Virtualization framework is a high-level API to create macOS and Linux virtual machines.
Hypervisor is a low-level API to build virtualization solutions without the need for a kernel extension.
If you’re interested in containers on the Mac, check out the Containerization package and its associated container tool.
Virtualization:
- Forums subtopic: App & System Services > Core OS
- Forums tag: Virtualization
- Virtualization framework documentation
- Using iCloud with macOS virtual machines documentation article
- Use iCloud on a virtual machine support article
- Running macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon sample code
- Running Linux in a Virtual Machine sample code
- Running GUI Linux in a virtual machine on a Mac sample code
- Building macOS apps with Xcode 26 on macOS 26 VM forums thread — This thread describes how the development experience in VMs has improved recently, and one remaining issue that you might bump in to.
Hypervisor:
- Forums subtopic: App & System Services > Core OS
- Forums tag: Hypervisor
- Hypervisor framework documentation
Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!” @ Developer Technical Support @ Apple
let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@" + "apple.com"