How to Instantly Run Ubuntu 24.04 LTS VMs on macOS Using limactl

Running Linux virtual machines (VMs) on macOS has always been a bit of a pain—slow interfaces, heavyweight apps, and complicated setup processes. If you've used VirtualBox or UTM before, you know the struggle.

But there’s a better way: limactl (from Lima) is a fast, lightweight, and terminal-first approach to spinning up Linux VMs on macOS—no bloated GUIs or ISO wrangling required.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get an Ubuntu 24.04 LTS VM up and running in just minutes.

Why Use limactl?

Here’s why Lima is a game-changer for developers:

• Blazing Fast Setup – Go from zero to Linux in just one or two commands.
• No GUI Overhead – All terminal-based. Clean and efficient.
• Lightweight and Native – Uses Apple’s native virtualization framework under the hood (when available).
• No ISO Files – Skip manual downloads. Lima uses templates for quick provisioning.

Step-by-Step: Launch Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Lima

1. Install Lima via Homebrew

If you haven’t already, install Lima using Homebrew:

1brew install lima

2. Create and Start the Ubuntu VM

Lima provides ready-made templates so you can skip ISO downloads. To launch an Ubuntu 24.04 LTS VM:

1limactl create --name=ubuntu24 template://ubuntu-lts
2limactl start ubuntu24

✅ The ubuntu-lts template always points to the latest LTS release—currently 24.04 LTS.

You might be prompted to review some config options during the first run. You can accept the defaults or tweak them if you know what you need.

3. Shell Into Your Ubuntu VM

To connect to the VM shell, simply run:

1limactl shell ubuntu24

Now you're in a full Ubuntu environment—directly from your macOS terminal.

Comparison: limactl vs VirtualBox / UTM

Bonus: Explore Other Templates

Want to try different Linux distros or configurations?

1limactl create --list-templates

You’ll find options for Alpine, Debian, Fedora, Arch, and more.

Use Cases for Lima

• Local Dev Environments – Spin up isolated containers or dev stacks.
• Testing – Safely test scripts, updates, and packages.
• Learning Linux – A perfect sandbox for beginners.

Wrapping Up

With limactl, setting up an Ubuntu 24.04 LTS virtual machine on macOS is ridiculously easy. There’s no GUI, no ISO, and almost no wait time. Whether you're building software, testing tools, or just tinkering with Linux, Lima makes it seamless.

Useful Links

• Official Lima Docs
• Great blog: Development on Mac with Lima

💬 Once you try Lima, you'll never want to go back to heavyweight VM tools.

Let me know if you’d like a version for Medium, Hashnode, or Dev.to with tags and formatting!