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|emulated = {{✗~}}

:''This page is about software that emulates iOS on other hardware, like desktops.''{{for|emulators that run on IOS|Emulators on iOS}} '''iOS''' devices started the smartphone craze which would go on to replace conventional mobile phones in both Japan (which had its own subset of cell phones) and the rest of the world, with more advanced touch-controlled devices'''iPadOS''' are operating systems created by Apple.

iOS devices started the smartphone craze, which would go on to replace conventional mobile phones in both Japan (which had its own subset of cell phones) and the rest of the world, with more advanced touch-controlled devices. Formerly, iOS was used for both Apple's phones and tablets. Then, the iOS brand was split into two parts in 2019, with iOS now being the OS exclusively used in the iPhone and the now-defunct iPod Touch. The second half, named iPadOS, is a fork of iOS for iPads that makes use of their larger screens, hence its name. Most iOS apps and games work on iPadOS. Unlike their its direct competitor, [[Android emulators|Android-based smartphones]], they currently have '''there are practically no usable emulators''', as the official iOS SDK (macOS-only) only allows for running your own projects, i.e. , they run code generated for an x86 target rather than ARM code as used by iOS. However Similar to most of the Android emulators, some simulators emulators (e.g. , [[BlackThunder]]) uses two-step approach, make making use of the simulator in the iOS SDK to run a few chosen iOS apps that are recompiled for x86. BlackThunder (Chinese:黑雷模拟器),[https://www.heilei.com/ website] is a closed source, commercial iOS simulator that can run a few commercial iOS apps. Unlike previous emulation trails, BlackThunder firstly first loads a highly trimmed Hackintosh image via VirtualBox, which loads Xcode and an iOS simulator into it, then runs decompiled iOS apps that are decompiled and recompiled for the x86 architecture. Appetize.io and other tools that claim to emulate iOS on a web browser are in reality just the iOS simulator in XCode wrapped around a cloud stream to the web browser, and like the iOS XCode simulator, need the source code to run. More recently, touchHLE managed to get a few older iPhone OS apps running by recreating some of iOS’s standard libraries and emulating just the iPhone’s CPU, and nearly the same time, QEMU-iOS got released and can successfully emulate iPhone OS 1.0 on an iPod Touch 1st generation, albeit with bugs.

Also tons of obsolete non-active iOS "emulator" exists, see [https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php?title=IOS_emulators&oldid=72605 this page] for more.{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(s)! scope="col"|Latest version! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features|Hardware features]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]|-!colspan="9"|PC / x86|-|[https://touchhle.org/ touchHLE]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|[https://github.com/touchHLE/touchHLE/releases 0.2.2]|{{~}}|{{No unofficial ~}}|[https://appdb.touchhle.org/ 28%<br/><small>52 out of 188 reported titles</small>]|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{~}}|-|[https://github.com/devos50/qemu-ios/tree/ipod_touch_1g QEMU-iOS]|align=left|{{Icon|macOS|Linux}}|[https://github.com/devos50/qemu-ios/tree/ipod_touch_1g#building git]|{{~}}|?|N/A|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}|-|[[BlackThunder]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|?|?|?|?|{{✗}}|{{?}}|{{✗}}|-|[[MAME]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]|?|?|N/A|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}[https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/apple/iphone2g.cpp#L318 *]|-|[https://github.com/zhkl0228/unidbg unidbg]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS|Linux}}|0.9.7|?|?|?|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}|-!colspan="9"|Mobile / ARM|-|[https://touchhle.org/ touchHLE]|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/releases 0.2.2]|{{~}}|{{~}}|[https://appdb.touchhle.org/ 28%<br/><small>52 out of 188 reported titles</small>]|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{~}}|} ==Hypervisors [[Hypervisors|(...)]]==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"! scope="col"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(s)! scope="col"|Latest version! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features|Hardware features]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>! scope="col"|Active! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|OSRecommended]]|-|[https://www.corellium.com/ Corellium]|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}|[https://www.corellium.com/ Web-based] ($)|?|?|?|{{✗}}|{{✓}}|{{~}}<ref group=N>Would be completely recommended if it wasn’t paid and/or a local version that runs on Windows/macOS/Linux is available.</ref>|}

==Native==<div style="overflow-x:auto;width:100%">{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"

! scope="col"|Latest Versionversion! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features|Hardware features]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility

! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulatorsemulators|Recommended]]

! colspan="69"|macOS Mobile / ARM

|[https://apple.com/macos macOS ] 11 Big Sur and up|align=left|{{Icon|macOS}}<ref group=N>Requires Mac computers with Apple Silicon (M series) processors.</ref>|14 Sonoma|?|?

