What is it?
What it is
A macOS app that packages a built ARM64 Arch Linux image with Omarchy Quattro, running via QEMU under the Apple Hypervisor Framework, providing a hardware-accelerated native desktop experience on Apple Silicon.
Why it exists
To run the upstream Omarchy desktop as a native, hardware-accelerated application on Apple Silicon Macs, enabling deep macOS integration features like clipboard sharing, folder sharing, and port forwarding, while remaining an independent open-source project.
Who should use it
Apple Silicon Mac owners who want to try the Omarchy Linux desktop without setting up bare-metal dual boot or a traditional VMDevelopers and enthusiasts curious about ARM64 Arch Linux + QEMU/HVF integration on macOSmacOS power users who need occasional Linux access (clipboard sharing, folder sharing, port forwarding) from a single native appContributors interested in reproducible ARM64 guest images, Swift/AppKit launchers, or QEMU packaging for macOS
Who should avoid it
Users on Intel Macs (project requires arm64)Users on macOS 14 or earlier (requires macOS 15+)Users without ~8 GB free disk space for the initial VMUsers expecting hardware-accelerated video decoding (currently CPU-only, slow at high resolutions)Anyone needing a production-stable 1.0 release (project is pre-1.0 and actively changing)Users who need a Linux environment on non-APFS volumes (exFAT/FAT/NTFS and network drives are refused)
Stars over time
+160 stars in the last 2 days
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How try-omarchy works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open try-omarchy, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- Runs upstream Omarchy desktop as a native macOS app
- Hardware-accelerated graphics for smooth performance
- Seamless clipboard and file sharing between macOS and Omarchy
- Easy installation via signed DMG
- Configurable VM location on APFS drives
- Port forwarding for services
- Active development and community support
Disadvantages
- Video decoding is CPU-only, causing slow playback at high resolutions
- Requires Apple Silicon Mac and macOS 15 or newer
- Pre-1.0 software, may have bugs or incomplete features
- Not affiliated with or endorsed by Basecamp/Omarchy
- Requires at least 8 GB free initially, up to 30 GB as it fills
- Limited to ARM64 architecture
Installation
cloud
No cloud deployment instructions are provided in the README.
docker
A running Docker-compatible engine that supports privileged linux/arm64 containers is required for development builds. The build process uses a project-scoped Docker builder image and work volumes, which are removed by `make clean`.
native
Install Xcode command-line tools with Swift 6, Python 3, and pkg-config (via Homebrew: `brew install pkg-config`). Run `make doctor` for preflight checks. Build and run with `make build run`.
compose
No Docker Compose setup is documented in the README.
FAQ
How do I install Try Omarchy on my Apple Silicon Mac?
Download the latest signed and notarized .dmg from the Releases page, open it, and drag Try Omarchy to your Applications folder. Then launch it from Applications.
What are the system requirements for running Try Omarchy?
You need an Apple Silicon Mac (arm64), macOS 15 or newer, and at least 8 GB of free disk space initially.
How can I share a folder between macOS and the Omarchy guest?
Use the Choose… button next to Shared folder on the start menu to select a macOS folder; it will appear in the guest under the same path (e.g., ~/Work) with full read/write access. You can turn the share off later without losing the selection.
How does port forwarding work in Try Omarchy?
From the start menu, click Configure… next to Port forwarding to map a Mac localhost port to a service port in the guest (TCP or UDP). Forwarded ports bind only to 127.0.0.1. From the guest, reach a Mac service at 10.0.2.2:<Mac port>.
Where is the virtual machine data stored and can I change its location?
By default the VM resides in ~/Library/Application Support/Try Omarchy/VM/v1. You can change the location via the VM Location row on the start menu; the target folder must be empty or previously used by Omarchy, on APFS, and you need roughly 7 GB free to create it (up to 30 GB as it fills). Changing the location does not move existing VM data.
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