Manage restore images

This page shows you how to find the macOS restore images (IPSW files) that you can install, download them before you need them, and create a VM from a local image file.

Pomme looks up restore images in the public ipsw.me catalog for an Apple silicon Mac model. By default, it uses your Mac’s own model identifier.

Before you begin

Install Pomme.
Make sure that the host has internet access.

List available restore images

To list the restore images for your Mac’s model, run the following command:

pomme ipsw list --limit 5

The output shows the macOS version, the build, and whether Apple still signs the image:

27.0.1  26A434  signed=true
27.0  26A428  signed=true
26.6.2  25G83  signed=true
26.6.1  25G76  signed=true
26.6  25G72  signed=true

The --limit flag sets the maximum number of results. Omit it to list every image in the catalog for the model.

To list images for a different Apple silicon model, add --device:

pomme ipsw list --device MODEL_IDENTIFIER

Replace MODEL_IDENTIFIER with an Apple model identifier, such as Mac16,10.

With --format json, each image also includes its size in bytes and its download URL.

Download a restore image

Pomme downloads the image it needs when you create a VM or a template. To download an image ahead of time, run the following command:

pomme ipsw download SELECTION

Replace SELECTION with a macOS version such as 26.6.2, a build such as 25G83, or latest.

Keep the following in mind:

Pomme refuses to download an image that Apple no longer signs.
If a download is interrupted, running the same command again continues from where it stopped.
If the complete image is already cached, Pomme uses it and doesn’t download it again.

When the download finishes, Pomme prints the path of the image file.

To download an image for a different model, add --device MODEL_IDENTIFIER.

Where restore images are stored

Pomme caches downloaded images in the following directory:

~/Library/Application Support/pomme/RestoreImages

Both pomme ipsw download and the creation commands use this cache. To free disk space, you can delete image files from this directory. Pomme downloads an image again the next time it needs one. For the rest of Pomme’s storage layout, see Files and paths.

Create a VM from a local restore image

If you have an IPSW file somewhere else on disk, pass its path to --restore-image:

pomme create VM_NAME --restore-image IPSW_PATH

Replace the following:

VM_NAME: the name of the new VM.
IPSW_PATH: the path of the .ipsw file.

You can also use --restore-image with pomme template create. You can’t use it in a config file. For more information, see Create a VM.