SwiftUI App Demo Videos: From Simulator to App Store

SwiftUI has transformed the way developers build apps for Apple platforms. Its declarative syntax and live previews make iteration fast, but when it comes time to show your app to the world, you need more than an Xcode canvas. Whether you are submitting to the App Store, pitching investors, or sharing progress on social media, a polished demo video is the single most effective way to communicate what your app does and why people should download it.

This guide walks through the entire workflow: recording your SwiftUI app from the iOS Simulator or a real device, wrapping the footage in professional 3D device frames, and exporting videos that meet App Store preview requirements.

Why SwiftUI Developers Need Demo Videos

A screenshot can hint at your app's design, but it cannot convey the fluid animations and gesture-driven interactions that make SwiftUI apps feel alive. Demo videos fill that gap in several important contexts:

• App Store previews -- Apple allows up to three auto-playing preview videos per localization. Apps with preview videos consistently see higher conversion rates because users can watch the experience before they tap "Get."
• WWDC-style presentations -- If you are applying for a Swift Student Challenge or presenting at a meetup, a pre-recorded demo avoids the risk of a live-demo crash.
• Social media and marketing -- Short, looping clips of smooth SwiftUI transitions perform exceptionally well on Twitter/X, Mastodon, and LinkedIn. They catch the eye in a scroll-heavy feed.
• Getting featured by Apple -- Editorial teams review apps holistically. A clear, professional demo video in your App Store listing signals quality and attention to detail.

For a broader look at mobile demo workflows, see our Mobile Developer's Guide to App Demo Videos.

Recording from Xcode's iOS Simulator

The iOS Simulator is where most SwiftUI developers spend their time, so it makes sense to record directly from it. Here is the streamlined workflow with SmoothCapture:

1. Launch your app in Simulator. Open your project in Xcode, select the target device (for example, iPhone 16 Pro), and hit Cmd + R to build and run. The Simulator window appears with your SwiftUI app.
2. Open SmoothCapture and select the Simulator window. SmoothCapture automatically detects Simulator windows. Choose the one running your app, and you will see a live preview in the recording panel.
3. Pick a device frame. Select a matching 3D device frame -- for instance, iPhone 16 Pro in Natural Titanium. SmoothCapture wraps the Simulator output inside the frame in real time so you see exactly what the final video will look like before you press record.
4. Record. Click the record button (or use the global hotkey) and walk through your app's key flows. SmoothCapture captures at 60 fps, keeping every SwiftUI animation buttery smooth.
5. Stop and review. Press stop, then trim any dead time at the start or end. Your recording is ready to export.

This approach is far simpler than the old xcrun simctl io booted recordVideo command, which produces a raw video with no device frame and requires post-processing in a video editor.

Recording from a Real Device

Sometimes you need footage from a physical iPhone or iPad -- perhaps to capture haptics-driven UI, camera features, or real-world performance. SmoothCapture supports direct iOS and iPad recording over USB:

1. Connect your device via USB. Plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac with a Lightning or USB-C cable. Trust the computer if prompted.
2. SmoothCapture detects your device automatically. The connected device appears in the source list alongside any Simulator windows. Select it, and SmoothCapture mirrors the screen in its preview panel.
3. Choose a matching frame and record. Pick the device frame that matches your physical hardware, then record exactly the same way as with the Simulator. The resulting video looks identical -- your audience will never know whether it was captured from real hardware or a simulated environment.

Recording from a real device is especially useful for SwiftUI views that rely on SensoryFeedback, ARKit, or the camera. It also lets you demonstrate performance on actual hardware, which can matter when your app targets older devices.

Adding 3D Device Frames

A raw screen recording looks flat. Wrapping it in a realistic device frame immediately makes it feel like a polished product demo. SmoothCapture includes a library of 3D device frames covering:

• iPhone models -- iPhone 16, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 15 series, SE, and more, in every official color finish.
• iPad models -- iPad Pro (M4), iPad Air, iPad mini, in both landscape and portrait orientations.

The frames are rendered with accurate lighting, shadows, and reflections. Because the frame is applied during recording, you skip the tedious step of compositing in After Effects or Motion. What you see in the SmoothCapture preview is what you get in the exported file.

For a deep dive on device frame workflows, read How to Add Device Frames to Your Screen Recordings.

