QEMU

QEMU is an open-source project that emulates whole machines and also acts as a virtualiser. By modelling a computer's processor, memory and devices, it lets an operating system meant for one hardware platform run on a different one; it can also run individual Linux or BSD programs compiled for another processor. Paired with a hypervisor such as KVM, Xen or Hypervisor.Framework, guest systems execute directly on the host CPU at close to native speed.

What QEMU offers

• Full-system emulation — starts complete guest operating systems for any machine type QEMU supports, on any supported host.
• User-mode emulation — executes single Linux or BSD programs meant for another target, with no need to emulate a full computer.
• Virtualisation — runs KVM and Xen guests at close to native speed.
• Disk image tools — command-line utilities such as qemu-img to create, convert and edit disk images.
• Broad host support — builds on Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD and Windows.

Key facts

• Licence: GNU General Public License, version 2
• Governance: a member project of the Software Freedom Conservancy, with a six-member Leadership Committee
• Latest release: version 11.1.1, released on 26 August 2026