Once QEMU is downloaded, you can create a virtual disk and boot an ISO:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)" Use code with caution. Run the installation command: brew install qemu Use code with caution. Verify: Check that it's working by typing: qemu-system-x86_64 --version Use code with caution. 2. Alternative Method: Install via MacPorts If you prefer MacPorts, the process is similar: Open Terminal. Update your ports: sudo port selfupdate . Install the package: sudo port install qemu . 3. Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) vs. Intel Considerations
qemu-system-x86_64 -m 2048 -enable-kvm -hda mydisk.qcow2 -cdrom ubuntu.iso -boot d
Binaries are typically in /usr/local/bin . For the best performance on Intel, you can use HAXM acceleration or the native -accel hvf flag. 4. Is there a GUI version?
QEMU is a powerful open-source emulator and virtualizer that allows you to run almost any operating system on your Mac, from Windows and Linux to legacy macOS versions. While it doesn't have a traditional ".dmg" installer, downloading and installing it is straightforward using macOS package managers. 1. Recommended Method: Install via Homebrew
Installation via Homebrew places binaries in /opt/homebrew/bin . To achieve near-native performance for ARM-based guests (like Linux ARM64), use the -accel hvf flag to leverage Apple's Hypervisor.framework.
Press Command + Space , type "Terminal," and hit Enter.