Creating App Store Preview Videos

Apple enforces specific requirements for App Store preview videos. Getting them wrong means your upload will be rejected by App Store Connect. Here is a quick summary:

• Duration: 15 to 30 seconds.
• Resolution: Must match the device display exactly (for example, 1290 x 2796 for iPhone 16 Pro).
• Format: H.264 or HEVC in an M4V, MP4, or MOV container.
• Frame rate: 30 fps (recommended by Apple).
• No device frame in the upload -- Apple adds its own frame in the store listing. Your preview must be a clean screen recording at the correct pixel dimensions.

SmoothCapture's App Store Preview export preset handles all of this automatically. Select the target device, and SmoothCapture outputs a file at the exact resolution Apple requires, in the correct codec and container, trimmed to the allowed duration range. You can also export a separate version with the 3D device frame for use on your website, social media, or pitch deck.

For a comprehensive walkthrough of every preview slot and dimension, see the Complete Guide to App Store Preview Videos.

SwiftUI-Specific Tips

SwiftUI's animation system and preview architecture create a few unique considerations when recording demo videos. Keep these tips in mind:

Disable Slow Animations

The Simulator has a "Slow Animations" toggle under Debug > Slow Animations (or the Cmd + T shortcut). If this is accidentally enabled, every withAnimation block and .animation() modifier will run at one-fifth speed, making your recording look sluggish. Always verify it is off before you hit record.

Preview Multiple Device Sizes

One of SwiftUI's strengths is adaptive layout. Take advantage of it by recording separate clips for different screen sizes -- a compact iPhone SE clip and a spacious iPhone 16 Pro Max clip, for instance. This gives you distinct App Store preview assets for each device family and demonstrates that your app looks great everywhere.

Record Dark Mode and Light Mode Variants

SwiftUI makes it trivial to support both appearances with @Environment(\.colorScheme). If your app looks good in both modes, record both. You can toggle the Simulator's appearance under Features > Toggle Appearance. A dark-mode clip can serve as your primary App Store preview (it tends to look more dramatic), while the light-mode version works well for documentation or blog posts.

Showcase Gesture Interactions

SwiftUI's DragGesture, MagnifyGesture, and RotateGesture create rich interactions that are impossible to convey in a screenshot. When recording, move your cursor deliberately and at a steady pace so viewers can follow the interaction. SmoothCapture's cursor smoothing can help make mouse movements look more natural even when you are controlling the Simulator with a trackpad.

Use a Clean Simulator State

Reset the Simulator (Device > Erase All Content and Settings) before recording to avoid stale notifications, random wallpapers, or a cluttered status bar. Then set the time to something presentable (like 9:41, Apple's classic screenshot time) using xcrun simctl status_bar booted override --time "9:41".

Publishing Your Demo

With your video recorded and polished, the final step is getting it in front of the right audience. Here are the main channels:

App Store Connect

Upload your frameless App Store Preview file through App Store Connect under App Information > App Previews and Screenshots. Drag the video into the appropriate device slot. Apple will process it and display the preview with their own device chrome on your listing. You can upload up to three previews per localization and device size.

Twitter/X and Social Media

Export a version with the 3D device frame at 1080p or 720p for social sharing. Keep it under 60 seconds for Twitter/X. Square (1:1) or vertical (4:5) crops tend to take up more screen real estate in feeds and get higher engagement. Add a brief caption describing the feature you are demonstrating and include relevant hashtags like #SwiftUI and #iOSDev.

Documentation and Website

Embed your demo video directly in your app's landing page or developer documentation. A short, looping GIF or auto-playing MP4 hero section can dramatically increase the time visitors spend on your page. If you have built your site with SwiftUI-adjacent tools like Swift Playgrounds for Web or a static site generator, a well-placed video can bridge the gap between technical documentation and marketing.

GitHub README and Developer Portfolios

For open-source SwiftUI packages, a demo video in your README immediately communicates what your library does. Upload the video to GitHub directly or embed a link to a hosted version. Recruiters and hiring managers reviewing your portfolio projects will appreciate a visual demo far more than paragraphs of text describing what the app looks like.

Wrapping Up

SwiftUI makes building beautiful apps faster than ever, and your demo videos should match that quality. With SmoothCapture, you can go from running your app in Xcode's Simulator to having a polished, device-framed video ready for the App Store in minutes -- no video editor, no command-line gymnastics, no After Effects compositing.

Record from the Simulator or a real device, pick a 3D device frame, export for the App Store or social media, and ship. Your SwiftUI app deserves to be seen.