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Orka Desktop 3.0 is now generally available, including day one support of macOS 15 Sequoia

By Andrew Bojak|

September 16, 2024

Spoiler Alert: Orka Desktop 3.0 includes day one support for macOS 15 Sequoia, and a few VM configuration upgrades. Still free for all your local macOS virtualization needs.

Introduction to Orka Desktop 3.0

You know it, you love it. Orka Desktop is your go-to, enterprise-grade, free-forever virtualization tool. No subscriptions, no trial periods, no sneaky fees. And now with Orka Desktop 3.0, you get instant access to macOS 15 Sequoia for build and test.



Here’s a quick Orka Desktop 3.0 feature crash course:

  • macOS 15 Sequoia Support: day one support of the newest macOS
  • Free forever, enterprise-grade: No trial or subscription required
  • Easy-to-use GUI: Customize CPU, memory, storage and display settings with a simple interface
  • OCI-based Image format: Transfer, share and use images effortlessly across Orka Desktop and Orka Cluster

What’s new in Orka Desktop 3.0

We’re constantly updating our product offerings with user feedback and improvements. Check out the latest updates in Orka Desktop 3.0:

Updated display resolution

We overhauled the VM display resolution options to give users more fine-grained control of their images, ensuring they look and feel like a real Mac desktop even after they are moved and/or resized.

orka-desktop-3.0-image-configs
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  • Custom screen resolution sliders for width and height in pixels
  • DPI slider for higher pixel density per inch (i.e. image sharpness)
  • Dynamic resolution toggle switch that automatically adjusts the resolution size of the VM console display window when a user resizes the VM display with their mouse

Improved Orka Desktop Directory

We improved the Orka Desktop directory by merging it with a consolidated directory structure, which uses a common source directory for VM images.



Orka Desktop 3.0 will consolidate all program and machine images files into a common directory tree shared with Orka Engine. Orka Engine a.k.a. Orka On-Prem will release in November (stay tuned). The Orka Desktop 3.0 application will prompt to automatically move previously created VM image directories into the new common application directory.

Upgraded help options

Improved the application Help, by linking it to the Orka Desktop Quick Start Guide.

How to use Orka Desktop 3.0 to test on macOS Sequoia

Orka Desktop 3.0 offers an effortless way to test on macOS 15 Sequoia by enabling developers to virtualize macOS environments on their local machines. The platform also allows for easy collaboration by allowing you to share VMs with team members using an OCI-compliant registry, making it easy to troubleshoot and verify builds.

Get started in a few easy steps:

  1. Download Orka Desktop 3.0 and the Sequoia image from the MacStadium GitHub repository.
  2. Install the necessary tools and start testing; you can save your progress locally or in your repository at any point.
  3. NOTE: Orka Desktop VMs are compatible with other Orka products/solutions. Please note that there are Orka Cluster version and hardware dependencies.



By leveraging Orka Desktop 3.0, you can proactively identify and resolve any build, integration, or performance issues early, saving time and resources while ensuring a smooth transition to macOS Sequoia.

Download Orka Desktop 3.0

System Requirements

In order to download Orka Desktop 3.0, you must have an Apple M1 with 8GB RAM and 50GB disk space.



You also must be running one of these current OSs:

  • macOS X 14.0+ (Sonoma)
  • macOS X 13.0+ (Ventura)

How to download Orka Desktop 3.0

Ready to start testing on macOS 15 Sequoia? Get started and download Orka Desktop 3.0 today!

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