Changes

Unlike its direct competitor, [[Android emulators|Android]], 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. Some simulators Similar to most of the Android emulators, some emulators (e.g., [[BlackThunder]]) make uses two-step approach, 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 first loads a highly trimmed Hackintosh image via VirtualBox, which loads Xcode and an iOS simulator into it, then runs decompiled iOS apps 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%"

|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yumetouchHLE/touchHLE/releases 0.2.12]|{{~}}|{{~}}|[https://appdb.touchhle.org/ 28%<br/><small>52 out of 188 reported titles</small>]

|{{~✗}}

|?|?|?|?

|[https://github.com/zydeco/aah aah[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/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/releases 10.02.2]|{{~}}|{{~}}|[https://appdb.touchhle.org/ 28%<br/><small>52 out of 188 reported titles</small>]

|[httphttps://systemswww.cscorellium.columbia.edu/projects/cycadacom/ CycadaCorellium]|align=left|{{Icon|AndroidWeb}}|Unreleased[https://www.corellium.com/ Web-based] ($)|?|?|?

|{{TBD✓}}|{{✓}}

:;macOS 11 and upQEMU-iOS:Since macOS :Previously unnamed and referred to as “devos50’s qemu fork”, Based on earlier work emulating the S5L8900 and the iPhone 11 Big Surin QEMU. It can emulate an iPod Touch 1G running iOS 1.0, including iBoot, the 17th major operating system of kernel, and the macOS lineSpringboard, the operating system for Mac computers has support for iOS although it requires a modified NOR and NAND image. Some features, such as audio and iPadOS applications for Apple SiliconWi-based MacsFi, are not emulated, and there are multiple crashes. HoweverAbout a year later, the same user managed to run iPhone OS 2 on an emulated iPod Touch 2G, some apps however internet connectivity is not figured out yet, and nobody has yet ran a 3rd party app via filesystem hacks as of now, as both networking and USB (iTunes) are unemulated and cannot be installed directly due to Apple DRM. This can be bypassed using an IPA file and PlayCover/Sideloadyregularly.

:;[[touchHLE]] <small class="plainlinks" style="font-weightMAME::normal;">(Very basic iPhone 2G support available [https://appdbgithub.touchhlecom/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/apple/iphone2g.org/ compatibilitycpp here])</small>:A promising new endeavor (that aims to run older cannot boot iOS apps by reimplementing standard libraries instead of internal components. Because of this very high-level approach, no dump of the operating system is required. Its initial target is iPhone OS 2.x, with plans to support other 32-bit iOS versions, mainly 3.x and 4.x, as well as the iPad. Development started in December 2022, and its initial 0.1.0 release came out in February 2023. [https:)<//appdb.touchhle.org/ touchHLE supports a handful of apps], with most apps that do not crash on the start working absolutely perfectlysmall>. touchHLE supports running IPA files directly. A game controller is required to control the accelerometer. touchHLE has an app archive that currently only has two apps being touch and go and it’s lite version, which are licensed '''Unlikely to ever be free to use with touchHLE.:Unfortunately, touchHLE does not currently have a “canary” branch which gets all the additions of it’s multiple concurrent pull requestscompleted. '''

:; QEMU-iOSBlackThunder:Previously unnamed and referred to as “devos50’s qemu fork”:Closed-source, Based on earlier work emulating the S5L8900 and the iPhone 11 in QEMU. It commercial iOS emulator that can emulate an iPod Touch 1G running run a few commercial iOS 1apps.0The official iOS SDK (macOS-only) only allows for running your own projects, including iBoot, the kernel, and the Springboard, although it requires a modified NOR and NAND imagei.e. Some features, such they run code generated for an x86 target rather than ARM code as audio and Wi-Fiused by iOS. However, are not emulatedsome emulators, and there are multiple crashese.g. About a year laterBlackThunder, make use of the simulator in the same user managed iOS SDK to run iPhone OS 2 on an emulated iPod Touch 2Ga few chosen iOS apps that are recompiled for x86. Unlike previous emulation trails, however internet connectivity is not figured out yet, and nobody has yet ran BlackThunder first loads a 3rd party app highly trimmed Hackintosh image via filesystem hacks as of nowVirtualBox, as both networking which loads Xcode and USB (iTunes) an iOS simulator into it, then runs iOS apps that are unemulated decompiled and cannot be installed regularlyrecompiled for the x86 architecture.

