Henge

Henge allows you to install macOS directly on a compatible iPhone or iPad.

A Mac computer is not required to download and install macOS through Henge, but you must install the Henge application and enable JIT first.

Before installing Henge

1. Open Settings → General → About.
2. Check your iOS or iPadOS version.
3. Make sure your device runs iOS 17 or later.
4. Confirm that it has an A14, M1 or newer supported chip.
5. Check that at least 43 GB of storage is available.
6. Back up important files and photos.
7. Charge your device and keep a charger nearby.
8. Prepare a compatible IPA signing method.
9. Confirm that you have a way to enable JIT.
10. Use a stable Wi-Fi connection for the macOS download.

How to download Henge IPA

1. Open Safari.
2. Visit the Leviidev/Henge GitHub repository.
3. Select Releases.
4. Open Henge v0.1.
5. Download Henge.ipa.
6. Save the file to Files.
7. Open SideStore or AltStore.
8. Import the downloaded IPA.
9. Complete the signing process.
10. Install Henge.
11. Enable Developer Mode if requested.
12. Open Henge from the Home Screen.

How to install Henge using TrollStore

1. Confirm that your iOS version supports TrollStore.
2. Open the official Henge release.
3. Download Henge.tipa.
4. Open TrollStore.
5. Import the TIPA.
6. Complete installation.
7. Open Henge.
8. Check the JIT status.

TrollStore supports only specific firmware versions. The developer also lists TrollStore Lite, which requires an existing jailbreak.

How to enable JIT in Henge

JIT is required to run the virtual Mac.

The developer lists several possible methods:

1. StikDebug.
2. TrollStore on eligible firmware.
3. TrollStore Lite with a compatible jailbreak.
4. A suitable existing jailbreak.
5. The built-in StikJIT helper on iOS 26 or newer.

Choose the method compatible with your device.

For the built-in helper, follow Henge's setup instructions and complete any required device pairing.

Without JIT, macOS will not start normally.

How to install macOS using Henge

1. Open Henge.
2. Enable JIT.
3. Select the Install tab.
4. Choose macOS Sequoia 15.6.1.
5. Check the storage requirements.
6. Start the macOS download.
7. Keep your iPhone or iPad connected to power.
8. Keep Henge open during installation.
9. Allow the restore process to complete.
10. Open the newly created virtual Mac.
11. Start macOS.
12. Complete the available setup screens.
13. Open the Mac desktop.

The initial download and installation can take time, depending on your connection and device.

How much storage does Henge need?

For macOS Sequoia, the developer recommends approximately 43 GB of free storage.

About 17 GB is used for the macOS download and approximately 26 GB for the installed virtual Mac.

The downloaded restore image can be deleted after successful installation, according to the developer.

How to control macOS using an iPhone

The iPhone screen works as a virtual trackpad.

Tap to interact with the desktop, hold to drag an item and use two fingers to scroll.

Henge also provides keyboard controls for Escape, Tab, Control, Option and Command.

How to use a keyboard and mouse on iPad

Henge is designed to support compatible external keyboards and mouse devices on iPad.

Connect the input device through the usual iPadOS settings, then select the virtual Mac.

Physical iPad testing is still incomplete in the first release.

How to share files between Henge and iOS

1. Start the virtual Mac.
2. Open Terminal inside macOS.
3. Open Henge's Details screen on your iPhone.
4. Select Type the Set Up Command.
5. Press Return in the Mac Terminal.
6. Approve the local network and henge-agent permissions if requested.
7. Open the Henge folder on the Mac.
8. Open Files → Henge → Shared on your iPhone.
9. Transfer supported files through the shared folder.

The developer specifies using a U.S. keyboard layout during the setup command.

Important safety advice

Henge is experimental software.

Avoid storing your only copy of important files inside the virtual Mac.

Do not expect every macOS application to work.

Make sure the device has enough memory and storage before installation.

Henge provides experimental macOS emulation directly on compatible iPhones and iPads.

Run macOS on iPhone

Install and start a virtual Mac desktop without connecting to a real Mac.

