README

Try Omarchy

Omarchy inside Apple's Ecosystem.

Try Omarchy is a Mac app that runs stock Omarchy in a fast virtual machine deeply integrated with macOS. Use it as your daily driver, or give Omarchy a try and migrate to a native install. Integrations include Apple's universal clipboard, AirPods, Touch ID, the Retina display, Super shortcuts, Mac clipboard, audio, camera, battery, and a shared folder. The official Omarchy Mac image is used, so it behaves and updates like any other Omarchy install.

 Get started

1. Download the latest .dmg from Releases.
2. Drag Try Omarchy to Applications and open it.
3. Optionally configure permissions for the full experience.
3. Click Launch Omarchy.

The first launch downloads the Omarchy image (about 3 GB). You need an Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 15 or newer and about 15 GB of free space.



 How it works

- Omarchy is stock. The VM runs the official aarch64 Omarchy from Omarchy's own repositories. Try Omarchy adds one package, try-omarchy, and changes no file that Omarchy owns.
- Omarchy updates itself. Run omarchy update, or use Update → Omarchy, whenever you like. Each update takes a snapshot first, so you can roll back from the boot menu.
- The app updates the Mac integrations. Each app release brings a newer, local try-omarchy package, which the VM installs at its next boot.
- Edge channel for now. Omarchy publishes for ARM on edge only.

 What you get

- Native CPU speed through Apple's Hypervisor framework, and GPU-accelerated graphics
- A full-screen or windowed desktop that follows your display's resolution, scaling and supports the notch
- Command works as Super. Mac keyboard layouts are mapped correctly
- Two-way clipboard for text and images
- Mac audio output and microphone, with live device switching
- The Mac camera, available to Omarchy as a webcam
- The Mac's battery in the Omarchy bar, including detailed information
- One shared Mac folder, under the same name (~/Work stays ~/Work)
- Touch ID for sudo and 1Password
- Port forwarding, SSH, bridged networking and USB passthrough (experimental)

Limitations:

- Video decoding uses the CPU, so multiple high-resolution playback can stutter.
- Vulkan is not available.
- Nested virtualization is opt-in for now.

 Manual

Settings live in the launcher. Once Omarchy is running, open them with Setup → Try Omarchy Settings.

The manual covers what's specific to running Omarchy in Try Omarchy:

- Getting started
- Omarchy on a Mac
- Files, network and devices
- Touch ID
- Updates and your data
- Troubleshooting

For Omarchy itself, see the Omarchy manual.

 Help

- Problems with Try Omarchy: see troubleshooting, or open an issue.
- Problems in Omarchy itself: if it also happens on real hardware, report it to Omarchy.
- Security issues: follow SECURITY.md.

 Power users and contributors

- Architecture: how the app, QEMU, the image and the guest package fit together.
- Contributing: principles, building from source, tests and CI.
- AGENTS.md: instruction

Top issues

Latest release

This release brings a new native macOS launcher, browser swipe navigation, and input source switching for Korean, Chinese and Japanese Macs 💻

You can upgrade by replacing the app with the new TryOmarchy.dmg. Your VM and its files are kept, and Omarchy inside the VM keeps updating with omarchy update.

 Features

 New native launcher that follows Light and Dark mode, laid out like System Settings with a sidebar by @themartiano in 364
 Two-finger swipes go back and forward in browsers, like on the Mac by @sscarduzio, @themartiano in 401, 412
 Caps Lock is the 한/영 key on Korean Macs by @