:;macOS Big SurQEMU-iOSThe 17th major operating system of ::Previously unnamed and referred to as “devos50’s qemu fork”, Based on earlier work emulating the S5L8900 and the macOS lineiPhone 11 in QEMU. It can emulate an iPod Touch 1G running iOS 1.0, including iBoot, the kernel, and the Springboard, although it requires a modified NOR and NAND image. Some features, such as audio and Wi-Fi, are not emulated, and there are multiple crashes. About a year later, the same user managed to run iPhone OS 2 on an emulated iPod Touch 2G, however internet connectivity is not figured out yet, and nobody has support for iOS yet ran a 3rd party app via filesystem hacks as of now, as both networking and USB (iTunes) are unemulated and iPadOS applications for Apple M1 based Macscannot be installed regularly.

==History of Failed iOS Emulation Attempts==:;MAMEMany of the currently ::Very basic iPhone 2G support available '''"simulators"''' only try recreating popular [https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/apple/iphone2g.cpp here] <small>(that cannot boot iOS apps (like browsers) in a PC application with no real emulation involved</small>. Some notable [[Emulator scams|scams]] in such fashion are called '''iPadian''' or variations on the name, and are often ''Unlikely to ever be completed.'malware'''.

* :;BlackThunder::Closed-source, commercial iOS emulator that can run a few commercial iOS apps. The official iOS SDK (macOS-only) only allows for running your own projects, i.e. they run code generated for an x86 target rather than ARM code as used by iOS. However, some emulators, e.g. BlackThunder, make use of the simulator in the iOS SDK to run a few chosen iOS apps that are recompiled for x86. Unlike previous emulation trails, BlackThunder first loads a highly trimmed Hackintosh image via VirtualBox, which loads Xcode and an iOS simulator into it, then runs iOS apps that are decompiled and recompiled for the x86 architecture. ;Hypervisor:;Corellium::A project service made by the Israeli company of the same name that runs any modern iOS devices, some Android devices, or bring-your-own IoT devices on either the cloud or a self-hosted server. Compatibility is basically perfect, and they have hardware iOS 10.3 to emulate various smartphones (iPhonethe latest iOS version, iPod Touchwith debugging features and security tools, iPadas well as IPA installing. They also have iPhone 7 to the latest iPhone in terms of hardware. [[Hypervisors#Type_1_hypervisors|The devices run on an ARM hypervisor called "CHARM"]]. '''For individuals, Apple TV 2G) called it costs 3 USD per hour'''iEmufor most use excluding some cybersecurity tools. The site also prohibits users under 18 from using their service. '''The service is made for cybersecurity, started in 2011 but got mysteriously abandoned two years later before anything usable surfacednot general use'''. All pages related to  ;Native:;macOS 11 and up::Since macOS 11 Big Sur, the 17th major operating system of the macOS line, the project were removedoperating system for Mac computers has support for iOS and iPadOS applications for Apple Silicon-based Macs. It's speculated However, some apps cannot be installed directly due to Apple had a hand in DRM. This can be bypassed using an IPA file and PlayCover/Sideloady. [https://support.apple.com/guide/app-store/iphone-ipad-apps-mac-apple-silicon-fird2c7092da/mac See thispage].* Nowadays, a malicious APK file going by the ==Hardware features=='''iEmu''' moniker is also being circulated This table focusing on blogs run by script kiddies claiming early iOS operating system and crucial hardware features that can be possible to offer a way to run emulated through software or will be possible in the near future. Including everything or niche modern iOS apps on Androidfeatures would result in an endless list. More often than not they're uploaded ' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! TouchHLE! QEMU-iOS! Corellium|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IOS#Home_screen|Home screen]]<br/><small>This shouldn't be confused with emulator frontend/GUI.</small>| {{✗}}| {{~}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | Non-game apps| {{✗}}| {{~}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IOS#Notification_Center|Notification Center]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IOS#App_Store_bypasses|Sideloading/Installing]]| {{✓}}| {{?}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | Wi-Fi| {{~}}<abbr title="Local Area Network (LAN) only">*</abbr>| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | Bluetooth| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:Multi-touch#Applications|Multi-touch]]| {{?}}| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IPhone_hardware#Sensors|Motion sensors]]| {{Y}}[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L33 *]| {{✗}}| {{?}}|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IOS#Multitasking|Location]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| rowspan=2 | Connectivity| [[Preservation_projects#Private_Platform_Servers|Game Center]]<br/><small>Achievements, Challenges, Leaderboards etc.</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{?}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Apple_Push_Notification_service|Apple Push Notification service]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-! colspan=5 | [[Wikipedia:List_of_Apple_codenames#iOS|OS versions]]|-| colspan=2 | iPhone OS 1| {{✗}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iPhone OS 2<br/><small>iPhone OS 2.2.1 was the intention of generating revenue from impressionable users last version compatible solely with ARMv6 chips.| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iPhone OS 3<br/><small>Supported both ARMv6 and ARMv7-A chips.</br>| {{✓}} <br> <small>(through payOnly 3.0)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 4<br/><small>iOS 4.2.1 was the last version supported ARMv6 chips.</small>| style="background: Orange;"|WIP| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 5|style="background:skyblue;"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE#touchhle-high-level-peremulator-click URL shorteners) who fall easily for those types of scams-iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 6<br/><small>iOS 6.1.6 was the last version compatible solely with 32-bit ARMv7-A chips.