Replit Adds iOS & Android Simulators to Workspace
ReplitReplit introduced in-workspace streaming of real iOS Simulator and Android Emulator previews, allowing developers to test native mobile apps without installing Xcode, Android Studio, or using a physical device. The feature integrates directly into the workspace Preview panel with a device selector dropdown, and supports hot-reload so the simulator updates in real-time as Replit Agent makes edits. Availability is limited to Core, Pro, and Enterprise plan subscribers on Chrome, Safari, and Chromium-based browsers.
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In-Workspace Mobile Preview
Replit has made a significant step forward for mobile app development by streaming real iOS Simulators and Android Emulators directly into the workspace Preview panel. Previously, testing a native mobile app built on Replit required either a physical device with the Expo Go app or a locally installed developer environment — Xcode for iOS, Android Studio for Android. That dependency is now gone for paid plan users.
How It Works
When a project includes a mobile app artifact, the Preview panel gains a device selector dropdown. Selecting iOS Simulator or Android Emulator launches a real simulator that streams into the browser, giving developers the ability to tap, scroll, and interact with their app as if holding a phone. This is not a browser-based approximation — it is a genuine platform simulator streaming from Replit's infrastructure.
Hot-reload is supported throughout: as Replit Agent makes edits to the codebase, the simulator updates automatically. This tight feedback loop is particularly valuable for vibe-coding workflows where the Agent iterates on UI changes rapidly.
Availability
The feature is available to paid subscribers on Core, Pro, and Enterprise plans. Supported browsers include Chrome, Safari, and Chromium-based browsers. Firefox is not currently supported for the mobile simulator experience. For those who prefer a larger viewport, simulators can also be opened in their own standalone browser tab via More actions → Open in iOS Simulator or Open in Android Emulator from the mobile artifact card.
Why It Matters
Mobile development on Replit has been growing since the platform introduced mobile app creation in January 2026. The simulator-in-workspace feature removes the last major friction point in that workflow: the need for a local development environment to visually verify how an app behaves on a real platform. Developers can now go from prompt to interactive mobile preview entirely within a browser, with no installation or device required.