Getting Started

Install XeniOS and run your first Xbox 360 game on iOS.

Read First

Warning

Installing the app and running games are separate steps. XeniOS can install successfully but games will not start until JIT is enabled.

Install path: Use SideStore for the current documented iPhone and iPad install flow.
JIT: Enable JIT with StikDebug. Depending on your iOS / iPadOS version and device, you may also need LocalDevVPN. Current public guidance covers normal StikDebug flows on 17.4-18.x, older 17.0-17.3 setups that may need alternatives such as SideJITServer, and iOS 26 setups that are more version- and device-sensitive. Check the latest SideStore JIT guide before troubleshooting.
Script assignment: In StikDebug, assign the bundled Amethyst-MeloNX.js or universal.js script to XeniOS. If you do not see either script, update from StikDebug releases or download universal.js directly. Check the StikDebug repo for more information.
Controller required: There are currently no touchscreen gameplay controls. Touch input is limited to launcher and settings navigation, so you need a supported controller to play.
Do not upgrade: Avoid iOS / iPadOS 26.4 beta for now. Treat it as unsupported until XeniOS compatibility is verified.

XeniOS is still alpha software. Expect crashes, rough edges, and title-specific problems. Do not expect a polished or fully stable experience yet, even if installation succeeds.

If you are blocked on setup, use Discord.

Prerequisites

You will need an ARM64 iPhone or iPad with Metal support. The lowest tested setup right now is iOS / iPadOS 18.0 on A16-class hardware. Older versions or older chips may work, but they are currently untested. Do not upgrade to iOS / iPadOS 26.4 beta right now. You will also need game files dumped from your own Xbox 360 discs. XeniOS does not include, provide, or link to any game files. Piracy is not supported or condoned.

Installation

Download the latest IPA from the downloads page. The current documented public install path is manual IPA sideloading through SideStore:

SideStore — Download the IPA and open it with SideStore to install. On free Apple IDs, refreshes are still required every 7 days.

Note

LiveContainer is not part of the documented public baseline. It is currently untested on iOS 26, though users have reported it working on iOS 18. Use it at your own risk, and expect to need the com.apple.developer.kernel.increased-memory-limit entitlement when signing it.

If the install path itself is what is failing, use Discord for setup help before filing a bug.

JIT Setup

In StikDebug, assign the bundled Amethyst-MeloNX.js or universal.js script to XeniOS. If you do not see either script in the app, update to StikDebug releases or download universal.js directly and import it before troubleshooting anything else. Check the StikDebug repo for more information.

Adding Games

After dumping games from Xbox 360 discs or digital purchases that you legally own, transfer the files into XeniOS using the Files app, AirDrop, or USB file sharing through Finder. The app also supports opening files from the iOS document picker. On launch, XeniOS automatically scans its Documents directory for supported game files.

Most full-game dumps are in GOD (Games on Demand) format, the standard Xbox 360 installed-title layout. XeniOS also supports .iso disc images, .xex executables, .zar compressed archives, and STFS/XContent packages (.con, .live, .pirs) used for XBLA titles and DLC.

Documents/
├── YourGame/           (GOD folder with .data/ subfolder)
├── YourGame.iso        (disc image)
├── YourGame.zar        (compressed archive)
├── content/            (STFS/XContent packages)
├── patches/            (manual game patch files)
├── xenios.config.toml
└── xenia.log

Game patches are also supported on iPhone and iPad, but they are not currently exposed in the in-app UI. Bring the patches folder that contains your patch files into the main XeniOS.app folder, then edit those patch files manually in the Files app or an external text editor.

First Launch

Tap a game in the library to start it. On first run, XeniOS translates Xbox 360 GPU shaders to Metal via SPIRV-Cross — this causes stuttering during the first few minutes of gameplay. Shader binaries are cached to disk (store_shaders is enabled by default), so subsequent launches will be smoother.