</small>* There has been recently a project to provide a runtime |style="background:skyblue;"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE#touchhle-high-level-emulator-for -iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS apps 7 to run on 10<br/><small>Supports both 64-bit ARMv8''x''Android-A and 32-bit ARMv7-A chips. iOS 10.3.4 was the last version that supported 32-bit chips.</small>|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{✗}}| {{✓}} (iOS 10.3.3+)|-| colspan=2 | iOS 11 to ''present'' called |style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|-| colspan=2 | iPadOS|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | WatchOS|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-! colspan=5 | [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/application-binary-interfaces Supported ABIs]|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/writing-armv6-code-for-ios ios_armv6] (iPhone OS 1 – iOS 4.2.1)<br/><small>Supporting ios_armv6 ABI is crucial for emulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons.</small>| {{Y}}[httphttps://systemsgithub.cscom/merryhime/dynarmic?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-guest-architectures *]| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.columbiaapple.educom/projectsdocumentation/xcode/cycadawriting-armv7-code-for-ios ios_armv7a] (iPhone OS 3 – iOS 10.3.4)<br/ ><small>Supporting ios_armv7a ABI is crucial for emulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons.<br/> Older applications and games often rely on the [[Wikipedia:ARM_architecture_family|ARM 32-bit (Cortex)]] architecture, which isn't used in newer hardware.</small>| {{Y}}[https://github.com/merryhime/dynarmic?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-guest-architectures *]| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xcode/writing-arm64-code-for-apple-platforms ios_armv8.''Cycada'x''a] (formerly known as iOS 11.0 to ''present'')|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{N}}| {{?}}|-! colspan=5 | [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/technologies Supported APIs]|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.apple.com/documentation/opengles OpenGL ES x.x] (iPhone OS 2 – iOS 12.0)<br/><small>Supporting OpenGL ES x.x APIs is crucial for emulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons.</small>| {{Y}}[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE?tab=readme-ov-file#development-status *]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.apple.com/metal/ Metal] (iOS 8 to 'Cider'present'')|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{N}}| {{?}}|}<references group=N4/> ==Enhancements=={| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;width:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! TouchHLE! QEMU-iOS|-|rowspan=1 | Graphics| [[Resolution|Resizable Internal Resolution]]| {{Y}}[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L23 *]| {{?}}|-|rowspan=6 | Post-Processing| [[Shader_Presets|Shader Chain]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Shaders_and_filters|Filters]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-|[[Shaders_and_filters#AI-powered filters|AI-powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>([https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-article/ Freestyle])</small>| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(FXAA, but not much progress has been made as of recentlyTXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, Lanczos and the original author was accused by some [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos.org/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos.org/LuaScripting Lua]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| Rewind| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Savestates| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=3 | Input| [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Keyboard input injection]]<br/><small>Early versions of being a sellout iOS didn't support keyboard input.<br/>One way an iOS emulator can provide keyboard input for leaving these versions is through the project to work as a kernel programmer for Appleinjection method, which sends keystrokes input data directy into emulated memory. </small>* There was also a project based on | {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[QEMUControllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Mouse input injection]] that usually went around by <br/><small>Early versions of iOS didn't support mouse input.<br/>One way an iOS emulator can provide mouse input for these versions is through the name QEMUinjection method, which sends cursor input data directy into emulated memory.</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-s5l89xx | [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Gamepad input injection]]<br/><small>Before [[Wikipedia:MFi_Program|MFi]] extended support in iOS 7 (based on unlocking gamepad compatibility for devices like the part number of the original iPhone[https://blog.logitech.com/2013/11/20/compatible-games-for-logitech-powershell-controller-battery/ Logitech Powershell Controller]), or iVM. The last known commits <br/> Earlier iOS versions (1-to this project were in 2013-6) offered [https://www.gottabemobile.com/ios-6-gaming-ipad-controller-iphone/ no native gamepad support].</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#PlayStation_1|Streamable compression format]]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Per-Game Profiles| {{Y}}| {{N}}|-| Command Line Options| {{Y}}| {{?}}|-| On-Screen Display<br/><small>Showcases messages, controller input state which is useful for speedrunners, performance data, active settings, and it various notifications.</small>| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| Built-in On-Screen Control<br/><small>Simulating touch input on display via keyboard or gamepad. This QoL enhancement is unclear if crucial for lots of touch input exclusive games.<br/>Also you can use third party apps such as [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shootingplus-v3/id1447087625 ShootingPlus V3] for this project will ever come to fruition.</small>| {{Y}}[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L33 *]| {{N}}|-| Big Picture Mode| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=2 | Misc| [[Wikipedia:Variable_refresh_rate|Variable Refresh Rate compatible]]| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| Debug features| {{~}}[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L131 *]| {{?}}|}<references group=N3/>

