# UTM Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 Virtual machines for Mac — run Windows, Linux, and more Category: System Utilities · Free · Replaces Parallels Desktop ($99/year) · [Official website](https://mac.getutm.app) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask utm` ## Quick take UTM still fills the free/cheap VM gap on Mac in August 2026. ARM64 Linux via Virtualization.framework is excellent; QEMU covers legacy and exotic arches; 4.7.5 modernises the app for macOS 26 Liquid Glass and Shortcuts; 5.0 betas finally chase Windows graphics acceleration. Not as polished as Parallels for daily Windows, but for developers, students and tinkerers it remains indispensable and still free or ten dollars. Best for: Developers Testing Across Operating Systems, Students Running Linux for Coursework, Retro Computing Enthusiasts ## What is UTM? UTM lets you run virtual machines on your Mac. Need Windows 11 to test in Edge? Spin up a Windows VM. Need Ubuntu for a Linux-only toolchain? Spin up Linux. Want older macOS beside Tahoe for compatibility testing? Spin up a macOS guest on Apple Silicon. UTM wraps Apple's Virtualization framework and QEMU into a native macOS app with a straightforward interface for creating, configuring and running VMs. The name stands for 'Universal Turing Machine.' UTM virtualizes ARM64 operating systems at near-native speed via Virtualization.framework on Apple Silicon and emulates x86 and other architectures via QEMU at reduced but usable speed. ARM64 Linux distributions, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, can run with strong performance and shared clipboard; x86 guests use full system emulation. As of August 2026, **stable UTM is v4.7.5** (January 2026): QEMU v10.0.2, Liquid Glass design on *OS 26, App Intents for Shortcuts, custom keyboard shortcuts and an improved wizard for RISC-V64 Ubuntu, classic Mac OS 8/9 and Windows 95/98 configurations. The **v5.0.x beta train** (through v5.0.4 in August 2026) adds experimental DirectX 11 graphics for Windows on macOS, Vulkan 1.3 for Linux guests (VirtIO Venus) and OpenGL 4.1 via Apple Core OpenGL, while raising the floor to macOS 13+. Users on older macOS should stay on 4.7.x stable. UTM is free from GitHub; the Mac App Store copy is **$9.99** one-time for automatic updates and to fund development, functionally the same app. No subscriptions. It sits between OrbStack (containers/light Linux) and Parallels Desktop (polished paid Windows integration). Still the practical free/cheap choice for students, occasional Windows testing and retro emulation. ## Features - **Apple Virtualization Framework Integration.** On Apple Silicon Macs, UTM uses Apple's built-in Virtualization.framework for ARM64 guests. This provides near-native performance, ARM64 Linux VMs boot in seconds, run at full CPU speed and can access GPU acceleration through Virgl. macOS guests also run via this framework, letting you run older macOS versions alongside your current one. The Virtualization.framework integration means VMs are energy-efficient and don't overheat your MacBook the way QEMU emulation does. UTM v4.7 also brings Liquid Glass design updates for modern macOS versions. - **QEMU Emulation for x86.** For operating systems that don't have ARM64 versions, older Windows, legacy Linux distros, DOS, classic Mac OS, UTM uses QEMU v10.0.2 to emulate x86, x86_64, PPC and other architectures. Performance is 3-10x slower than native, but it's sufficient for running Windows 11 for testing, playing retro games, or booting vintage operating systems. The improved wizard in v4.7 simplifies creating emulated machines by selecting from well-supported configurations, including RISC-V64 Ubuntu, classic Mac OS 8.x/9.x and Windows 95/98. - **Shared Directories.** UTM supports VirtIO shared directories between host and guest. Mount a folder from your Mac inside the VM and files are accessible from both sides. This eliminates the need to SCP or FTP files between your Mac and the VM, edit code on your Mac, run it in the Linux VM and changes are instantly visible. Shared directories work with both Virtualization.framework and QEMU guests. - **USB Device Passthrough.** Connect a USB device to your Mac and pass it through to a VM. This is useful for developers working with microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico), hardware tokens (YubiKey), or specialized peripherals that only have Windows drivers. The VM sees the USB device as if it were directly connected. UTM supports USB 2.0 and 3.0 passthrough depending on the backend. - **GPU Acceleration for Linux Guests.** ARM64 Linux VMs can use Virgl 3D acceleration for basic GPU rendering, which means running desktop environments (GNOME, KDE) with compositing effects at reasonable frame rates. It's not gaming-level GPU performance, but it's enough for a smooth desktop experience and basic OpenGL applications. This sets UTM apart from bare QEMU, which offers no GPU acceleration on Mac. - **Gallery of Pre-Built VMs.** UTM's website hosts a gallery of pre-configured VM images: Windows 11 ARM, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux, FreeBSD and various retro operating systems. Download a pre-built image, import it into UTM and boot, no manual OS installation required. The improved wizard in v4.7 simplifies the creation of emulated machines by selecting from a list of well-supported configurations, making it faster than ever to get a working VM for common use cases. - **App Intents and Shortcuts Automation.** UTM v4.7 introduces App Intents support, enabling automation with macOS Shortcuts. Define custom workflows to start, stop, or manage VMs programmatically. This is ideal for power users who want to integrate VM management into their automation pipelines, schedule VM operations, or trigger specific actions when VMs reach certain states. The new Keyboard Shortcuts feature also lets you define custom key combinations (such as Ctrl+Alt+Del) that can be sent directly to the VM from the Keyboard menu. - **UTM 5 Beta Graphics (DirectX / Vulkan).