GoKawiilOpen-source vphone-cli tool boots virtual iPhones on Apple Silicon Macs
A new open-source project called vphone-cli lets developers create and run a virtual iPhone on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS Sequoia, using Apple's Virtualization.framework alongside infrastructure derived from Apple's Private Cloud Compute research VM setup. The tool automates the full pipeline of downloading IPSW firmware, patching the boot chain, restoring via DFU mode, installing a custom firmware variant, and launching the resulting virtual device, with commands also available to manage, clone, export, and import VM instances.
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This lowers the barrier for iOS security researchers, jailbreak developers, and engineers to experiment with iPhone software in a fully virtualized, disposable environment instead of risking physical hardware. It also highlights how techniques built for Apple's own Private Cloud Compute research tooling can be repurposed by the community for iOS virtualization and firmware analysis.
- vphone-cli automates creating virtual iPhones on Apple Silicon Macs via Apple's Virtualization.framework.
- The tool reuses infrastructure from Apple's Private Cloud Compute research VM setup for firmware patching and DFU restore.
- Users can manage multiple virtual iPhone instances with clone, export, import, and configuration commands.
Apple Mac mini (M4) — Running virtual iPhones with Apple's Virtualization.framework requires Apple Silicon and macOS Sequoia, and the M4 Mac mini is the most affordable way in. It's a compact desktop that can sit on your bench cranking through DFU restores and VM boots while your laptop stays free.
See Apple Mac mini (M4) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-08-28
Published there as: “Boot a Virtual iPhone via Apple's Virtualization.framework”
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