;Hypervisor:;Corellium::A 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. Emulation Compatibility is basically perfect, and they have hardware iOS 10.3 to the latest iOS version, with debugging features and 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 hypervisorcalled "CHARM"]]. '''For individuals, it costs 99 3 USD per hour''' for two cores, which only has iPhone 7, and 295 USD for six cores, to most use modern iPhonesexcluding some cybersecurity tools. The site also prohibits users under 18 from using their service. '''The service is also made for cybersecurity, not gaminggeneral use'''.

;MAMENative:Very basic iPhone 2G ;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 available 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://githubsupport.apple.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/srcguide/mameapp-store/iphone-ipad-apps-mac-apple-silicon-fird2c7092da/iphone2g.cpp heremac See this page]. '''Unlikely to ever be completed.'''

;BlackThunder==Hardware features==:The official ''This table focusing on early 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 simulators, e.g. BlackThunder, make use of the simulator operating system and crucial hardware features that can be possible to emulated through software or will be possible in the iOS SDK to run a few chosen iOS apps that are recompiled for x86near future. [[BlackThunder]] is a closed-source, commercial Including everything or niche modern iOS simulator that can run a few commercial iOS apps. Unlike previous emulation trails, BlackThunder first loads a highly trimmed Hackintosh image via VirtualBox, which loads Xcode and features would result in an iOS simulator into it, then runs iOS apps that are decompiled and recompiled for the x86 architectureendless list.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;Cycadawidth:100%"|- style="font-weight: bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! TouchHLE! QEMU-iOS! Corellium|-| colspan=2 | [[Wikipedia:IOS#Home_screen|Home screen]]<br/><small>This shouldn''Cycada'' 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 (2014LAN)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, formally known as Cider 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 Chameleon before that is an unreleased research project made by a few folks at Columbia that ran ARMv7-A chips.</br>| {{✓}} <br> <small>(Only 3.0)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 4<br/><small>iOS 54.2.1was the last version supported ARMv6 chips.1 and experimentally </small>| style="background: Orange;"|WIP| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 6 apps at a 5|style="background:skyblue;"|[https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE#touchhle-high, but not perfect quality and compatibility (see paper -level-emulator-for list)-iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 6<br/><small>iOS 6. It is based on pirated iOS libraries1. It is seriously not recommended to initiate contact with 6 was the developers of the project, as they never planned on releasing it and want people to use their paper to reproduce it last version compatible solely with 32-bit ARMv7-A chips.</small>|style="significant effortbackground:skyblue;"|[https://github. All attempts com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE#touchhle-high-level-emulator-for-iphone-os-apps Future goal]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| colspan=2 | iOS 7 to release it by contacting them have resulted in them saying they are not interested10<br/><small>Supports both 64-bit ARMv8''x''-A and 32-bit ARMv7-A chips. You may try to recreate Cycada on your own, provided that you know the internals of Android, iOS, XNU, and Linux10.3. Out of 69 tested apps, 19 apps fully work, 10 work with minor bugs 4 was the last version that do not affect functionality, 15 have major errors that affect functionality, and 27 crashsupported 32-bit chips. Only </small>|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github.com/darlinghqhikari-no-yume/darlingtouchHLE/issues/1168181#issuecomment-1115143186 one recreation1777098259 Never] is known | {{✗}}| {{✓}} (iOS 10.3.3+)|-| colspan=2 | iOS 11 to exist, which ''present''|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 also unreleased, and it was made by the creator of DarlingHQ along with two other unknown individuals. It took about a year crucial for emulators due to develop, compatibility and one component of it was released[[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons. The one exception where some original code was published was </small>| {{Y}}[https://github.com/darlinghqmerryhime/darlingdynarmic?