Podman Virtual machine fails to start on Apple M3 chip

[willissa2121]

Issue Description

When doing a fresh install of podman, using either the podman desktop or the podman CLI via brew, the podman virtual machine will not start with the same error each time. I have tried many fresh installs and many online solutions, all leading to same error.

Error: vfkit exited unexpectedly with exit code 1

More verbose output below

swillis@swillis1-mac ~ % podman machine init
Looking up Podman Machine image at quay.io/podman/machine-os:5.6 to create VM
Extracting compressed file: podman-machine-default-amd64.raw: done  
Machine init complete
To start your machine run:

	podman machine start

swillis@swillis1-mac ~ % podman machine start
Starting machine "podman-machine-default"
Error: vfkit exited unexpectedly with exit code 1
swillis@swillis1-mac ~ % podman machine start --log-level=debug  
INFO[0000] podman filtering at log level debug          
DEBU[0000] Using Podman machine with `applehv` virtualization provider 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 56 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 61 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/cache is 67 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman is 55 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.json is 84 
Starting machine "podman-machine-default"
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 56 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 61 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/cache is 67 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman is 55 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.json is 84 
DEBU[0000] connection refused: http://localhost:52102/vm/state 
DEBU[0000] writing configuration file "/Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.json" 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/gvproxy.pid is 67 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 56 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv is 61 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/cache is 67 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman is 55 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-api.sock is 87 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/podman.sock is 65 
DEBU[0000] {true 1500 map[forward-dest:[/run/user/501/podman/podman.sock] forward-identity:[/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/machine] forward-sock:[/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-api.sock] forward-user:[core]] [] [] map[] /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/gvproxy.log /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/gvproxy.pid 52096} 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock is 91 
DEBU[0000] gvproxy command-line: /opt/podman/bin/gvproxy -debug -mtu 1500 -ssh-port 52096 -listen-vfkit unixgram:///var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock -forward-sock /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-api.sock -forward-dest /run/user/501/podman/podman.sock -forward-user core -forward-identity /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/machine -pid-file /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/gvproxy.pid -log-file /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/gvproxy.log 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock is 91 
DEBU[0000] checking that "gvproxy" socket is ready      
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.log is 82 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.sock is 83 
DEBU[0000] helper binary path is: /opt/podman/bin/vfkit 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-ignition.sock is 98 
DEBU[0000] first boot detected                          
DEBU[0000] serving ignition file over /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-ignition.sock 
DEBU[0000] listening for ready on: /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.sock 
DEBU[0000] waiting for ready notification               
DEBU[0000] helper command-line: [/opt/podman/bin/vfkit --cpus 7 --memory 2048 --bootloader efi,variable-store=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/efi-bl-podman-machine-default,create --device virtio-blk,path=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-amd64.raw --device virtio-rng --device virtio-vsock,port=1025,socketURL=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.sock,listen --device virtio-serial,logFilePath=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.log --device virtio-net,unixSocketPath=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock,mac=5a:94:ef:e4:0c:ee --device virtio-fs,sharedDir=/Users,mountTag=a2a0ee2c717462feb1de2f5afd59de5fd2d8 --device virtio-fs,sharedDir=/private,mountTag=71708eb255bc230cd7c91dd26f7667a7b938 --device virtio-fs,sharedDir=/var/folders,mountTag=a0bb3a2c8b0b02ba5958b0576f0d6530e104 --restful-uri tcp://localhost:52102 --device virtio-gpu,width=800,height=600 --device virtio-input,pointing --device virtio-input,keyboard --gui --device virtio-vsock,port=1024,socketURL=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-ignition.sock,listen] 
DEBU[0000] socket length for /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.ign is 83 
DEBU[0000] reading ignition file: /Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.ign 
DEBU[0000] ignition socket device: /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-ignition.sock 
INFO[0000] &{7 2048    {[efi variable-store=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/efi-bl-podman-machine-default create] true}  [virtio-blk,path=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-amd64.raw virtio-rng virtio-vsock,port=1025,socketURL=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.sock,listen virtio-serial,logFilePath=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.log virtio-net,unixSocketPath=/var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock,mac=5a:94:ef:e4:0c:ee virtio-fs,sharedDir=/Users,mountTag=a2a0ee2c717462feb1de2f5afd59de5fd2d8 virtio-fs,sharedDir=/private,mountTag=71708eb255bc230cd7c91dd26f7667a7b938 virtio-fs,sharedDir=/var/folders,mountTag=a0bb3a2c8b0b02ba5958b0576f0d6530e104 virtio-gpu,width=800,height=600 virtio-input,pointing virtio-input,keyboard virtio-vsock,port=1024,socketURL=/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-ignition.sock,listen] tcp://localhost:52102  true  {[] false}} 
INFO[0000] boot parameters: &{EFIVariableStorePath:/Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/efi-bl-podman-machine-default CreateVariableStore:true} 
INFO[0000]                                              
INFO[0000] virtual machine parameters:                  
INFO[0000] 	vCPUs: 7                                    
INFO[0000] 	memory: 2048 MiB                            
INFO[0000]                                              
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-blk device (imagePath: /Users/swillis/.local/share/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default-amd64.raw) 
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-rng device                     
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-vsock device                   
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-serial device (logFile: /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default.log) 
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-net device (nat: false macAddress: [5a:94:ef:e4:0c:ee]) 
INFO[0000] Using unix socket /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock 
INFO[0000] local: /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/vfkit-1338a-7685.sock remote: /var/folders/1q/_53py73j6n7c8t3l2vq4gnb00000gn/T/podman/podman-machine-default-gvproxy.sock 
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-fs device                      
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-fs device                      
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-fs device                      
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-gpu device                     
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-input pointing device          
INFO[0000] Adding virtio-input keyboard device          
Error: Error Domain=VZErrorDomain Code=1 Description="Internal Virtualization error. The virtual machine failed to start." UserInfo={
    NSLocalizedFailure = "Internal Virtualization error.";
    NSLocalizedFailureReason = "The virtual machine failed to start.";
}
Usage:
  vfkit [flags]

