UTM Virtualization for TrollStore

Project Sandcastle enables users to run Android and Linux on iPhones by loading the system to RAMDisk. However, achieving this requires meeting numerous specific requirements. Enter UTM, a virtualization software for iOS that empowers users to run a virtual machine with Windows or Linux directly on their iPhones. Recenty, a dedicate version of UTM for TrollStore compatible devices was released.

Download UTM SE

UTM for iOS has been released in various packages tailored to different system environments. These include a dedicated UTM for Jailbreak version, a standard UTM IPA file optimized for sideloading with JIT support, a specialized version for TrollStore providing a comprehensive set of features, and a standard UTM IPA lacking JIT support. UTM SE was approved by the App Store and can be download directly from the Apple market palce.

Overview

UTM is an iOS iteration of an app designed for executing Desktop operating systems on your iPhone or iPad. This versatile tool empowers users to operate Windows, Linux, and more seamlessly on their iOS devices with commendable speed. It extends compatibility to iOS versions 11 – 16 for iDevices, facilitating installation through sideloading.

Depending on the version you choose, UTM offers varying features and capabilities. For instance, running UTM for TrollStore or employing a jailbreak enables support for technologies like JIT, Hypervisor (M1 Pad), and USB. However, if you install UTM SE, JIT support is absent (resulting in slower performance), although it's compatible with all signing services.

Behind the scenes of UTM, an iOS virtualization software, much of the heavy lifting is handled by qemu. Due to the absence of hardware virtualization support in iOS devices, we cannot utilize the KVM accelerator. Instead, the TCG accelerator is employed, which employs dynamic code translation and JIT compilation. Additionally, UTM incorporates a SPICE client crafted for Metal. UTM on iOS supports also external keyboards, mouse, touchpads, and controllers.

Accessing UTM preferences is straightforward; simply navigate to the iOS Settings application and locate the "UTM" section. However, if UTM was installed via TrollStore, the preferences will be unavailable through this method. Nevertheless, you have the option to manually edit the preferences data using a third-party application.

When configuring a QEMU backend VM with GPU acceleration, users have the option to select from various renderer backends. Some applications may specifically require or perform optimally with a particular backend. If uncertain, it's advisable to stick with the default setting.

By default, the operating system synchronizes the rendering of each frame with the refresh rate of the current display. However, in scenarios where performance-intensive applications lead to frame stalls, resulting in inconsistent frame times, adjusting the target frame rate can provide a more consistent user experience.

UTM provides support for both gesture and cursor modes. In cursor mode, dragging your finger translates to a relative movement of the cursor on the screen. When using this option, mouse acceleration is enabled, enhancing the responsiveness and fluidity of cursor movements.

To interact with the virtual machine (VM) display in UTM, you have several options. Clicking and holding the mouse button performs a left mouse click action. For a right mouse click, simply tap the screen and release immediately. You can move the VM display by dragging it across the screen. Additionally, to simulate scrolling using the mouse wheel, swipe in the desired direction on the screen. These actions allow you to navigate and control the VM display smoothly.

To run UTM in the background it requires location access enabled. However, even with this access, if the virtual machine (VM) consumes excessive memory resources, the operating system retains the authority to terminate its operation.

The latest version of UTM, 4.5.4 SE, makes it easy to create a virtual machine using a floppy boot image. It now also supports donations through in-app purchases. Additionally, the updated UTM DEB now supports rootless jailbreaks and fixes an issue where importing a drive shows up as a removable drive.

How to install UTM with TrollStore

UTM can be installed on your device only through the TrollStore or TrollStore 2 IPA installers. When using other tools like Sideloadly, AltStore, Bullfrog Assistant, and Esign the application may not work with full performance. There are different UTM packages for different environments. For TeollStore use the dedicated UTM for TrollStore IPA.

Step 1. Install TrollStore on iOS following how to install TrollStore 2 guide.

Step 2. Download UTM IPA from the link at the top of this page.

Step 3. Open TrollStore 2 from your Home Screen.

Step 4. Import UTM IPA to TrollStore 2.

Step 5. Proceed with the installation process.

Step 6. Open the Settings app and enter the Privacy & Security.

Step 7. In the Security section follow Developer Mode.

Step 8. Enable Developer Mode and restart your device.

Step 9. Connect your iPhone to a PC or Mac and Turn On Developer Mode.

Step 10. Open UTM from the Home Screen.

Info: Tipa files are essentially IPA files with modified extensions. These files are specifically recognized by TrollStore and typically cannot be installed using traditional IPA installers.

1. Hypervisor on iOS requires an M1 iPad.
2. Enabling JIT may require a separate JIT enabler such as Jitterbug or Jitstreamer.

Written by

Kuba Pawlak

Kuba has over 20 years of experience in journalism, focusing on jailbreak since 2012. He has interviewed professionals from various companies. Besides journalism, Kuba specializes in video editing and drone flying. He studied IT at university before his writing career.

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