Xcode: how to test my app on older versions of iOS

Question

I would like to test my app on older versions of iOS. By "older versions" I mean iOS 5.1 5.0 and 4.3. In order to do so, what should I do in Xcode? I've already downloaded (through Xcode) all the corresponding simulators, but I don't know how to build and run my app on a specific simulator. The only choice I have is to run my app on iPhone/iPad 6.0 simulator.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Both of these answers weren't clear enough, I'm adding this to stop people making incorrect assumptions.

The only way to test on a lower version of the iOS is to run it on a device with the lower version or on one of the lower version simulators.

The "Deployment Target", which both answers here incorrectly say runs the app on a lower version, just sets the minimum installed OS version that the app will run on. When you run it on the iOS 6 simulator - it is still running on the version 6, not to whatever your deployment target is set at.

But, without setting a lower deployment target, the option to use a different iOS Simulator isn't available.

Best practice is to build with the latest version and SDK available and set the deployment target to the lowest version that your app supports.

As for running the app on different versions of the simulator - have a look at the dropdown in the top left corner of Xcode - you can pick which of the installed simulators to run your app on from there.