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# Apple Reconsiders its Approval of Open-Source Emulator App for iOS
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/apple-approves-utm-se/
- Published: 2024-07-15T11:11:01.000Z
- Updated: 2024-07-15T11:11:01.000Z
- Description: Thank you, Apple, more open-source options for the users!
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Open Source, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

If I got a dime each time [Apple](https://www.apple.com/?ref=news.itsfoss.com) did something to gatekeep their ecosystem, I would've been a wealthy man by now 😁

Just a month or so ago, they had decided to [block the publishing](https://itsfoss.com/apple-blocks-utm-se/) of an open-source emulator app for iOS, without providing any clarity over what the issue was.

Even the developers gave up, citing that UTM SE was a “*subpar experience and isn't worth fighting for*”, and unless Apple changed their stance, they wouldn't invest any additional time/effort into it.

But, in a surprise move, Apple has gone back on the initial gatekeeping-fueled decision, which is unusual to see.

## Apple Warms Up To UTM SE: What Gives?

> We are happy to announce that UTM SE is available (for free) on iOS and visionOS App Store (and coming soon to AltStore PAL)!  
>  
> Shoutouts to AltStore team for their help and to Apple for reconsidering their policy.[https://t.co/HAV5JnT5GO](https://t.co/HAV5JnT5GO?ref=itsfoss.com)
> 
> — UTM (@UTMapp) [July 13, 2024](https://twitter.com/UTMapp/status/1812238024220238180?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=itsfoss.com)

Over the weekend, UTM [announced](https://x.com/UTMapp/status/1812238024220238180?ref=itsfoss.com) that UTM SE was now available for iOS and visionOS, and that the [AltStore](https://altstore.io/?ref=itsfoss.com) team helped them out, with a thanks to Apple for revisiting their policy.

If you are not familiar, UTM SE is the less powerful version of [UTM](https://getutm.app/?ref=itsfoss.com), an emulator/virtual machine host for Apple devices that allows users to run different operating systems on their machines.

Some **key features** include:

- **Based on QEMU**
- **Custom Configs for Machines**
- **Support for emulating x86, RISC-V, and PPC.**
- **VGA Mode for Graphics & Terminal Mode for Text-Only**

Having said that, the emulation experience for old operating systems with this should be decent, but, don't expect anything extraordinary like running a modern Linux distro such as Ubuntu or Fedora in their full glory, with usable performance.

That is thanks to the lack of [JIT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-in-time%5Fcompilation?ref=news.itsfoss.com) support, which Apple still closely guards, keeping it locked up, citing “*security reasons*”. Here's the catch, though, Android has had that support for ages now.

Naturally, the [Sherlock Holmes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock%5FHolmes?ref=itsfoss.com) in me thinks that Apple just doesn't want to be caught lacking, trying to skirt their way around the [Digital Markets Act](https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/index%5Fen?ref=news.itsfoss.com) (DMA). Take [the battle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic%5FGames%5Fv.%5FApple?ref=itsfoss.com) between them and Epic Games, which has seen them finally [approve](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/07/report-apple-approves-epic-games-store-on-ios-in-europe/?ref=itsfoss.com) the Epic Games store app for iOS in Europe, after they rejected it **twice**.

*I still think that Apple doesn't really learn until it is forced to.* 😆

## 📥 Get UTM SE

For now, those who are interested in trying UTM SE out can get it from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/utm-se-retro-pc-emulator/id1564628856?ref=itsfoss.com), where it has been made available for the **iPhone**, **iPad**, and **Apple Vision**.

[UTM SE (App Store)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/utm-se-retro-pc-emulator/id1564628856?ref=itsfoss.com)

The developers have also mentioned that UTM SE will be arriving at [AltStore PAL](https://rileytestut.com/blog/2024/04/17/introducing-altstore-pal/?ref=itsfoss.com) very soon (*as mentioned in the tweet above*). It is a store geared towards European users, which is open-source and decentralized in nature.

*💬 What do you think of Apple's decision? Are they trying to avoid a compliance issue with DMA?*

**Suggested Read** 📖

[Apple Decides to Block Open-Source Emulator App for iOSApple being Apple.![](https://news.itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/08/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://news.itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/06/apple-blocks-opensource-emulator.png)](https://itsfoss.com/apple-blocks-utm-se/)