Leviidev/Husk

What it does

Husk brings Android apps and games to iPhone. Its primary path is a translation layer: the game's own 64-bit Android code runs directly on the device, with Husk supplying Android-compatible C library, Java, GL, Vulkan, audio, and input interfaces around it. Because no full Android system boots, a game can start in seconds. For apps the translation layer cannot yet handle, Husk falls back to a full LineageOS guest under QEMU. On iOS 17.4 and later it also supports fake PS4 packages and game folders.

The app targets iPhone users who want to play Android titles without an Android device, and developers willing to build an IPA from source. Compatibility varies by app; check the compatibility page before assuming a specific title works.

Install

Husk requires iOS 15.5 or later. The intended route is sideloading with SideStore, AltStore, or TrollStore. In SideStore or AltStore, open Sources and add:

https://itslevii.dev/repo.json

The source also lists companion projects AetherPS4, Utsuro, Podium, and Fathom. Alternatively, download Husk.ipa from Releases and sideload it directly. Step-by-step instructions are in the install guide.

After installation, add an APK and tap it to launch full-screen. Games require JIT through the JIT setup or the Play without JIT flow, which needs the certificate that installed Husk to be imported first.

Build from source

Building requires a Mac with Xcode plus meson, ninja, pkg-config, python3, xcodegen, qemu-img, and a Rust toolchain with the aarch64-apple-ios target. From the repository root, run:

./scripts/ci_build.sh

This produces build/Husk.ipa. For later app-only rebuilds, ./scripts/package_ipa.sh writes ~/Desktop/Husk.ipa.

Constraints and licensing

Sideloading and JIT are iOS platform limitations, not optional extras: without JIT or the no-JIT certificate workaround, Android games will not run. The project is licensed GPL-2.0-or-later. Because Husk links QEMU under GPLv2, the shipped binary is treated as a combined GPLv2 work and cannot go on the App Store; the licensing document explains why.

The binary is distributed through a third-party source and GitHub Releases rather than the App Store, so treat the IPA as an unsigned sideload artifact and verify its origin against the project before installing.

HotRepo's take

On the monthly Java-language list recorded on 2026-11-12, Husk had 3,242 stars and 240 forks, with 1,803 stars gained during that period and a best position of 10. The only tracked snapshot is a monthly language-list entry, so it confirms a strong single-period showing but says nothing about sustained growth or retention. Since this is a native iOS emulation and translation app built around JVM and C components, the Java-list placement reflects part of its toolchain more than its audience mix. It is worth watching for anyone interested in cross-platform game compatibility on iOS, but the compatibility caveats and sideload-only distribution are central to whether it fits a given user.