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mxhm11cr/LinuxRunner

Runs ARM64 Linux userspace, terminals and desktop apps on iPhone and iPad without jailbreak or a virtual machine.

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Last commit
6 days ago

What is it?

LinuxRunner is an iOS and iPadOS app that loads ARM64 Linux programs and provides the Linux environment they need. It uses a custom ARM64 interpreter and a userspace compatibility layer that implements Linux system calls, processes, threads, signals and filesystem metadata, so it does not boot a Linux kernel or use hardware virtualization.

Inside the app you can install Debian, Arch Linux ARM or Alpine Linux ARM64 and use a shell with the distribution's package manager. Graphical applications run on an X11 desktop built on Xvfb and x11vnc, with a lightweight default session and an experimental KDE Plasma option on Debian. Telegram Desktop, Firefox, Dolphin and Blender are shown running in the project's screenshots.

The project is GPL-3.0 licensed and derives from iSH. It only runs ARM64 programs, lacks Wayland and systemd, and iOS may suspend or terminate the app, which ends running Linux processes.

Key features

  • 01Installs Debian, Arch Linux ARM or Alpine Linux ARM64 inside the app.
  • 02Provides a terminal with shells, user accounts and package managers such as apt, pacman and apk.
  • 03Runs an X11 desktop with windows, a panel and file management.
  • 04Supports touch, hardware keyboard and pointer input.
  • 05Offers file import/export and Linux sockets over the device network, subject to iOS restrictions.

Use cases

  • Running Linux command-line tools on an iPad while travelling.
  • Trying out ARM64 Linux desktop applications on a phone or tablet.
  • Studying Linux userspace and system calls on an Apple device without a jailbreak.
  • Experimenting with package-based Linux environments on iOS.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download the LinuxRunner IPA from GitHub Releases

  2. 2

    Install the IPA with a compatible sideloading tool such as Sideloadly or AltStore Classic

  3. 3

    Open LinuxRunner and follow Set Up Linux to install a distribution inside the app

Things to know

  • Runs only on iPhone and iPad; it is not available for other platforms.
  • Only ARM64 Linux programs run; x86 and x86-64 applications are unsupported.
  • Desktop support is experimental, and demanding programs may be slow or exceed device memory.
  • Installation requires a third-party sideloading tool, and the license metadata is unclear.

In collections

CLI & terminal tools

Topics

#arm64#linux#ios#ipados#emulation#terminal#x11#linux-userspace#alpine-linux#archlinux

FAQ

What is LinuxRunner?
Runs ARM64 Linux userspace, terminals and desktop apps on iPhone and iPad without jailbreak or a virtual machine. LinuxRunner is an iOS and iPadOS app that loads ARM64 Linux programs and provides the Linux environment they need. It uses a custom ARM64 interpreter and a userspace compatibility layer that implements Linux system calls, processes, threads, signals and filesystem metadata, so it does not boot a Linux kernel or use hardware virtualization.
Is LinuxRunner free to use? What license does it have?
LinuxRunner is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is LinuxRunner still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to LinuxRunner was on Nov 1, 2026.
What can I use LinuxRunner for?
Running Linux command-line tools on an iPad while travelling. Trying out ARM64 Linux desktop applications on a phone or tablet. Studying Linux userspace and system calls on an Apple device without a jailbreak. Experimenting with package-based Linux environments on iOS.
How do I install LinuxRunner?
Download the LinuxRunner IPA from GitHub Releases Install the IPA with a compatible sideloading tool such as Sideloadly or AltStore Classic Open LinuxRunner and follow Set Up Linux to install a distribution inside the app
Where can I get LinuxRunner?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/mxhm11cr/LinuxRunner

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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