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-guest-newlkm herearchitectures *], to be reused in Darling later on| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| colspan=2 | [https://developer.apple. Jeremy Andrus was accused of being a sellout com/documentation/xcode/writing-armv7-code-for leaving the project to work as a kernel programmer -ios ios_armv7a] (Now a Cloud Computing Efficiency workeriPhone OS 3 – iOS 10.3.4) <br/><small>Supporting ios_armv7a ABI is crucial for Appleemulators due to compatibility and [[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons. The project booted many <br/> Older applications and games often rely on the [[Wikipedia:ARM_architecture_family|ARM 32-bit iOS apps successfully(Cortex)]] architecture, albeit slowlywhich isn't used in newer hardware. The last update to this project was in </small>| {{Y}}[https://dlgithub.acm.orgcom/merryhime/doidynarmic?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-guest-architectures *]| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| colspan=2 | [https:/pdf/10developer.apple.1145com/documentation/xcode/3135974writing-arm64-code-for-apple-platforms ios_armv8.3135981 ''x'2017'a] (iOS 11.0 to '']. (NOTEpresent'')|style="background: If you search "Cider APK{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};", you will get iPhone 12 launcher adware) To see the paper, its specifications, its compatible apps, and possibly recreate it, see |[httphttps://jeremyagithub.com/fileshikari-no-yume/pubtouchHLE/2015issues/02181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{N}}| {{?}}|-! colspan=5 | [https:/andrus-thesis/developer.apple.pdf herecom/documentation/technologies Supported APIs];TruEmu|-| colspan=2 | [https:QEMU-t8030, also known as TruEmu, is an //developer.apple.com/documentation/opengles OpenGL ES x.x] (iPhone 11 emulated in QEMU, however, the current version with a published source cannot bootOS 2 – iOS 12.0)<br/><small>Supporting OpenGL ES x. TruEmu x APIs is a software that offers support crucial for iOS 14 up emulators due to the latest iOS 16 compatibility and is built to work on iPhone 6S SecureROM hardware[[Preservation_projects|preservation]] reasons.</small>| {{Y}}[https://github. It also provides outcom/hikari-ofno-box kernel debugging support and USB support (with Firmware Restore) and utilizes Apple's custom CPU features such as SPRRyume/GXF and custom PAC. Additionally, TruEmu is opentouchHLE?tab=readme-ov-file#development-status *]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-source software| colspan=2 | [https://developer. TruEmu is made to counteract the paid Corellium’s monopoly in iOS emulation for security reasearchapple. The creator’s mastodon and X com/metal/ Metal] (formally TwitteriOS 8 to ''present'') shows work on full SEP emulation and it booting to SpringBoard and operating the Calculator and Settings apps, but it is currently unreleased, with only minor graphical glitches|style="background:{{{color|#FFD2D2}}};"|[https://github. The day videos of it’s operation were posted on social medias, a user made an issue about it and archived the repo with com/hikari-no comment, only with a comment before it was emulated saying that he was working on multitouch. The reason it was unreleased remains uncertain. He may be developing a very capable iOS emulator, or he may have been stopped by an Apple employee or has been paranoid about possible Copyright -yume/touchHLE/issues and decided to not release it nor make a comment./181#issuecomment-1777098259 Never]| {{N}}| {{?}}|}<references group=N4/>

