Can You Run iOS on a Nintendo Switch? Yes — But Barely

Abdullah Mustapha

June 21, 2025

Image Credit: koc

In a weird and highly technical experiment, developers have managed to boot Apple’s iOS operating system on a Nintendo Switch. Even though the experience may sound like a breakthrough, the project was more of a technical trick than a real practical achievement. The procedure revealed the harsh constraints of having iOS on non-Apple hardware.

iOS Booted on Nintendo Switch: A Discreet Experiment with Limited Payoffs

Image Credit: @Patrosi73

The Process Behind the Project

Two days were required to install iOS on the Nintendo Switch. The operating system was booted on a virtual environment using QEMU, an open-source emulator. QEMU allows operating systems to run on hardware they were not designed for. The setup helped in booting iOS on the Switch but was not smooth.

Severe Performance Issues

Once done, iOS took approximately 20 minutes to boot up. The device didn’t work and immediately got into trouble. Attempting to start an application would result in kernel panic errors. These are serious system crashes, most often caused by hardware and software conflicts.

Even the iOS itself took a long time to load. It was slow to bring up simple things like menus and icons to appear or even respond. The Switch hardware simply can’t keep up with Apple’s software, which relies so heavily on specific chipsets and components found only on Apple hardware.

A Glimpse into iOS’s Hardware Dependence

This test showed just how tied iOS is to Apple’s hardware. Despite the emulator helping to boot the system, performance as a whole was poor. Apps weren’t usable, and the phone crawled. One developer compared it to “the world’s slowest iPhone”.

Read Also: Nintendo Sells 3.5 Million Switch 2 Units Worldwide in Under a Week

Future Possibilities and Risks

No word yet whether developers will attempt this on the so-called Nintendo Switch 2 or with improved emulation software. But there is a real risk of bricking the hardware by installing unsupported systems. While intriguing, those tests are best left in the hands of technology experts who understand the risks.

What This Means

This project demonstrates the creativity and determination of the tech community. It shows how far developers will go to test limits. But it also reminds us that just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s practical.

What are your thoughts on running iOS on a Nintendo Switch? Does this kind of experiment excite or worry you? Let us know in the comments.

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