Jailbreak Community Transforms iPad with macOS, Expanding Apple’s Tablet Capabilities and Reviving Hackintosh Dreams with Ambitious Porting Project

The integration of macOS into the iPad remains largely aspirational for the time being. However, the jailbreak community is making strides towards realizing this vision by attempting to adapt the Mac operating system for Apple’s high-performance tablets. For enthusiasts dreaming of a touchscreen Mac experience, a new jailbreak tool is emerging, which enables users to navigate and control macOS on their iPads. What once seemed like an outlandish “hackintosh” scenario is now becoming a tangible reality, thanks to the creativity and determination of jailbreak enthusiasts.

Jailbreak Community Advances macOS Porting Project on iPad

Developer Duy Tran has made notable progress in launching basic utilities such as Terminal, Disk Utility, Activity Monitor, and even Xcode on iPhone hardware through a project known as MacWSBootingGuide. Achieving this feat is no small task; it demands an imaginative approach to push Apple devices beyond their standard operational limits. While the current tests run on iPhone, the underlying similarities between iOS and iPadOS suggest that an adaptation for the iPad is certainly within reach.

As of now, the status of jailbreak tools is somewhat ambiguous. Nevertheless, options like palera1n and Dopamine remain available for older devices equipped with an A11 Bionic chip or earlier models. This situation arises from the presence of the secure checkm8 exploit in these devices, which Apple has been unable to eliminate through software updates. Consequently, this has permitted users to liberate their devices from Apple’s confines, facilitating the installation of tweaks and modifications that do not adhere to Apple’s rigid guidelines. However, such actions are not without inherent security vulnerabilities and technical risks.

macOS on iPhone running Activity Monitor and Xcode pic.twitter.com/wPGvNRtD6P

— Duy Tran (@khanhduytran0) August 11, 2025

So, what implications does the porting of macOS to the iPad hold? It’s essential to understand that this is not an initiative to replace iPadOS with macOS. Rather, it reflects an ambition to broaden the capabilities of the iPad. Apple’s software chief, Craig Federighi, has previously expressed reservations about running macOS on the iPad, fearing it would transform the device into a “spork” — an ineffective tool that attempts to serve multiple purposes without excelling in any. Apple remains committed to maintaining the iPad as a touch-focused tablet and the Mac as a dedicated desktop and laptop experience.

For developers and tech enthusiasts, MacWSBootingGuide transcends the notion of a mere proof of concept; it challenges the perception that platform limitations are immutable. While most users will continue to employ iPadOS as Apple envisioned, such exploratory ventures are likely to inspire innovative features and discussions around hardware modularity. As noted by Steve Troughton-Smith on Mastodon, the term “hackintosh” may soon evolve to refer to iPads running macOS, rather than just Macintosh clones. He posits, “Apple may not bring macOS to iPad, but it looks like we’re nearing a point where individuals can hackintosh it together on a jailbroken device.” Duy Tran has also shared a series of posts on X, displaying images of Terminal and other apps running on the device, albeit in a preliminary state. We will keep you informed on any developments regarding this project, so stay tuned for updates.

Source & Images