Features
Explore all VM64 features, including virtualization and emulation, guest operating systems, graphics, sharing, networking, USB, snapshots, and automation.
All features
VM64 features fall into 9 categories. Some features have chip or system version requirements. See the details later on this page.
Virtualization and emulation
VM64 has two backends, QEMU and Apple. The Apple backend runs only macOS and Linux. When a virtual machine has the same architecture as your Mac, VM64 uses virtualization for near-native speed. Other architectures run through QEMU emulation, which supports more than 30 types of CPUs.
Guest operating systems
You can install Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as classic systems such as Mac OS 9, Windows 95, and Windows 98. You need your own Windows license.
Graphics
QEMU virtual machines running Linux can use Vulkan 1.3 or OpenGL 4.1. Windows 11 virtual machines can use DirectX 11 and DirectX 12, which are experimental features. DirectX 11 requires macOS 13 or later. DirectX 12 requires macOS 14 or later.
Sharing
Copy and paste text between your Mac and a virtual machine. Share folders on your Mac with a virtual machine, so it can read and write the files directly. When you share folders with a macOS virtual machine, both your Mac and the virtual machine need macOS 13 or later. When you share the clipboard with a macOS virtual machine, both your Mac and the virtual machine need macOS 15 or later.
Networking
QEMU virtual machines offer 4 network modes — Emulated VLAN, Shared Network, Host Only, and Bridged. With Emulated VLAN, you can set up port forwarding.
USB
QEMU virtual machines can use USB devices connected to your Mac. Many devices can't complete a hardware reset and may not work properly after you connect them.
Snapshots
Snapshots of QEMU virtual machines save both the disk and the running state. QEMU virtual machines can also run in disposable mode, which discards all changes at shutdown.
Automation
Start, stop, and clone virtual machines with Shortcuts, AppleScript, or the command-line tool. After you install guest tools, you can also run commands in QEMU virtual machines. Virtual machines can run in the background without showing a window.
Remote access
Connect to QEMU virtual machines on your Mac from your iPhone or iPad. The first time you connect, both devices show a fingerprint. Make sure they match before you trust the connection.
Highlights
Same-architecture virtualization, cross-architecture emulation
On a Mac with Apple silicon, ARM64 systems run with virtualization. On an Intel-based Mac, x86_64 systems run with virtualization. Both run at near-native speed. Other architectures, such as x86, ARM32, MIPS, PowerPC, and RISC-V, run through QEMU emulation. Emulation is slower than virtualization, especially when you run x86 systems on Apple silicon.
Run a macOS virtual machine on your Mac
If your Mac has Apple silicon and runs macOS 12 or later, you can install macOS virtual machines. If you don't choose an IPSW file, VM64 downloads a compatible version of macOS automatically. macOS virtual machines use the Apple backend. Intel-based Mac computers can't run macOS virtual machines.
Shared clipboard and folders
Copy text on your Mac and paste it in the virtual machine, or the other way around. You can share folders on your Mac with the virtual machine. To share the clipboard, install guest tools in the virtual machine first. When you share the clipboard with a macOS virtual machine, both your Mac and the virtual machine need macOS 15 or later.
System requirements by feature
The items below have chip or system version requirements. Check this list to see which features your Mac and virtual machines can use.
- Run VM64
- macOS 12 or later. Works on both Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computers.
- macOS virtual machines
- Apple silicon, macOS 12 or later. Intel-based Mac computers can't run macOS virtual machines.
- Run x86_64 programs in a Linux virtual machine with Rosetta
- Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later. The Linux virtual machine must use the Apple backend.
- DirectX 11 graphics for Windows 11
- macOS 13 or later. This is an experimental feature.
- DirectX 12 graphics for Windows 11
- macOS 14 or later. On Apple silicon, you also need to install Rosetta. This is an experimental feature.
- Shared folders in macOS virtual machines
- Both your Mac and the virtual machine need macOS 13 or later.
- Automatic display resolution in macOS virtual machines
- The virtual machine needs macOS 14 or later.
- Shared clipboard in macOS virtual machines
- Both your Mac and the virtual machine need macOS 15 or later.