What if your iPhone could run Ubuntu, Debian or Arch Linux like a real computer? That’s exactly what an open-source project called crate aims to deliver, bringing complete Linux desktop environments to iPhone and iPad through locally running virtual machines.
Unlike cloud-based Linux services, crate runs entirely on your device. Your virtual machine, applications and files stay on your iPhone or iPad, with no remote server required.
The latest crate v0.1.4 release adds several useful improvements, including external monitor support, adjustable storage, better mouse controls and more reliable JIT activation.
Linux Distributions You Can Run on iPhone
crate isn’t limited to a basic Linux terminal. It supports complete ARM64 Linux distributions with graphical desktop environments.
| Linux Distribution | Desktop Environment |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | GNOME |
| Debian 13 | KDE Plasma / Xfce |
| Arch Linux ARM | KDE Plasma / Xfce |
Each installation gets its own user account and package manager, allowing users to install Linux applications such as browsers, development tools, CAD software and coding agents.
The interesting part: These are full Linux installations running locally, not simplified terminal environments or remote desktop sessions.
GPU Acceleration Makes Linux More Practical
One of crate’s standout features is its custom emulation engine, written in Rust.
It translates ARM64 instructions to run on Apple’s ARM hardware, while its graphics stack allows Linux applications to use the iPhone’s GPU.
The technology combines virglrenderer, ANGLE and MoltenVK to provide hardware-accelerated OpenGL rendering.
According to the developer, even desktop compositing and supported 3D applications can benefit from GPU acceleration.
crate v0.1.4: What’s New?
The latest release focuses on making Linux virtual machines more convenient to use on mobile devices.
| Feature | Improvement |
|---|---|
| External monitor | Run Linux at the connected display’s resolution |
| Disk storage | Choose virtual disk sizes from 16 GB upwards |
| Memory | Adjust VM memory limits through settings |
| iPad controls | Improved mouse, scrolling and trackpad support |
| JIT | More reliable activation and reconnection |
| Diagnostics | Better logging and crash-related information |
Your iPhone Can Become a Desktop Computer
External monitor support is particularly interesting.
Connect an external display and the Linux desktop can use its full resolution, while your iPhone or iPad acts as a trackpad.
iPad users also get mouse wheel scrolling, pointer movement and right- and middle-click support.
Other useful features include:
- Flexible controls: Touchscreen, physical keyboard and on-screen keyboard support.
- Foldable layouts: Dedicated interfaces for iPhone Duo.
- VM management: Choose storage during installation and adjust memory later.
- Developer tools: Access VM serial consoles and diagnostic logs.
Installation Requires JIT
There is one important limitation: crate cannot be installed through the regular App Store.
The project requires Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation, which iOS restricts to applications with an attached debugger.
Instead, users download an unsigned IPA from the project’s GitHub releases and sign it using their own Apple account.
JIT can then be enabled using either:
- Built-in StikJIT: Integrated directly into crate.
- StikDebug: An external tool for enabling JIT.
The developer also provides installation instructions, including a workflow that can be assisted by Claude Code.
You can find the installation guide here.
Download crate v0.1.4
The latest release is available as an unsigned IPA for iPhone and iPad.
Useful links:
A Pocket-Sized Linux Computer?
crate is an interesting project for developers and Linux enthusiasts who want more control over their Apple devices.
Running full desktop distributions, accessing GPU acceleration and connecting an external monitor make it considerably more ambitious than a simple Linux terminal app.
There are still limitations, particularly around JIT installation and hardware compatibility, but crate v0.1.4 shows how much can be achieved by running Linux directly on an iPhone or iPad.