Emulation General Wiki

Emulators on iOS

Revision as of 15:56, 14 April 2025 by Heylol (talk | contribs) (→Multi-Systems)
iPadOS
Developer Apple Inc.
Initial release iPadOS 13 (2019)
Latest release / iPadOS 18 (2024)
iOS
Developer Apple Inc.
Initial release iPhone OS 1.0 (2007)
Latest release / iOS 18 (2024)
This page is about emulators that run on iOS and iPadOS.
For software that emulates iOS/iPadOS on other hardware, see iOS emulators.

iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system developed by Apple exclusively for its mobile devices. It was unveiled in January 2007 for the first-generation iPhone, which launched in June 2007. iOS is based on macOS, and is the basis for three other operating systems made by Apple: iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS. iOS also formerly powered iPads until iPadOS was introduced in 2019 and the iPod Touch line of devices until its discontinuation. iPadOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple for its iPad line of tablet computers. It was given a name distinct from iOS, the operating system used by Apple's iPhones to reflect the diverging features of the two product lines, such as multitasking. It was introduced as iPadOS 13, reflecting its status as the successor to iOS 12 for the iPad, and first released to the public on September 24, 2019.

Before diving in;
  • See each Wiki Category Consoles, Computers and Arcade for individual dedicated system pages to see more detailed comparisons and information about software emulators. Dedicated system pages provide more up-to-date listings and in-depth information on specific aspects like hardware features, peripheral support, and compatibility etc.
  • Some games have Game engine recreations and source ports that run on iOS, which can be the better than emulators for their specific games.

Background Information (WIP)

Emulators were banned on the App Store for over a decade. Out of the blue, Apple allowed them in April 2024, under a few restrictions (most notably, they are not allowed to use JIT, which still requires sideloading).

Installation Methods

App Store

Currently, the most recommended method to install most emulators on iOS devices is the Apple App Store. (A few emulators still aren't available here though).

Sideloading

Due to Apple restrictions, up to three apps can be sideloaded at a time (including Alt/SideServer, if applicable) and must be refreshed within one week to prevent from expiring without a paid Apple Developer account ($99/year). On iOS versions below 16.1.2 (excluding 15.7.2), MacDirtyCow's WDBRemoveThreeAppLimit exploit removes this restriction (compatible with AltStore).

AltStore Classic
An effective method to sideload by Riley Testut (developer of Delta) which doesn't require jailbreaking your iDevice. It requires a connected AltServer running on a computer connected by cable or Wi-Fi to install and sideload other apps.
SideStore
A beta fork of AltStore that doesn't require a computer post-installation, instead utilizing a Jitterbug paring file and StosVPN to install and refresh apps.
Sideloadly
An alternative to AltStore that doesn't attach an app on-device.
LiveContainer
(For post-sideloading): An IPA that allows you to run iOS app without actually installing it, allowing you to technically install unlimited apps (3 app/10 app id limits of free developer accounts do not apply) and have multiple versions of an app installed and multiple data containers. Supports JIT. Requires a SideStore patch to not use JIT (or can be installed and signed seperately).

Xcode

Apps can be manually built, signed, and sideloaded with Apple's Xcode, but this isn't recommended unless you know what you're doing.

Just-In-Time Enablers

Apple doesn't allow Just-In-Time Recompilation (or JIT), some emulators require it in order to run, requiring sideloading and a JIT server/enabler. Some popular JIT Servers:

StikJIT
Primarily codeveloped by Blu and jkcoxson (SideStore devs), StikJIT is a sideloadably IPA that only requires a Jitterbug pairing file and StosVPN to enable JIT anytime. This supersedes JitStreamer (EB).
AltJIT
Uses AltServer and AltStore to enable JIT, requires a Mac.
SideJITServer
Basically AltJIT for SideStore.

iOS/iPadOS

Multi-Systems

Name Latest version FLOSS RetroAchievements
Support 		Active Recommended
MAME
ArcadeMania (MAME4iOS) App Store
git 		✓ ✗ ✓ ✓
libretro
RetroArch 1.20.0
Website 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Provenance 3.0.6
AltStore
git 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Others
Delta 1.7
git 		✓ ~ ✓ ✓
Ignited[1] 1.0.3 (GBA)
AltStore
git 		✓ ✗ ✓ TBD
Folium 1.17 ✓ ✗ ✓ ~
UTM 4.6.2 (SE)
AltStore
git 		✓ ✗ ✓ ✓

Nintendo

GameCube / Wii

Name Latest version WiiWare Accuracy License JIT
required 		Active Recommended
DolphiniOS AltStore
git 		~ ? GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓ ✓ (Beta)

Nintendo Switch

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended JIT
MeloNX git ? AGPLv3 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓ ✓
Pomelo git ? GPLv3 (Copyleft) ✗ ✗ ✓
Sudachi git ? GPLv3 (Copyleft) ✗ ✗ ✓

Sony

PlayStation 2

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended JIT
Play! Builds
git 		Low BSD-2-Clause (Permissive) ✓ ✓ ✓

PlayStation Portable

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended
PPSSPP 1.18
Builds 		High GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓


Sega

Dreamcast

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended JIT
Flycast AltStore
Build
git 		High GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓ ✓

Apple Inc.

Macintosh 68k

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended
Mini vMac git ? GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✗ ✓

Multi- game engines

ScummVM (point-and-click adventure game engine)

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended
ScummVM 2.9.0
git 		Mid GPLv2 (Copyleft) ✓ ✓

OpenBOR

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended
OpenBOR-iOS git ? Non-commercial ~ ✓

CHIP-8

CHIP-8/MegaChip/SCHIP

Name Latest version Accuracy License Active Recommended
iPhone-Chip-8-Emulator git ? 3.0 (Non-commercial) ✗ ~

See also

Guide to avaliable emulators for iOS

Emulators on other systems(edit)

  1. ↑ Ignited is a fork of Delta with a focus on more up-to-date and modern cores.
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