** UTM 5.0.x betas (2026) introduce experimental DirectX 11 acceleration for Windows guests on macOS and Vulkan 1.3 support for Linux with VirtIO Venus drivers, plus OpenGL 4.1 via Apple Core OpenGL. Games compatibility remains limited; prefer fresh Windows installs when enabling experimental graphics drivers. Stable 4.7.x users keep VirGL-class Linux acceleration without the macOS 13 minimum. ## How to Install UTM on Mac UTM is available for free from GitHub or for $10 on the Mac App Store (supports development with automatic updates). 1. **Install via Homebrew.** Run `brew install --cask utm` to install UTM from Homebrew. This installs the free GitHub version to your Applications folder. 2. **Download a Pre-Built VM (Optional).** Visit mac.getutm.app/gallery to browse pre-configured VM images. Download the one you need (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04 ARM64) and import it into UTM. 3. **Create a New VM.** Alternatively, click 'Create a New Virtual Machine' in UTM, choose Virtualize (for ARM64 guests) or Emulate (for x86 guests), select your ISO, configure RAM and storage and install the OS from scratch. 4. **Install SPICE Guest Tools.** For the best experience (shared clipboard, dynamic resolution, shared directories), install SPICE guest tools inside the VM. UTM provides these tools and documentation for each supported guest OS. ## Pros - Free from GitHub, $10 on App Store for automatic updates - Near-native ARM64 VM performance via Apple Virtualization.framework - x86 emulation via QEMU for legacy operating systems - Shared directories between host and guest - USB device passthrough for hardware development - GPU acceleration for ARM64 Linux desktops - Pre-built VM gallery for quick setup - Supports macOS guests (run older macOS versions) ## Cons - x86 emulation is noticeably slower than native (expect multi-x slowdowns) - Windows integration is less polished than Parallels Coherence/day-to-day tools - DirectX/gaming paths are still experimental even in UTM 5 betas, not a Parallels replacement for gamers - SPICE guest tools installation can be fiddly for some guest OSes - UTM 5 betas require macOS 13+; older Macs must stay on 4.7.x ## Closer Look: How UTM Makes Virtual Machines Accessible on Mac UTM's dual-engine architecture, the role of Apple's Virtualization framework and why free VM software matters for developers. ## FAQ ### What is the latest UTM version in August 2026? Stable is UTM 4.7.5 with QEMU 10.0.2, Liquid Glass, App Intents and the improved wizard. UTM 5.0.4 beta adds experimental DirectX 11 for Windows and improved Vulkan/OpenGL paths but requires macOS 13+. Choose stable for reliability; beta if you need the new graphics stack and can tolerate pre-release bugs. ### Can UTM run Windows on Apple Silicon Macs? Yes. UTM can run Windows 11 ARM on Apple Silicon Macs using Apple's Virtualization.framework. Most Windows applications work, including x86 apps through Windows' built-in emulation layer. Performance is good for productivity apps but not suitable for gaming or GPU-intensive tasks. ### How does UTM compare to Parallels? Parallels is more polished: better Windows integration (Coherence mode), DirectX support and automatic updates. But it costs $100+/year. UTM is free (or $10) and handles the core VM use case well. If you use Windows occasionally for testing, UTM is more than enough. If Windows is part of your daily workflow, Parallels justifies its price. ### Can I run macOS in a UTM VM? Yes. UTM supports running macOS guests on Apple Silicon Macs via Virtualization.framework. You can run older macOS versions (like Ventura or Monterey) alongside your current macOS for compatibility testing. macOS guests run at near-native speed. ### Why is the x86 emulation so slow? Because QEMU is translating every x86 instruction into ARM64 instructions on the fly. This translation has inherent overhead. ARM64 guests don't have this problem because they run on the same architecture as your M-series chip. For x86 workloads, expect 3-10x slower performance than native. ### Is the free GitHub version the same as the paid App Store version? Yes, they're identical in features. The $10 App Store version adds automatic updates and supports the developer financially. The GitHub version requires manual updates by downloading new releases. ### Can I use UTM for Docker containers? Technically yes, you can run Linux in UTM and install Docker inside it. But this is an inefficient approach. For containers, use OrbStack or Docker Desktop, which are purpose-built for that workflow and much lighter. Use UTM when you need a full VM with a desktop environment or non-Linux guests. ## Sources - [UTM Official Website](https://mac.getutm.app) - [UTM GitHub Repository](https://github.com/utmapp/UTM) - [UTM Releases](https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/releases) - [UTM v4.7.5 Release](https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/releases/tag/v4.7.5) - [UTM v5.0.4 Beta](https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/releases/tag/v5.0.4) - [UTM Documentation](https://docs.getutm.app/) - [UTM on Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/utm-virtual-machines/id1538878817?mt=12) ## Related - [Maccy](https://bundl.run/apps/maccy) - [Stats](https://bundl.run/apps/stats) - [SuperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/superwhisper) - [MacWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/macwhisper) - [HyperWhisper](https://bundl.run/apps/hyperwhisper) - [Aqua Voice](https://bundl.run/apps/aqua-voice) - [Free alternative to Parallels Desktop](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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