# Set up an Ubuntu VM on an x86\_64 Mac
UTM is an open-source VM host for macOS, which allows you to run other operating systems on Macs, including Ubuntu. The following figure shows the tasks involved in setting up an Ubuntu VM using UTM on an x86\_64 Mac:
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> **Figure: Workflow to set up Ubuntu VM**
## Prerequisites to set up an Ubuntu VM on an x86\_64 Mac
- Ensure that your host computer meets the system requirements listed in [Host computer requirements for x86\_64 Mac](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-41/topic/set-up-an-ubuntu-vm-on-an-intel-based-x86-64-mac.html#hostmachineint).
- Download the necessary software listed in [Ubuntu VM software requirements for x86\_64 Mac](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-41/topic/set-up-an-ubuntu-vm-on-an-intel-based-x86-64-mac.html#softwarerequirementsint).
### Host computer requirements for x86\_64 Mac
The following table lists the host computer requirements to set up an Ubuntu VM on an x86\_64 Mac:
| **Processor architecture** | x86\_64 |
| --- | --- |
| **Processor architecture** | To verify that the architecture of your Mac is x86\_64, run the `uname -a` command in a terminal window.
 |
| **CPU cores** | 8 or more |
| **RAM** | 8 GB or more |
| **Storage** | 300 GB of free space for the UTM VM |
| **Operating system** | macOS 13 or higher |
| | |
### Ubuntu VM software requirements for x86\_64 Mac
The following table lists the software requirements to set up an Ubuntu VM on an x86\_64 Mac:
Table: Software requirements for x86_64 Mac
| **Software** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| UTM virtualization software | Download the UTM virtualization software from the [UTM website](https://mac.getutm.app/). |
| Ubuntu ISO | Use one of the Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit PC (AMD64) Desktop LTS versions. Qualcomm recommends that you download the latest version of Ubuntu 22.04 ISO (for example, `ubuntu-22.04.5-desktop-amd64.iso`) from the [Ubuntu website](https://www.releases.ubuntu.com/22.04/). |
## Install UTM on an x86\_64 Mac
To install the UTM virtualization software, do the following:
1. Double-click the `UTM.dmg` file downloaded earlier and drag the UTM icon onto the Applications icon.
2. While installing UTM, if you see the following dialog, select
Open:
3. Open Launchpad, search for UTM, and select UTM.
The UTM main window appears.
## Create a VM in UTM on an x86\_64 Mac
To create a VM for Ubuntu in UTM and configure the VM settings, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, select Create a New Virtual Machine.
2. On the Start screen, select Virtualize.
3. On the Operating System screen, select the Linux OS.
4. On the Linux screen, browse and select the Ubuntu ISO image you
downloaded, and select Continue.
5. On the Hardware screen, specify the memory and CPU cores you want
to assign to the Ubuntu VM, and select Continue. The
recommended values are:
- Memory: About 70% of the available memory
- CPU cores: At least 50% of the available cores
If you leave the CPU Cores field blank or set it to `0`, UTM allocates all the host computer cores to the VM. Allocating all CPU cores to the VM can make the host computer slow or unresponsive.
To know the memory size and the CPU core count of a Mac host computer, see the instructions in the [macOS User Guide](https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/syspr35536/mac).
6. On the Storage screen, specify the drive size for the VM, and
select Continue. Qualcomm recommends that you assign at least 300 GB of storage space for the VM.
7. If you want to share a directory between the host computer and the VM,
do the following on the Shared Directory screen:
1. Browse and select the directory.
2. Select Continue.
8. On the Summary screen, do the following:
1. Review the configuration summary for the VM that you are creating.
2. Provide a name for the VM.
3. Select Save. The UTM main window lists the newly created VM.
## Install Ubuntu in UTM on an x86\_64 Mac
To install Ubuntu in the VM you created, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, select the Play icon to run the Ubuntu ISO image through virtualization.
2. Select Try or Install Ubuntu using the arrow keys and select Enter.
3. On the Welcome screen, choose a language, and select Install Ubuntu.
4. On the Keyboard Layout screen, choose a keyboard layout, and select Continue.
5. The system selects Normal installation by default on the Updates and other software screen. Select the Minimal installation option button if you don’t want to install all the Ubuntu operating system features.
6. On the Installation type screen, select the Erase disk and
install Ubuntu option button, and select Install Now.
Note
The Erase disk and install Ubuntu option erases only the storage area allocated to the VM. It doesn’t erase any other
data or system files on the host computer.
7. Do the following, and then select Continue to start the installation:
1. On the Write the changes to disk? dialog, select Continue.
2. On the Where are you? screen, select the appropriate time zone.
3. On the Who are you? screen, specify the required details.
8. After the installation is complete, select Restart Now.
9. To shut down and stop the VM, select the Power icon.
10. In the Confirmation dialog, select OK.
11. After the VM stops, close the window.
## Launch the Ubuntu VM on an x86\_64 Mac
To launch the Ubuntu VM, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, in the CD/DVD drop-down list, select Clear.
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2. Ensure that the ISO image association is empty against the CD/DVD option.
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3. To run the Ubuntu VM, select the Play icon.
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4. Sign in to the Ubuntu VM you created.
## Access the Qualcomm Linux development kit
To access the Qualcomm Linux development kit from the Ubuntu VM, do the following:
1. Connect the Qualcomm Linux development kit to the host computer.
The UTM software may ask you to confirm whether the virtualized Ubuntu operating system should have access to the Qualcomm Linux development kit.
If you see a dialog as follows, select Confirm:
After selecting Confirm, if you see the following USB
disconnection error, select OK to ignore it.
2. To verify if the Ubuntu VM can access the Qualcomm Linux development kit, run the `lsusb` command in a Linux terminal window.
The output shows the Qualcomm Linux development kit as follows:
If the Qualcomm Linux development kit isn’t detected in the Ubuntu VM, do the
following:
1. Select USB Devices in the toolbar of the UTM VM window.
2. Select QCMXXXX\_xxxxxxxx.
Note
If you don’t see the Qualcomm Linux development kit listed as one of the USB devices, do the following:
1. In UTM settings, select Input in the left panel.
2. In the Maximum Shared USB Devices field, set the value to `10`.
## Configure power settings for x86\_64 Mac and Ubuntu
To ensure that the Mac host computer and the Ubuntu VM don’t go to sleep due to inactivity, do the following:
- To configure the sleep and wake settings for the Mac host computer, see [macOS User Guide](https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchle41a6ccd/mac).
- To configure the power settings for Ubuntu, do the following:
1. In System Settings for Ubuntu, select Power.
2. Turn off Automatic Suspend.
## Next steps
- [Sync, build, and flash Qualcomm Linux](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-70029-254)
- [Fix network failures in the Ubuntu VM](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-41/topic/troubleshoot.html#fix-network-failures-in-the-ubuntu-vm)
- [Optimize slow or unresponsive Mac host computer](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70029-41/topic/troubleshoot.html#slow-or-unresponsive-host)
Last Published: Mar 23, 2026
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