Boot a Virtual iPhone via Apple's Virtualization.framework

vphone-cli Boot a virtual iPhone via Apple's Virtualization.framework using PCC research VM infrastructure. Prerequisites Host: Apple Silicon macOS 15+ (Sequoia) Xcode + iOS SDK (cross-compiles the guest daemon) SIP/AMFI relaxation to allow private PV=3 entitlements with unsigned-binary Dependencies: brew install python@3.13 aria2 wget gnu-tar openssl@3 ldid-procursus sshpass keystone cmake libusb ipsw zstd Install brew install zqxwce/tap/vphone-cli Build git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/Lakr233/vphone-cli.git ./scripts/setup_tools.sh # install deps, build toolchain submodules, create the Python venv ./scripts/build.sh # build + sign vphone-cli, bundle the .app, cross-compile vphoned cd .build/vphone-cli.app/Contents/MacOS/ vphone-cli --help Quick Start One command creates a VM end-to-end (download → patch → DFU restore → CFW install → first boot): vphone-cli vm create myphone -V jb # -V / --variant vphone-cli vm launch myphone Commands vphone-cli vm create runs the whole pipeline; the individual steps below let you drive it manually or re-run one stage. Manage vphone-cli vm list # list VMs (--json for scripting) vphone-cli vm info myphone # show one VM vphone-cli vm new myphone # create an empty bundle (cpu/mem/disk options) vphone-cli vm config myphone --cpu 8 --memory 8192 vphone-cli vm clone myphone myphone-2 # fast APFS clone, fresh device identity vphone-cli vm export myphone --out myphone.tzst # zstd fast by default (--max = xz -9); --out may be a dir (auto-names .tzst/.txz); skips restore dir + staging files vphone-cli vm import myphone.tzst --name restored vphone-cli vm rename myphone iphone16 vphone-cli vm delete iphone16 Build a VM manually (what vm create automates) vphone-cli vm new myphone # 1. empty bundle vphone-cli fw prepare myphone --iphone-version 26.1 # 2. download + merge IPSWs vphone-cli fw patch myphone --variant jb # 3. patch the boot chain vphone-cli vm launch myphone --dfu & # 4. boot into DFU (background) vphone-cli restore myphone --get-shsh # fetch SHSH vphone-cli restore myphone # DFU restore vphone-cli vm stop myphone # stop the DFU boot vphone-cli cfw install myphone --variant jb # 5. install CFW (host-mount; asks for sudo) vphone-cli vm launch myphone # 6. first boot Update to a newer iOS by pointing fw prepare at an IPSW: --iphone-source /path/to.ipsw --cloudos-source /path/to.ipsw. Firmware Variants Five patch variants with increasing security bypass — pass one to --variant: See research/0_binary_patch_comparison.md for the per-component breakdown. Running & Connecting SSH (jailbreak): ssh -p 22222 mobile@ (password alpine) SSH (regular/dev): ssh -p 22222 root@ VNC: vnc:// :5901 Locations Everything vphone-cli creates lives under ~/.vphone/ — kept outside the repo and the .app so the signed bundle stays portable. Redirect the whole tree with $VPHONE_ROOT: Precedence: the per-item overrides ($VPHONE_LIBRARY_ROOT, $VPHONE_VENV_DIR) win over $VPHONE_ROOT, which wins over the ~/.vphone default. The ipsws/, tools/, and debs/ caches always sit directly under whichever root is active. SIP/AMFI Relaxation Option A — fully disable SIP, then disable AMFI via boot-arg (most permissive). In Recovery (long-press power → Terminal): csrutil disable csrutil allow-research-guests enable Then reboot into macOS and set the AMFI boot-arg (needs SIP fully off to take effect): sudo nvram boot-args="amfi_get_out_of_my_way=1 -v" # reboot after Option B — keep SIP on (debug-only relaxed), then allowlist the binary with amfidont (leaves AMFI enabled system-wide). In Recovery: csrutil enable --without debug csrutil allow-research-guests enable Then reboot into macOS and: vphone-amfidont # .build/vphone-cli.app/Contents/Resources/vphone-amfidont for local builds Tested Environments FAQ zsh: killed ./vphone-cli — AMFI/debug restrictions aren't bypassed; see Prerequisites (amfi_get_out_of_my_way=1 or amfidont). Virtualization is not available on this hardware — your Mac is itself a VM; PV=3 guest boot can't nest. Use a non-nested macOS 15+ host. Stuck on "Press home to continue" — connect via VNC and right-click (two-finger click) to simulate the home button. System apps won't install — during iOS setup, don't pick Japan or the EU as your region (extra regulatory checks the VM can't satisfy); pick e.g. United States. App crashes on launch with EXC_GUARD / GUARD_TYPE_MACH_PORT — re-patch with vphone-cli fw patch --variant --force-exc-guard, then re-restore/install (#291). Always on for iOS 18 bases. Install a .ipa/.tipa — use the running VM's Install menu (drag-drop or file picker). cfw install hangs re-signing a system binary (e.g. Campo), memory climbing unbounded — known bug in ldid-procursus up to 2.1.5-procursus7 (the current Homebrew stable): bytes(uint64_t) calls __builtin_clzll(0) with no zero-guard, which is undefined behavior, and on this build resolves to a 0-length that underflows an unsigned loop counter — ldid spins writing one byte at a time into a growing buffer instead of terminating. Triggered by any entitlements plist containing an integer value of exactly 0 (some real Apple system binaries have these). Fixed upstream but not yet in a tagged release; rebuild from source: brew install --HEAD ldid-procursus && brew link --overwrite ldid-procursus. Kill the hung ldid process first (sudo kill -9 ) if you already hit it. Automation vphone-cli exposes a host control socket ( /vphone.sock) for programmatic control — screenshots, touch, swipes, hardware keys, clipboard — each action returning an inline screenshot for AI-driven E2E testing. See vphone-mcp for an MCP server wrapping it. Acknowledgements wh1te4ever/super-tart-vphone-writeup