You Can Now Run a Fake iPhone on Your Mac

A new open-source tool called vphone-cli lets you boot a fully functional virtual iPhone on your Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later. Think of it like a simulator, but instead of just imitating iOS, it runs a real (but virtual) iPhone operating system inside your computer. Developers can use it to test apps without a physical device, researchers can study iOS internals, and curious users can poke around iOS without owning an iPhone.

The process is surprisingly streamlined: one command can download the iOS files, set up a virtual machine, and launch a jailbroken or unmodified iPhone inside your Mac. It’s not as simple as installing an app—you’ll need to install developer tools, tweak some security settings on your Mac, and be comfortable using the command line. Apple doesn’t officially support this, so it bypasses some of the protections that prevent unauthorized software from running on iPhones.

The tool supports different versions of iOS and even lets you “clone” or export your virtual iPhone to share with others. It’s aimed at a niche audience: developers, security researchers, and enthusiasts. For most people, the hassle of setting it up won’t outweigh the benefits of having a fake iPhone in their computer. But for those who need to test apps, study iOS, or experiment with jailbreaking, it’s a powerful and free alternative to buying multiple iPhones.

The code is open-source and hosted on GitHub, meaning anyone can inspect it or contribute. But be warned: running unsigned or modified iOS software can be risky. It could expose your Mac to malware or violate Apple’s terms of service. Use it with caution—and definitely don’t expect customer support from Apple.