springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()


// Press home once make the icons stop wiggling
XCUIDevice.sharedDevice().pressButton(.Home)
// Press home again to go to the first page of the springboard
XCUIDevice.sharedDevice().pressButton(.Home)
// Wait some time for the animation end
NSThread.sleepForTimeInterval(0.5)


let settingsIcon = springboard.icons["Settings"]
if settingsIcon.exists {
settingsIcon.tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["General"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset Location & Privacy"].tap()
settings.buttons["Reset Warnings"].tap()
settings.terminate()
}
}
}
}

Updated for swift 3.1 / xcode 8.3

create bridging header in test target:

#import <XCTest/XCUIApplication.h>
#import <XCTest/XCUIElement.h>


@interface XCUIApplication (Private)
- (id)initPrivateWithPath:(NSString *)path bundleID:(NSString *)bundleID;
- (void)resolve;
@end

updated Springboard class

class Springboard {
static let springboard = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.springboard")!
static let settings = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.Preferences")!


/**
Terminate and delete the app via springboard
*/


class func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


// Resolve the query for the springboard rather than launching it


springboard.resolve()


// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons["{MyAppName}"] /// change to correct app name
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.press(forDuration: 1.3)


// Tap the little "X" button at approximately where it is. The X is not exposed directly


springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: (iconFrame.minX + 3) / springboardFrame.maxX, dy: (iconFrame.minY + 3) / springboardFrame.maxY)).tap()


springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()


// Press home once make the icons stop wiggling


XCUIDevice.shared().press(.home)
// Press home again to go to the first page of the springboard
XCUIDevice.shared().press(.home)
// Wait some time for the animation end
Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: 0.5)


let settingsIcon = springboard.icons["Settings"]
if settingsIcon.exists {
settingsIcon.tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["General"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset Location & Privacy"].tap()
settings.buttons["Reset Warnings"].tap()
settings.terminate()
}
}
}
}

I used the @ODM answer, but modified it to work for Swift 4. NB: some S/O answers don't differentiate the Swift versions, which sometimes have fairly fundamental differences. I've tested this on an iPhone 7 simulator and an iPad Air simulator in portrait orientation, and it worked for my app.

Swift 4

import XCTest
import Foundation


class Springboard {


let springboard = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")
let settings = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.Preferences")




/**
Terminate and delete the app via springboard
*/
func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


// Resolve the query for the springboard rather than launching it
springboard.activate()


// Rotate back to Portrait, just to ensure repeatability here
XCUIDevice.shared.orientation = UIDeviceOrientation.portrait
// Sleep to let the device finish its rotation animation, if it needed rotating
sleep(2)


// Force delete the app from the springboard
// Handle iOS 11 iPad 'duplication' of icons (one nested under "Home screen icons" and the other nested under "Multitasking Dock"
let icon = springboard.otherElements["Home screen icons"].scrollViews.otherElements.icons["YourAppName"]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.press(forDuration: 2.5)


// Tap the little "X" button at approximately where it is. The X is not exposed directly
springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: ((iconFrame.minX + 3) / springboardFrame.maxX), dy:((iconFrame.minY + 3) / springboardFrame.maxY))).tap()
// Wait some time for the animation end
Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: 0.5)


//springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].firstMatch.tap()
springboard.buttons["Delete"].firstMatch.tap()


// Press home once make the icons stop wiggling
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
// Press home again to go to the first page of the springboard
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
// Wait some time for the animation end
Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: 0.5)


// Handle iOS 11 iPad 'duplication' of icons (one nested under "Home screen icons" and the other nested under "Multitasking Dock"
let settingsIcon = springboard.otherElements["Home screen icons"].scrollViews.otherElements.icons["Settings"]
if settingsIcon.exists {
settingsIcon.tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["General"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset"].tap()
settings.tables.staticTexts["Reset Location & Privacy"].tap()
// Handle iOS 11 iPad difference in error button text
if UIDevice.current.userInterfaceIdiom == .pad {
settings.buttons["Reset"].tap()
}
else {
settings.buttons["Reset Warnings"].tap()
}
settings.terminate()
}
}
}
}

For iOS 11 sims an up, I made an ever so slight modification to tap the "x" icon and where we tap per the fix @Code Monkey suggested. Fix works well on both 10.3 and 11.2 phone sims. For the record, I'm using swift 3. Thought i'd through some code out there to copy and paste to find the fix a little easier. :)

import XCTest


class Springboard {


static let springboard = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.springboard")


class func deleteMyApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


// Resolve the query for the springboard rather than launching it
springboard!.resolve()


// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard!.icons["My Test App"]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard!.frame
icon.press(forDuration: 1.3)


springboard!.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: (iconFrame.minX + 3 * UIScreen.main.scale) / springboardFrame.maxX, dy: (iconFrame.minY + 3 * UIScreen.main.scale) / springboardFrame.maxY)).tap()


springboard!.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
}
}
}

Updating Craig Fishers answer for Swift 4. Updated for iPad in landscape, probably only works for landscape left.

