MeloNX Emulator: Switch on iPhone and iPad, Device Requirements, JIT and iOS 26

MeloNX is the main Nintendo Switch emulator for iPhone and iPad, developed by Stossy11 on top of Ryujinx. As of October 2026, the latest version is 2.7 (2026-10-11). It isn't on the App Store: you have to sideload it, and it only runs with JIT enabled. On iOS 26, that means using StikDebug. The developers recommend an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

Where MeloNX comes from

• Ryujinx shut down on 2024-10-01 after Nintendo stepped in. The team's internal iOS build was never released.
• Stossy11 had earlier built Pomelo, an iOS emulator based on Sudachi (yuzu family). He dropped it and released MeloNX, based on Ryujinx, on 2024-12-24.
• The official site credits Ryubing and the "Ryulynx Team." Ryubing is the community continuation of Ryujinx. Ryulynx is a new Ryujinx fork created in August 2026 with no releases yet; how it will relate to MeloNX hasn't been announced.
• The readme lists the license as GPLv3. Nintendo's 2026-02-12 DMCA notice named the original GitHub repo, which is now gone. Since September 2026 the main repo has been on Starforge.

Why sideloading and JIT are required

Ryujinx-family emulators translate the Switch game's ARM instructions into native code at runtime and then execute it. That's JIT (just-in-time compilation). iOS blocks normal apps from generating executable code. Only sideloaded, development-signed apps with a debugger attached can do it.

• App Store: Apple has allowed emulators since 2024-04-05, but App Store apps can't use JIT, so Switch emulators can't get in.
• Alternative app marketplaces: Available in the EU, and in Japan from iOS 26.2 (effective 2025-12-18). heise reports that the JIT ban applies to apps in those marketplaces too.
• Sideloading: Apps signed with a free Apple ID expire after 7 days, with a limit of 3 sideloaded apps. A paid developer account ($99/year) signs apps for a year and unlocks extra entitlements.
• What changed in iOS 26: iOS 26 added a new security layer, TXM. On iPhones with A15 or newer and iPads with M2 or newer, enabling JIT requires a script in StikDebug, and the app itself must support the new method. MeloNX does: it is on SideStore's iOS 26.6/27 compatible list as of 2026-06-17. A12–A14 and M1 devices don't have TXM, so the steps are simpler.

Device requirements (MeloNX readme, as of October 2026)

Getting started

1. Get MeloNX from the official site, melonx.org.
2. On a computer (Windows, macOS or Linux), sign in to the recommended sideloader Impactor with your Apple ID and install MeloNX on your device. Impactor can request the increased memory entitlement. Setting up SideStore as well lets you refresh apps on the device later.
3. Open MeloNX and import your keys and firmware. Since 2.5, you can continue without title.keys.
4. Enable JIT with StikDebug, then launch MeloNX (StikDebug is required on iOS 26). After the app fully closes, you have to enable JIT again.

Step-by-step guides: iPhone and iPad setup and iOS JIT with StikDebug. For what keys and firmware are, see keys and firmware explained.

What's new in 2.7 (2026-10-11)

• Moves game memory into an extension process using NSExtension and shared memory (xpc_shmem) to get around the system memory limit.
• In-app controller button remapping, plus experimental Steam Controller support.
• AirPlay support on iOS 27.
• MetalFX spatial upscaling.
• BCn-to-ETC2 texture recompression for GPUs without BCn support.

What playing is like

• Graphics go to Metal through MoltenVK.
• Keyboard, touch, Joy-Con and nearly all MFi controllers work. iOS limits mean Joy-Con motion controls don't.
• Game updates and DLC are supported. Mods and cheats are "not supported, but may work."
• Leave resolution at the default and use an MFi controller. Async shader compilation is experimental; turn it off if you see problems.

Strengths

• As of October 2026, it is the main actively updated Switch emulator on iOS that can load any game: Sudachi and Pomelo have stopped, Eden's iOS port is only a proof of concept, and Citron Neo has no iOS version.
• Frequent updates: five releases so far in 2026.
• Supports a wider range of devices than nxnative, and doesn't need a Mac.

Known issues

• JIT is a chore. You re-enable it after every full close. After an iOS update or reset, StikDebug's pairing file stops working and must be regenerated.
• iOS 27 is uncertain. A StikDebug issue filed on 2026-10-05 reported JIT failing for all apps on iOS 27.0. It has been closed, but a full fix isn't confirmed. If you rely on MeloNX, check StikDebug's latest notes before updating.
• Tight memory. Even on a 12GB iPhone, apps get at most 6GB, and big games struggle on older models.
• 7-day refresh. With a free Apple ID, you must refresh regularly or the app won't open.
• Lookalike sites. melonx-emu.org is a third-party site, not the official one. See how to spot fake emulator sites.

Recent timeline

Who should use MeloNX

• iPhone 15 Pro and newer, or M-series iPad owners who are fine with sideloading and JIT: the first choice.
• iPhone 12–14 owners: it installs, but heavy games struggle. Keep expectations modest.
• Apple silicon Mac owners who only want a few popular games: also look at nxnative.
• If you won't sideload: there is currently no way to play Switch games on iOS without sideloading.

More iOS options are on the iOS platform page and in best Switch emulator 2026. For the legal side, see are Switch emulators legal.