SwiftVM contributors · Native macOS menu-bar virtualization for macOS and Linux on Apple silicon.
SwiftVM is a Virtualization & Containers app for Mac. It is free to use.
SwiftVM is a native macOS application built with Swift and Apple’s Virtualization framework. It manages macOS and Linux virtual machines from the menu bar; each guest display opens in its own window. Windows guests are planned, not currently supported.
swiftvm CLI and guest automation: execute commands, copy files, capture screens and control mouse/keyboard. The app must be running for the CLI.Apple silicon and macOS 27 or newer; Intel Macs are not supported. A Linux image is under 1 GB; a macOS restore image is about 25 GB, before guest storage. Free and open source under Apache-2.0.
brew install --cask swiftvm-app/tap/swiftvm
Or download the official DMG and drag SwiftVM to /. Launch it and use its menu-bar item; no main window opens automatically. Homebrew also installs the CLI. Automatic app updates are supported.
SwiftVM 1.4.0 adds reusable VM templates, unattended control of macOS guests, optional Linux VM disk compression, Windows 11 Arm guests via QEMU, and menu-bar update notifications.
Homebrew installs the app in your Applications folder.
Download the same file Homebrew uses: github.com/swiftvm-app/swiftvm/releases/download/v1.4.0/SwiftVM-1.4.0.dmg
SHA-256 only checks that the download is complete; it is not a security certification. See the SHA-256 and download address
$ brew uninstall --cask swiftvmA regular uninstall removes the app and keeps its settings and caches.
$ brew uninstall --zap --cask \swiftvm--zap also deletes the settings, caches and other files listed in the Homebrew definition. They can include data shared with other apps and cannot be restored, and it does not guarantee that nothing is left.See which files are removed
Yes, SwiftVM is free to use. Source: github.com/swiftvm-app/swiftvm/blob/v1.3.0/website/src/home.html, checked Oct 14.
SwiftVM’s source code is public on GitHub (swiftvm-app/swiftvm) under the Apache-2.0 license.
Run brew uninstall --cask swiftvm. To delete its settings and caches as well, run brew uninstall --zap --cask swiftvm. That also deletes 5 files and folders, including ~/.
Yes. The vendor states it runs natively on Apple silicon. Source: github.com/swiftvm-app/swiftvm/blob/v1.3.0/docs/user-guide/getting-started.md, checked Oct 14.
Its settings are in ~/. These locations come from Homebrew’s clean-up list.
The latest version is 1.4.0, added to Homebrew on Oct 15. SwiftVM updates itself; to update it with Homebrew, run brew upgrade --cask --greedy swiftvm.
It also adds 1 command-line tool: swiftvm.
SwiftVM brings macOS and Linux test machines to your Mac’s menu bar, with snapshots, cloning, a CLI and automation. This guide covers v1.3.0, and requirements for Apple silicon, macOS 27 and guest permissions.
Oct 15 · 5 min read