import XCTest

class Springboard {

static let springboard = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")


class func deleteMyApp(name: String) {
// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons[name]
if icon.exists {
let iconFrame = icon.frame
let springboardFrame = springboard.frame
icon.press(forDuration: 2.0)


var portaitOffset = 0.0 as CGFloat
if XCUIDevice.shared.orientation != .portrait {
portaitOffset = iconFrame.size.width - 2 * 3 * UIScreen.main.scale
}


let coord = springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: CGVector(dx: (iconFrame.minX + portaitOffset + 3 * UIScreen.main.scale) / springboardFrame.maxX, dy: (iconFrame.minY + 3 * UIScreen.main.scale) / springboardFrame.maxY))
coord.tap()


let _ = springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].waitForExistence(timeout: 5)
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()


XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
}
}

}

This seems to work for me on iOS 12.1 & simulator

class func deleteApp(appName: String) {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons[appName]
if icon.exists {
icon.press(forDuration: 2.0)


icon.buttons["DeleteButton"].tap()
sleep(2)
springboard.alerts["Delete “\(appName)”?"].buttons["Delete"].tap()
sleep(2)


XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
}
}

Here is an Objective C version of the above answers to delete an App and reset warnings (tested on iOS 11 & 12):

- (void)uninstallAppNamed:(NSString *)appName {


[[[XCUIApplication alloc] init] terminate];


XCUIApplication *springboard = [[XCUIApplication alloc] initWithBundleIdentifier:@"com.apple.springboard"];
[springboard activate];
XCUIElement *icon = springboard.otherElements[@"Home screen icons"].scrollViews.otherElements.icons[appName];


if (icon.exists) {
[icon pressForDuration:2.3];
[icon.buttons[@"DeleteButton"] tap];
sleep(2);
[[springboard.alerts firstMatch].buttons[@"Delete"] tap];
sleep(2);
[[XCUIDevice sharedDevice] pressButton:XCUIDeviceButtonHome];
sleep(2);
}
}

..

- (void)resetWarnings {


XCUIApplication *settings = [[XCUIApplication alloc] initWithBundleIdentifier:@"com.apple.Preferences"];
[settings activate];
sleep(2);
[settings.tables.staticTexts[@"General"] tap];
[settings.tables.staticTexts[@"Reset"] tap];
[settings.tables.staticTexts[@"Reset Location & Privacy"] tap];


if (UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() == UIUserInterfaceIdiomPad) {
[settings.buttons[@"Reset"] tap];
} else {
[settings.buttons[@"Reset Warnings"] tap];
}
sleep(2);
[settings terminate];
}

iOS 13.1/Swift 5.1 UI based deletion

static let springboard = XCUIApplication(privateWithPath: nil, bundleID: "com.apple.springboard")!


class func deleteApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)


let icon = springboard.icons["YourApplication"]
if !icon.exists { return }


springboard.swipeLeft()
springboard.activate()
Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: 1.0)


icon.press(forDuration: 1.3)
springboard.buttons["Rearrange Apps"].eventuallyExists().tap()


icon.buttons["DeleteButton"].eventuallyExists().tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].eventuallyExists().tap()


XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
}

This works for me in all OS version(iOS11,12 & 13)

static let springboard = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")


func deleteApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()
springboard.activate()


let icon = springboard.icons[appName]


if icon.exists {
icon.firstMatch.press(forDuration: 5)
icon.buttons["DeleteButton"].tap()


let deleteConfirmation = springboard.alerts["Delete “\(appName)”?"].buttons["Delete"]
XCTAssertTrue(deleteConfirmation.waitForExistence(timeout: 5), "Delete confirmation not shown")
deleteConfirmation.tap()
}
}

Solution for iOS 13.2

final class Springboard {


private static var springboardApp = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")


class func deleteApp(name: String) {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


springboardApp.activate()


sleep(1)


let appIcon = springboardApp.icons.matching(identifier: name).firstMatch
appIcon.press(forDuration: 1.3)


sleep(1)


springboardApp.buttons["Delete App"].tap()


let deleteButton = springboardApp.alerts.buttons["Delete"].firstMatch
if deleteButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 5) {
deleteButton.tap()
}
}
}

I see a lot of answers to uninstall your app in setUp or tearDown of your test.

But you can easily uninstall your app before launching your tests by adding a run script phase in your test target.

