nxnative requirements
nxnative needs a recent Apple device to play on, a Mac to build the app, and your own game files and keys. Here is the full list from the official README.
Devices you can play on
| Device | Requirement |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later), iOS 26 or later |
| iPad | M1 chip or later, iPadOS 26 or later |
| Mac | Apple silicon, with the app packed using --platform mac-app |
The reason for the iPhone limit is texture format: Switch games use BC-compressed textures, and older iPhones cannot read them.
To build the app
- A Mac with Xcode and Homebrew.
- The tools the README installs: xcodegen, zstd, spirv-cross, glslang, the .NET SDK and a few Python packages.
- Free disk space of about twice the size of the game files plus 10 GB.
- Time: the first build takes 30–60 minutes, later ones about 10.
Your own game and keys
nxnative works only with files from a game you own: the base game, and its update and DLC if you have them, plus your own prod.keys. Nothing from any game is in the repository, and this site does not explain how to obtain game files or keys. Any game version works, but each game was tested on one version, and the 60 fps fixes only apply to the tested one.
To install on iPhone or iPad
- A sideloading tool such as AltStore, Sideloadly or LiveContainer.
- If your tool can, sign with the Increased Memory Limit capability. Without it iOS gives the app about 3.4 GB and closes bigger games; Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Hades II need more, and Breath of the Wild and Cuphead come close. With it, a recent iPhone gives about 6 GB.
Requirements questions
Does nxnative work on iPhone 14 or iPhone 15?
Not according to the nxnative README: it needs an iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later). The regular iPhone 15 and older models cannot read the BC-compressed textures. MacNativeGames, a separate project, says its Zelda iOS builds run on iPhone 14 or newer.
Does it work on an iPad?
Yes, on an iPad with an M1 chip or later running iPadOS 26 or later.
Do I need a Mac?
Yes, to build the app. The script runs on a Mac with Xcode and Homebrew. To play on a Mac, it needs Apple silicon.
Do I need a paid Apple developer account?
No. You can install the IPA with a sideloading tool such as AltStore, Sideloadly or LiveContainer. With a developer account you can also build and install from Xcode.
Why does a big game close on my iPhone?
Without the Increased Memory Limit capability, iOS gives the app about 3.4 GB of memory. Sign the IPA with that capability if your tool allows it; a recent iPhone then gives about 6 GB.
Next: how to use nxnative.