==Enhancements=={| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;iEmuwidth:100%"|- style="font-weight:bold;"! colspan=2 | Name! TouchHLE! QEMU-s5l89xxiOS|-|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-port powered filter compatible]]<br/><small>(also known without the [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gfecnt/nvidia-freestyle-ansel-enhancements-geforce-experience-portarticle/ Freestyle]) </small>| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Category:Anti-aliasing_algorithms|Post-rendering AA]]<br/><small>(2012FXAA, TXAA and MLAA/SMAA)</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| [[Wikipedia:Comparison_gallery_of_image_scaling_algorithms|Post-rendering scaling]]<br/><small>(Sharp bilinear, also known as iEmu, is another failed attempt to get an iPhone running in QEMU, this time the 1st generation. The last commits were made in 2013. Any Android app going by the name iEmu is a *scam* Lanczos and should be avoided[[Wikipedia:GPUOpen#FidelityFX_Super_Resolution|FSR 1]])</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-|[[High_dynamic_range#Inverse_tone_mapping|Inverse tone mapping compatible]]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| rowspan=5 | [https://tasvideos. Nowadays, a malicious APK file going by the '''iEmu''' moniker is also being circulated on blogs run by script kiddies claiming to offer a way to run iOS apps on Androidorg/Emulatorresources/Features TAS features]| [[Wikipedia:Macro_(computer_science)|Macros/Scripts]]/[https://tasvideos. More often than not, they're uploaded with the intention of generating revenue from impressionable users (through payorg/LuaScripting Lua]| {{?}}| {{?}}|-| Rewind| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Fast-Forward/Turbo Speed| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| Savestates| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-per| [https://tasvideos.org/Movies Movie recording/playback]| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-click URL shorteners) who fall easily | rowspan=3 | Input| [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for those types Emulators|Keyboard input injection]]<br/><small>Early versions of scams. The project started in 2011 but got mysteriously abandoned two years later before anything usable surfaced. All pages related to the project were removed. ItiOS didn's speculated Apple had a hand in thist support keyboard input. The name <br/>One way an iOS emulator can provide keyboard input for these versions is based on the part number of through the original iPhoneinjection method, and also is known to be called iVM, however, this is unconfirmedwhich sends keystrokes input data directy into emulated memory.</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}};unidbg|-: | [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Mouse input injection]]<br/><small>Early versions of iOS didn''unidbg'' (2020) is a developer library that allows emulating Android binaries, however, "experimental" iOS t support was added sometime in 2021mouse input. It <br/>One way an iOS emulator can provide mouse input for these versions is unknown if any apps are supportedthrough the injection method, which sends cursor input data directy into emulated memory.</small>| {{✗}}| {{✗}};aah|-| [[Controllers#Mouse Injectors for Emulators|Gamepad input injection]]<br/><small>Before [[Wikipedia: aah MFi_Program|MFi]] extended support in iOS 7 (arm64 architecture handler) uses unicorn and libffi to run iOS arm64 binaries on x86_64 macOS, with varying degrees of success. Most things will fail to launch because they need frameworks/symbols that aren't available on macOS. aah relies on the Mac Catalyst frameworks that are present on macOS 10.15. Additionally aah requires the source code of the app to run it, unlocking gamepad compatibility for devices like the iOS simulator/emulator in XCode. [https://twitterblog.logitech.com/maczydeco2013/11/20/compatible-games-for-logitech-powershell-controller-battery/statusLogitech Powershell Controller]).<br/1155588054486310912 > Earlier iOS versions (1-to-6) offered [https://githubwww.gottabemobile.com/zydecoios-6-gaming-ipad-controller-iphone/ no native gamepad support].</aahsmall>| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-| rowspan=6 | Quality of life| [[Save_disk_space_for_ISOs#PlayStation_1|Streamable compression format]]| {{✗}};ipasim| {{✗}}: ''ipasim'' (2017) is a high|-level emulator written in C++ that uses Microsoft's winObjC to recompile 64| Per-bit iOS apps into apps in live. It doesn't support much apps except for really basic ones. It was more focused on apps than games.Game Profiles| {{Y}}| {{N}};xnu|-qemu| Command Line Options| {{Y}}| {{?}}|-arm64: A security research emulator created by Aleph. Much like TruEmu| On-Screen Display<br/><small>Showcases messages, controller input state which is useful for speedrunners, performance data, it can partially run iOSactive settings, with launch services working correctlyand various notifications.</small>| {{N}};Unnamed iOS Emulator| {{N}}This is a Low|-Level Emulator made by user “K| Built-8in On-L-Y-N” discussed Screen Control<br/><small>Simulating touch input on the Darling Discord Server, which can run Springboard and the Calculatordisplay via keyboard or gamepad. It does not support This QoL enhancement is crucial for lots of touch at all, making it almost uselessinput exclusive games. It only emulates the kernel and the user provides a filesystem DMG<br/>Also you can use third party apps such as [https://apps. They’ve gotten iOS 1apple.0 springboard to boot, which they said was not too difficult and said they were also using iOS 1com/us/app/shootingplus-v3/id1447087625 ShootingPlus V3] for this.0 dyld directly</small>| {{Y}}[https://github. They said it was a Lowcom/hikari-Levelno-Emulation project as they had to emulate the CPU. They also said the kernel emulation is shorty and it only works. They said they’ll never release it in the state that is in, and refuses to even work on it due to touchHLE’s existence. It does load the original frameworks but doesn’t emulate UIKityume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.txt#L33 *]| {{N}}|-| Big Picture Mode| {{✗}}| {{✗}}|-;Darling| rowspan=2 | Misc| [[Wikipedia:Although no iOS support exists at the moment, Variable_refresh_rate|Variable Refresh Rate compatible]]| {{N}}| {{N}}|-| Debug features| {{~}}[https://wwwgithub.darlinghqcom/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/blob/trunk/OPTIONS_HELP.orgtxt#L131 *]| {{?}}|}<references group=N3/ Darling] wants to add support for iOS apps in the “long term”. Although not stated, they might add support for other platforms based on iOS, such as tvOS or watchOS in the future.>

Many of the currently available '''"simulatorssolutions"''' only try recreating popular iOS apps (like browsers) in a PC application with no real emulation involved. Some notable [[Emulator scams|scams]] in such fashion are called '''iPadian''' or variations on the name, and are often '''malware'''. iPadian itself is not a real emulator and cannot actually emulate any iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS code and just use recreations that are limited in functionality and are not ports. “AIR iPhone” is also a simulator in Adobe Flash. Malware on Android also goes by the name “iEmu”, “Cider” and “Cycada”, based on the unfinished and unrelated unreleased projects of the same name, and is sometimes iOS launcher software that is possibly infected by malware. iOS emulators that aren't scams operate like XCode, where they cannot run non-development builds.