To do so :

1. Select your application's Xcode project
2. Select your test target
3. Select "Build Phases"
4. Tap on "+" and "New Run Script Phase"

Then, replace the placeholder # Type a script or drag a script file from your workspace to insert its path. by the command :

xcrun simctl boot ${TARGET_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER}
xcrun simctl uninstall ${TARGET_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER} YOUR_APP_BUNDLE

Starting Xcode 11.4, if all you want is to reset permissions, you can use resetAuthorizationStatus(for:) on instance of XCUIApplication, see https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xctest/xcuiapplication/3526066-resetauthorizationstatusforresou

You can also use simctl if needed, quoted from Xcode 11.4 Release Notes:

simctl now supports modifying privacy permissions. You can modify privacy permissions to create known states for testing purposes. For example, to allow an example app to access the photo library without any prompts:
xcrun simctl privacy <device> grant photos com.example.app

To reset all permissions to defaults, as if the app had never been installed before:
xcrun simctl privacy <device> reset all com.example.app.

Working solution for iOS14

final class Springboard {


private static var springboardApp = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: "com.apple.springboard")


class func deleteApp(name: String) {
XCUIApplication().terminate()


springboardApp.activate()


sleep(1)


let appIcon = springboardApp.icons.matching(identifier: name).firstMatch
appIcon.press(forDuration: 1.3)


sleep(1)


springboardApp.buttons["Remove App"].tap()


let deleteButton = springboardApp.alerts.buttons["Delete App"].firstMatch
if deleteButton.waitForExistence(timeout: 5) {
deleteButton.tap()
springboardApp.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
}
}
}

After some experiments, I've ended implementing a clearer solution that covers different iOS versions:

import XCTest


private enum Constants {
static let springboardBundleIdentifier = "com.apple.springboard"
static let appIconName = "Your App Name"
static let appIconPressShortDuration: TimeInterval = 2.0
static let appIconPressLongDuration: TimeInterval = 3.0
static let deleteAppButton = "Delete App"
static let removeAppButton = "Remove App"
static let deleteButton = "Delete"
static let deleteButtonVectorOffset: CGFloat = 3.0
}


final class SpringboardManager {


private static let springboard = XCUIApplication(bundleIdentifier: Constants.springboardBundleIdentifier)


static func deleteApp(_ app: XCUIApplication) {
if app.exists && app.isHittable {
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
}


app.terminate()


self.deleteAppIfNeeded(with: Constants.appIconName)
sleep(1)
}


private static func deleteAppIfNeeded(with iconName: String) {
let appIcon = self.springboard.icons[iconName]


guard appIcon.exists else {
return
}


appIcon.press(forDuration: Constants.appIconPressShortDuration)


if let deleteListButton = self.deleteListButton() {
deleteListButton.tap()
self.pressDeleteAlertButtons()
} else {
appIcon.press(forDuration: Constants.appIconPressLongDuration)
self.pressDeleteTopLeftButton(for: appIcon)
self.pressDeleteAlertButtons()
}
}


}


private extension SpringboardManager {


static func pressDeleteAlertButtons() {
self.pressDeleteAlertButton(self.deleteAppAlertButton())
self.pressDeleteAlertButton(self.deleteAlertButton())
}


static func pressDeleteAlertButton(_ button: XCUIElement?) {
guard let button = button else {
return
}


button.tap()
}


static func pressDeleteTopLeftButton(for appIcon: XCUIElement) {
let iconFrame = appIcon.frame
let springboardFrame = self.springboard.frame


let deleteButtonVector = CGVector(
dx: (iconFrame.minX + Constants.deleteButtonVectorOffset) / springboardFrame.maxX,
dy: (iconFrame.minY + Constants.deleteButtonVectorOffset) / springboardFrame.maxY)


let deleteButtonCoordinate = self.springboard.coordinate(withNormalizedOffset: deleteButtonVector)
deleteButtonCoordinate.tap()
}


}


private extension SpringboardManager {


static func deleteListButton() -> XCUIElement? {
sleep(1)
    

let removeListButton = self.springboard.buttons[Constants.removeAppButton]
let deleteListButton = self.springboard.buttons[Constants.deleteAppButton]


if removeListButton.exists {
return removeListButton
} else if deleteListButton.exists {
return deleteListButton
}


return nil
}


static func deleteAppAlertButton() -> XCUIElement? {
sleep(1)


let deleteAppButton = self.springboard.alerts.buttons[Constants.deleteAppButton]


if deleteAppButton.exists {
return deleteAppButton
}


return nil
}


static func deleteAlertButton() -> XCUIElement? {
sleep(1)


let deleteButton = self.springboard.alerts.buttons[Constants.deleteButton]


if deleteButton.exists {
return deleteButton
}


return nil
}


}

There are so many variations of the answer, not even sure if I should add on to that, but in case someone need a universal solution:

iOS 14.6 and 15 beta

    class func deleteApp() {
XCUIApplication().terminate()
    

// Force delete the app from the springboard
let icon = springboard.icons["APP_NAME"]
if icon.exists {
icon.press(forDuration: 1.3)
        

springboard.buttons["Remove App"].tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete App"].tap()
springboard.alerts.buttons["Delete"].tap()
        

// Press home once to make the icons stop wiggling
XCUIDevice.shared.press(.home)
}
}