UTM SE: Run Windows, Linux and Old PCs on iPhone (2026)
UTM is a free, open-source app that runs other operating systems inside a virtual PC on your iPhone or iPad: old Windows versions, DOS, Linux and more. Its lighter version, UTM SE, is on the App Store, so you can try it without sideloading. Before you search for “Windows on iPhone”, set your expectations: on an iPhone, UTM emulates a PC in software, which is slow, and UTM SE is slower still because it cannot use JIT. Old Windows and lightweight Linux run well; Windows 10 or 11 on an iPhone is a curiosity, not a daily computer. Facts are from UTM’s documentation and its App Store listing. Last checked: October 27, 2026.
The Short Version
- UTM SE is free on the App Store (publisher Turing Software, LLC, iOS 15 or later; version 5.0.8 in October 2026). It emulates x86, ARM, PowerPC and RISC-V computers.
- UTM’s docs describe UTM SE as “a stripped down version of UTM which does not support JIT and uses a slower interpreter”. It is meant for “older operating systems such as DOS or stripped down operating systems such as Alpine Linux”.
- The full UTM app is faster because it uses JIT, but it has to be sideloaded with SideStore or AltStore and needs a JIT enabler such as StikDebug.
- Windows needs your own license. UTM’s Windows guide says that however you get the installer, “you must have a valid license from Microsoft to run Windows”.
- True virtualization (near-native speed) on iOS is only available on iPads with an M1 chip or newer, and only with TrollStore. On an iPhone, everything is emulated.
UTM SE or Full UTM?
| UTM SE | UTM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | App Store | Sideload |
| JIT | No | Yes |
| Speed | Slowest | Faster |
| Any signer | Yes | Dev cert only |
| Best for | DOS, old OS | Bigger systems |
Start with UTM SE. Move to the full UTM only if you need more speed and are ready to set up sideloading and JIT.
What Runs Well and What Does Not
UTM’s documentation does not promise speeds, so here is what follows from how it works:
- Runs well: DOS and DOS games, Windows 3.x, 95, 98 and other classic Windows versions, classic Mac OS and lightweight Linux distributions such as Alpine. These systems were built for computers far slower than an iPhone, so software emulation is enough. UTM’s “Classic Windows” guide uses an emulated PC from around 1996 for “any version of Windows before Windows XP”.
- Usable with patience: Windows XP and lightweight desktop Linux, especially in the full UTM with JIT.
- Very slow: Windows 10 and 11. They are designed for modern PCs, and on an iPhone every instruction is emulated. Expect long boot times and a sluggish desktop. It can be fun to try, but it is not a replacement for a PC.
- Not possible: running Windows apps as normal iPhone apps. Everything runs inside the virtual machine window.
Memory is a limit too. iOS gives each app a capped amount of RAM, and the virtual machine has to fit inside that.
Windows Licensing
UTM itself is free, but Windows is not. UTM’s guide says that regardless of how you get the installer, you need a valid Microsoft license to run Windows. For Windows 10 and 11, download the installer from Microsoft itself. For old versions such as Windows 98 or XP, use your own original discs or install media and their product keys. Do not use pre-made “Windows images” from download sites: besides the licensing problem, you cannot know what was changed in them.
Free alternatives that need no license: Linux distributions such as Alpine, Debian or Ubuntu, and FreeDOS.
How to Set Up UTM SE
- Install UTM SE: Retro PC emulator from the App Store (publisher: Turing Software, LLC).
- Get an operating system: either a pre-built machine (the App Store listing says you can “run pre-built machines”; UTM links a gallery of them on its website), or an installer ISO you are allowed to use.
- In UTM SE, tap + to create a virtual machine, pick the operating system type and the boot image, set the memory and disk size, and save.
- Tap the virtual machine to start it, and follow the installer on screen.
UTM SE supports a graphics (VGA) mode and a text-only terminal mode. A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse make any desktop operating system much easier to use.
How to Install the Full UTM (Faster, With JIT)
- Set up SideStore or AltStore; see our SideStore setup guide. UTM’s docs call AltStore the recommended way and SideStore also recommended.
- Add UTM’s source,
https://alt.getutm.app, and install UTM. - Enable JIT for UTM, for example with StikDebug on iOS 17.4 and later; see how to enable JIT with StikDebug.
UTM’s docs warn that many “cloud” signing services “do not work with UTM because they use the wrong kind of signing certificate”, which shows up as a crash or black screen when a VM starts. In Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, UTM must be listed under Developer App; if it is under Enterprise App, the certificate is wrong. That is why the full UTM does not work through certificate-based installers such as Scarlet iOS, while UTM SE “is compatible with all signing services”.
FAQ
Can I run Windows 11 on my iPhone?
Technically, with the full UTM and JIT, but it is very slow because it is emulated, and you need a valid Windows license. It is not practical for daily use.
Is UTM SE free?
Yes, on the App Store. Operating systems you run in it may need their own licenses.
Why is UTM SE so slow?
Apple does not allow App Store apps to use JIT, so UTM SE uses an interpreter, which UTM’s docs describe as slower.
Does UTM work on iPad better than on iPhone?
Larger screens and more memory help, and on M1 or newer iPads with TrollStore UTM can use real virtualization. Without TrollStore, an iPad emulates like an iPhone.
Can I play old PC games with UTM SE?
Yes, DOS and early Windows games are what UTM SE suits best. Use copies you own. For console games, see our best emulators for iPhone.