UTM
Free virtual machine app for Mac that runs Windows, Linux and older systems on Apple Silicon and Intel.
UTM is a virtual machine app for Mac built on QEMU. It runs Windows, Linux, macOS and older systems such as Mac OS 9 in a window next to your other apps.
On Apple Silicon, ARM64 guests such as Windows 11 for ARM and ARM builds of Linux run through Apple's Hypervisor framework at close to native speed. When you need a different processor, UTM switches to emulation and supports more than 30 CPU types, including x86_64, PowerPC, RISC-V and MIPS. macOS guests use Apple's Virtualization framework. Each VM lives in a library with snapshots, and you can script it with AppleScript or the utmctl command line tool.
UTM suits developers who test on Linux or Windows, people who need one Windows program on a Mac, and anyone who wants to boot a retro system. Emulated guests are slower than virtualized ones, so pick an ARM64 guest on Apple Silicon when speed matters.
UTM is released under the Apache 2.0 licence by Turing Software, LLC. The download from GitHub is free. The Mac App Store version costs $9.99, has the same features and updates itself. UTM needs macOS 12 Monterey or later.
Frequently asked questions
Is UTM free?
Yes. The DMG on GitHub and getutm.app is free. The Mac App Store version costs $9.99. It has the same features as the free build and adds automatic updates, and buying it helps fund development.
Is UTM safe and open source?
UTM is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence, and the code is on GitHub at utmapp/UTM, where it has more than 36,000 stars. It bundles some (L)GPL components such as parts of QEMU, which matters only if you plan to redistribute it.
How do I install UTM?
Run brew install --cask utm, or download UTM.dmg from GitHub, open it and drag UTM to Applications. You can also buy it on the Mac App Store. Updating the GitHub build means replacing the app, and your virtual machines are kept.
What macOS version does UTM need?
The current release needs macOS 12 Monterey or later. Version 4.7.5 was the last release for macOS 11. To run macOS as a guest you need an Apple Silicon Mac.
How does UTM compare to Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion?
Parallels Desktop is a paid commercial app. VMware Fusion Pro has been free for personal and commercial use since November 2024, but it is closed source. UTM is free and open source, and because it is based on QEMU it can also emulate other CPU types, such as PowerPC or x86, which is useful for old systems.
Can UTM run Windows 11 on an Apple Silicon Mac?
Yes. Windows 11 for ARM runs as a virtualized ARM64 guest, which is the fast option. An x86 copy of Windows can be emulated, but it runs much slower.
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