Your best bet, until ==Scams==Many of the currently available '''"solutions"''' only try recreating popular iOS apps (like browsers) in a new PC application with no real emulation effort is ever startedinvolved. Some notable [[Emulator scams|scams]] in such fashion are called '''iPadian''' or variations on the name, and are often '''malware'''. iPadian itself is to hope for whatever not a real emulator and cannot actually emulate any iOS app you , iPadOS, or watchOS code and just use recreations that are interested limited in, to have an Android portfunctionality and are not ports. Which “AIR iPhone” is often sadly not also a simulator in Adobe Flash. Malware on Android also goes by the case (until very recently) for name “iEmu”, “Cider” and “Cycada”, based on the vast majority unfinished and unreleased projects of the older game appssame name, and is sometimes iOS launcher software that is possibly infected by malware. iOS emulators that aren't scams operate like XCode, especially Japanese ones where they cannot run non- as development builds.*TikTok videos by the user “iPod Emulator Hype” appear to show QEMU-iOS running on an Android device and a web browser, however, the Android version is perceived often confirmed to be a VNC client and faked, with the more piracy-friendly platformHTML5 version likely fake as well. That appears to be gradually changing lately and isn't *Blog sites suggest “iOSEmus” as much concern an iOS emulator for non-gaming appsAndroid devices. In reality, but the older apps are unlikely it is an alternate App Store for iOS to get ported for the most partinstall jailbreak tools including console emulators and other tools on iOS 11.

Your best bet, until touchHLE supports your 32-bit app, ARM macOS is able to be virtualized without an ARM Mac (for 64-bit), or a new emulation effort is ever started, is to hope that whatever iOS app you're interested in gets an Android port. This is very rare, especially for Japanese ones, as Android is perceived to be more open to piracy. That appears to be gradually changing lately and isn't of as much concern for non-gaming apps are distributed . However, in the IPA formatU. Like its Android counterpartS., the trend goes to iOS exclusively, including the Faves, Bloom, APK filesand the official ChatGPT apps getting iOS versions first, they can be opened as and a regular zip file most trend of users in Anglo-America discriminating against Android users, forcing them to switch to iOS also may contribute to the time and their contents dissected this wayneed for one.

==See alsoExternal links==* [[Emulators on iOSWikipedia:Comparison_of_mobile_operating_systems|Comparison of mobile operating systems]](Wikipedia)*Reddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/LegacyJailbreak/ r/LegacyJailbreak] (old devices) [https://www.reddit.com/r/LegacyJailbreak/ r/LegacyJailbreak] (new devices)

[[Category:Not yet emulatedOperating systems]][[Category:Mobile Operating Systems]][[Category:MAME Driver Status: Preliminary]][[Category:ARM-based]]