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:''This page is about software that emulates IOS iOS on other hardware, like desktops.''{{for|emulators that run on IOS|Emulators on iOS}} '''iOS''' and '''iPadOS''' are operating systems created by Apple.

Formerly, iOS was used for both Apple'''s phones and tablets. Then, the iOS brand was split into two parts in 2019, with iOS''' devices started now being the smartphone craze which would go on to replace conventional mobile phones OS exclusively used in both Japan (which had its own subset of cell phones) the iPhone and the rest now-defunct iPod Touch. The second half, named iPadOS, is a fork of the worldiOS for iPads that makes use of their larger screens, with more advanced touch-controlled deviceshence 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. 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"|Latest Versionversion! scope="col"|[[#Hardware_features|Hardware features]]! scope="col"|[[#Enhancements|Enhancements]]! scope="col"|Compatibility

! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulatorsemulators|Recommended]]|-!colspan="9"|PC / x86|-|[https://touchhle.org/ touchHLE]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS}}|[https://github.com/touchHLE/touchHLE/releases 0.2.2]|{{~}}|{{~}}|[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|{{✓}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}

|[[MAMEBlackThunder]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}|?|?|?

! colspan|[[MAME]]|align="6"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/ ARMiphone2g.cpp#L318 *]

|macOS Big Sur and up[https://github.com/zhkl0228/unidbg unidbg]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|macOS|Linux}}|0.9.7|?|?

! colspan="69"|Mobile/ ARM

|Columbia Cycada (unreleased but usable)[https://touchhle.org/ touchHLE]

|{{✗✓}} |{{~}}<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"|Name! scope="col"|Platform(pres)! 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]]|-iOS 7)!colspan="9"|Mobile / ARM

:;MAMEBlackThunderMAME has ::Closed-source, commercial iOS emulator that can run a driver for the IPhone few commercial iOS apps. The official iOS SDK (Modal:A1203macOS-only) but is currently listed only allows for running your own projects, i.e. they run code generated for an x86 target rather than ARM code as "Preliminary" 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 its unknown if its still active or notrecompiled for the x86 architecture.

;macOS Big SurHypervisorThe 17th major operating system :;Corellium::A service made by the Israeli company of the macOS linesame 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. It has support for Compatibility is basically perfect, and they have hardware iOS 10.3 to the latest iOS version, with debugging features and iPadOS applications security tools, as 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, it costs 3 USD per hour''' for most use excluding some cybersecurity tools. The site also prohibits users under 18 from using their service. '''The service is made for Apple M1 based Macscybersecurity, however some apps are not installed due to Apple DRMgeneral use'''.

;CorelliumNative:;macOS 11 and up::Since macOS 11 Big Sur, the 17th major operating system of the macOS line, the operating system for Mac computers has support for iOS and iPadOS applications for Apple Silicon-based Macs. However, some apps cannot be installed directly due to Apple DRM. This can be bypassed using an IPA file and PlayCover/Sideloady. [https://9to5macsupport.apple.com/2021guide/01app-store/25/corellium-now-offersiphone-iosipad-virtualizationapps-toolmac-forapple-individualsilicon-subscribersfird2c7092da/ Corelliummac See this page] offers virtual iOS-based devices to security researchers.

==History of Failed Hardware features==''This table focusing on early iOS operating system and crucial hardware features that can be possible to emulated through software or will be possible in the near future. Including everything or niche modern iOS features would result in an endless list.'' {| 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 last version compatible solely with ARMv6 chips.| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iPhone OS 3<br/><small>Supported both ARMv6 and ARMv7-A chips.</br>| {{✓}} <br> <small>(Only 3.0)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS Emulation Attempts4<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-emulator-for-iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-Many of | colspan=2 | iOS 6<br/><small>iOS 6.1.6 was the currently available last version compatible solely with 32-bit ARMv7-A chips.</small>|style="background:skyblue;"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE#touchhle-high-level-emulator-for-iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 7 to 10<br/><small>Supports both 64-bit ARMv8''x''-A and 32-bit ARMv7-A chips. iOS 10.3.4 was the last version that supported 32-bit chips.</small>|style="simulatorsbackground:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/issues/181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{✗}}| {{✓}} (iOS 10.3.3+)|-| colspan=2 | iOS 11 to ''present' only try recreating popular '|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 apps 4.2.1)<br/><small>Supporting ios_armv6 ABI is crucial for emulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons.</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-armv7-code-for-ios ios_armv7a] (like browsersiPhone OS 3 – iOS 10.3.4) in a PC application with no real emulation involved<br/><small>Supporting ios_armv7a ABI is crucial for emulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons. Some notable <br/> Older applications and games often rely on the [[Emulator scamsWikipedia:ARM_architecture_family|scamsARM 32-bit (Cortex)]] architecture, which isn't used in such fashion are called 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.''x'iPadian'a] (iOS 11.0 to '' or variations on the name, and are often 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 'malware'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 * A project to emulate various smartphones ]| {{?}}|-|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>(iPhoneFXAA, iPod TouchTXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, iPad, Apple TV 2GLanczos and [[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]]) called '''iEmu''', started in 2011 but got mysteriously abandoned two years later before anything usable surfaced</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos. All pages related to the project were removedorg/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos. It's speculated Apple had a hand in thisorg/LuaScripting Lua]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| Rewind| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Savestates| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=3 | Input* Nowadays, a malicious APK file going by the | [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Keyboard input injection]]<br/><small>Early versions of iOS didn'''iEmu''' moniker is also being circulated on blogs run by script kiddies claiming to offer a t support keyboard input.<br/>One way to run an iOS apps on Androidemulator can provide keyboard input for these versions is through the injection method, which sends keystrokes input data directy into emulated memory. More often than not they</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Mouse input injection]]<br/><small>Early versions of iOS didn're uploaded with t support mouse input.<br/>One way an iOS emulator can provide mouse input for these versions is through the intention of generating revenue from impressionable users injection method, which sends cursor input data directy into emulated memory.</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Gamepad input injection]]<br/><small>Before [[Wikipedia:MFi_Program|MFi]] extended support in iOS 7 (through payunlocking gamepad compatibility for devices like the [https://blog.logitech.com/2013/11/20/compatible-games-for-logitech-powershell-percontroller-click URL shortenersbattery/ Logitech Powershell Controller]) who fall easily for those types of scams.* There has been recently a project to provide a runtime for <br/> Earlier iOS apps versions (1-to run on '''Android''' called -6) offered [httphttps://systems.cswww.columbiagottabemobile.educom/projectsios-6-gaming-ipad-controller-iphone/cycadano native gamepad support].</ '''Cycada'''small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#PlayStation_1|Streamable compression format]] (formerly known as '''Cider''')| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| 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, but not much progress has been made as of recentlyactive settings, and the original author was accused by some 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 crucial for lots of being a sellout for leaving the project to work touch input exclusive games.<br/>Also you can use third party apps such as a kernel programmer [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shootingplus-v3/id1447087625 ShootingPlus V3] for Applethis.(NOTE</small>| {{Y}}[https: If you will try searching "Cider apk" you will get an iphone 12 launcher adware, even on uptodown or malavida) //github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L33 *]| {{N}}|-| Big Picture Mode| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=2 | Misc* There was also a project based on | [[QEMUWikipedia:Variable_refresh_rate|Variable Refresh Rate compatible]] that usually went around by the name QEMU| {{N}}| {{N}}|-s5l89xx (based on the part number of the original iPhone), or iVM| Debug features| {{~}}[https://github. The last known commits to this project were in 2013, and it is unclear if this project will ever come to fruitioncom/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]]