Forget Sidecar, someone just got the real macOS working on an iPad and it proves itd be a terrible idea

Date:
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Description:
Virtual Mac on iPad lets you run macOS on your iPad, but I think its more effort than its worth.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Virtual Mac on iPad gets macOS running on compatible iPads It requires a jailbroken tablet and specific versions of iPadOS Its many limitations mean I dont think its worth the
hassle For years, people have been wondering if Apple is ever going to merge iPadOS and macOS into some unholy mutant operating system . While Apple has repeatedly and resoundingly denied thats ever going to happen, one intrepid developer has taken it upon themselves to do the hard work instead. And while the result lets you run full-fat macOS on your iPad Pro or iPad Air , I wouldnt recommend it to anyone but the hardiest of souls.

Dubbed Virtual Mac on iPad , this GitHub project ports macOS onto Apples best iPads . That means its nothing like Apples Sidecar feature , which lets you use an iPad as a second display for a Mac. In the case of Sidecar, the Mac is doing all the processing. With Virtual Mac on iPad, however, its your iPad thats actually running the operating system. Unfortunately, getting that to actually happen is more than a little convoluted. You cant even get started unless youve jailbroken your iPad, which means hacking it so it can run apps and systems not authorized by Apple. As well as that, the jailbroken iPad
must be running iPadOS 16 to iPadOS 16.3.1 nothing more, nothing less in order to harness an exploit that was patched in subsequent editions. The requirements so far will probably be enough to put a lot of people off.
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If youve persevered, youll need to add a specified repository to your device and install Virtual Mac on iPad from there. But youll need to be aware that even with macOS successfully set up, you wont be able to log into your Apple Account since youre using a jailbroken device with an unofficial port of macOS, youll run into problems if you try to sign in, putting features like Find My and iCloud syncing out of reach. Is it worth it? (Image credit:
Apple) Why would you go to all this effort to run macOS on your iPad? Well, there are a few reasons, including accessing Mac-only apps and getting a more portable platform to run macOS on. You may like 3 reasons why Apple's macOS
27 beta isn't the lowkey release it first seems I don't use iPhones, but I'll keep using iPads until Android tablets catch up to iPadOS in one key way
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But I certainly dont think its a good idea. Apples iPadOS and macOS systems have been designed for very different use cases, and simply shoehorning a platform designed for a Mac onto an iPad isnt a guarantee of success.

For one thing, macOS is made for large screens and input devices like mice
and keyboards, while iPadOS works best on smaller screens operated by your fingers and thumbs. Sure, theres some crossover Im aware that you can use mice and keyboards with an iPad , for example but that doesnt escape the
fact that Virtual Mac on iPad puts the Macs operating system on a device it was never intended for. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your
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As well as that, it requires a lot of effort for seemingly very small
rewards. There are only a handful of cases where installing Virtual Mac on iPad is worthwhile, at least in my opinion: accessing apps like Xcode and Terminal that arent available in iPadOS, for example, or getting macOS on the most portable device possible.

But Apples best MacBooks are still lightweight and easy to carry around, and with a touchscreen MacBook Pro rumored to be just around the corner and Sidecar already a thing, the need for something like Virtual Mac on iPad
feels limited. Is it worthwhile to go to all this trouble just for an ounce more portability? Im sure it is for some people, but that number is likely to be vanishingly small.

At the end of the day, I know there will be some people for whom this is a welcome development. But its complicated installation process and limited use case just reinforce for me that Apple is absolutely right not to merge iPadOS and macOS. Theyre meant to be separate, just as Apple intended. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best MacBooks and Macs for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best MacBooks and Macs 1. Best MacBook overall: MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget MacBook: MacBook Neo 3. Best Mac: Mac mini (M4) 4. Best MacBook Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 5. Best Mac for professionals Mac Studio M4 Max



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