Run macOS on iPad

Henge targets supported iPads, although physical iPad testing remains unconfirmed for the first release.

macOS Sequoia 15.6.1

This is the developer's confirmed working macOS version.

macOS Tahoe 26.6.2

Henge offers this version as an installation option, but it has not been tested successfully by the developer.

macOS 27.2

The installer also lists macOS 27.2, but its functionality is untested.

On-Device macOS Installation

Henge downloads Apple's macOS restore image directly onto the device.

No Mac Computer Needed

Users can install macOS using Henge without connecting to an existing Mac.

Custom macOS Emulator

The project uses its own emulator rather than QEMU or Apple's Virtualization.framework.

ARM64 Emulation

Henge runs supported macOS ARM64 instructions through its emulator.

JIT Support

Just-in-time compilation is required for useful emulation.

Custom Memory Management

Henge includes its own virtual memory management system.

Virtual Devices

The emulator provides virtual hardware components used by macOS.

Metal Graphics

Henge translates supported virtual GPU commands to Apple's Metal graphics system.

Safari Support

Safari opens and runs inside the tested macOS Sequoia installation.

Discord Support

The developer reports that Discord installs, opens, logs in and sends messages.

Chrome and Firefox Testing

The project documents graphics testing with Chrome and Firefox.

VS Code Testing

The developer includes VS Code among applications tested for rendering, without guaranteeing full functionality.

Touchscreen Trackpad

Control the virtual Mac through the iPhone touchscreen.

Drag and Drop

Hold and move a finger to drag supported items.

Two-Finger Scrolling

Use two fingers to scroll inside macOS.

Keyboard Shortcut Controls

Access Escape, Tab, Control, Option and Command through the on-screen controls.

External Keyboard Support

Henge is designed to work with supported keyboards on iPad.

Mouse and Trackpad Support

Compatible external pointing devices can control the virtual Mac on supported devices.

iPad Screen Layout

Henge is designed to create a virtual Mac display matching the iPad's screen proportions.

Clipboard Sharing

Copy and paste supported text between iOS and the emulated Mac.

Shared Folder

Exchange files between the macOS home folder and Files → Henge → Shared.

Multiple Virtual Mac Configurations

Users can manage Mac installations, although the developer states only one virtual Mac can start during a single Henge app launch.

Memory Configuration

Henge offers virtual Mac memory choices of 4 GB, 6 GB or 8 GB.

Larger configurations may require the increased memory limit entitlement.

StikDebug Support

Enable JIT through a compatible StikDebug setup.

Built-In StikJIT

On iOS 26 or newer, the developer provides a built-in JIT helper.

TrollStore Support

Use the developer's TIPA on eligible TrollStore firmware.

SideStore and AltStore

Install the standard Henge IPA through supported sideloading methods.

Supported iOS Versions

1. iOS 16 and older: Unsupported.
2. iOS 17: Meets the minimum; JIT required.
3. iOS 18: Meets the minimum; JIT required.
4. iOS 26: Supports the built-in StikJIT helper.
5. iOS 27: Meets minimum; actual results depend on the device and JIT.
6. Future releases: Not verified.

Supported Hardware

The minimum processor requirement is A14 or M1 and newer.

An A14 or newer processor is necessary but does not guarantee successful emulation.

Tested Device

The developer confirms testing on an iPhone 17 Pro.

The reported macOS lock-screen boot time is around 15 seconds on this specific device.

That is not a universal boot-time promise.

iPad Compatibility

Henge is designed for supported M-series iPads, but the developer has not tested the first release on a physical iPad.

Henge vs Remote Desktop

Henge runs the virtual Mac locally on the device.

Remote desktop applications connect to an existing computer.

Henge vs UTM

Both can provide emulation-related capabilities, but Henge uses its own macOS-focused emulator and installation method.

Henge vs Husk

Henge focuses on macOS emulation.

Husk is a separate project associated with other gaming and emulation use cases.

Important Limitations

Henge is slower than a real Mac.

Not every Mac application works.

macOS Apple Account sign-in currently fails with a verification error.

Some graphics may display incorrectly.

The first few minutes after macOS login can be slow.

Only one Mac can start per Henge application launch.

Some iPadOS keyboard shortcuts are reserved by the host operating system.

Large amounts of storage and memory are required.

The developer has not confirmed every advertised hardware or macOS combination.