Flags:
  -b, --bootloader strings      bootloader configuration (default [])
      --cloud-init strings      path to user-data and meta-data cloud-init configuration files (default [])
  -c, --cpus uint               number of virtual CPUs (default 1)
  -d, --device stringArray      devices
      --gui                     display the contents of the virtual machine onto a graphical user interface
  -h, --help                    help for vfkit
      --ignition string         path to the ignition file
  -i, --initrd string           path to the virtual machine initrd
  -k, --kernel string           path to the virtual machine Linux kernel
  -C, --kernel-cmdline string   Linux kernel command line
      --log-level string        set log level
  -m, --memory uint             virtual machine RAM size in mibibytes (default 512)
      --restful-uri string      URI address for RESTful services (default "none://")
  -t, --timesync string         sync guest time when host wakes up from sleep
  -v, --version                 version for vfkit

Error Domain=VZErrorDomain Code=1 Description="Internal Virtualization error. The virtual machine failed to start." UserInfo={
    NSLocalizedFailure = "Internal Virtualization error.";
    NSLocalizedFailureReason = "The virtual machine failed to start.";
}
DEBU[0001] writing configuration file "/Users/swillis/.config/containers/podman/machine/applehv/podman-machine-default.json" 
Error: vfkit exited unexpectedly with exit code 1
DEBU[0001] Shutting down engines  

Steps to reproduce the issue

Steps to reproduce the issue

1. Download podman via CLI or podman desktop on macbook Pro with M3 Apple Silicon chip
2. Run podman machine init
3. Run podman machine start

Describe the results you received

Describe the results you received

Describe the results you expected

Describe the results you expected

podman info output

If you are unable to run podman info for any reason, please provide the podman version, operating system and its version and the architecture you are running.

Darwin swillis1-mac 24.6.0 Darwin Kernel Version 24.6.0: Mon Aug 11 21:15:09 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.140.69.701.11~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T6041 arm64
swillis@swillis1-mac ~ % podman --version
podman version 5.6.0

Podman in a container

No

Privileged Or Rootless

None

Upstream Latest Release

Yes

Additional environment details

Additional environment details

Additional information

Additional information like issue happens only occasionally or issue happens with a particular architecture or on a particular setting

[arixmkii]

Extracting compressed file: podman-machine-default-amd64.raw: done 

It looks like you installed Podman for Intel Macs, when you have Apple chip. It could be an issue with your brew installation or an issue in Podman Desktop downloader. Try uninstalling Podman and then install from official release packages choosing macos-arm64 https://github.com/containers/podman/releases/tag/v5.6.1

[willissa2121]

Wow, I saw that as well and assumed the download was broken, but I was not selecting the apple silicon specific mac download.
/facepalm

Thanks for the help, I am back up and running on new PC.