Flags Reference

Flags Reference

Every flag we support for users, grouped by what it changes. See Flags for how to set one.

"Default" is what happens when the flag isn't set. Flags not on this page are internal switches we use while developing Mac.apk. They aren't supported, and they can change or disappear in any release.

Display and windows

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_FOLLOW_SYSTEM_APPEARANCE=0	Follows macOS	Keeps the app in light mode whatever your Mac is set to.
MACAPK_FULLSCREEN=1	Normal window	Opens the app full screen.
MACAPK_MAX_FPS=<number>	120	The highest frame rate an app draws at. A 60 Hz display already runs at 60; this matters on ProMotion and high-refresh displays. Lower it to save battery.
MACAPK_ICON_ROUND=0	On	Turns off icon rounding: the app's Dock icon keeps its original shape instead of the macOS rounded square.
MACAPK_ICON_SCALE=<0.5 to 1.0>	about 0.8	How large the app's icon sits inside its Dock tile. 1.0 fills the tile edge to edge.

Keyboard, trackpad and controls

The Controls menu in each app's menu bar sets these for you and remembers your choice per app. The flags below turn a mode on (1) or off (0) for one launch without changing what's remembered.

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_ARROW_PAD=1	Off	Arrow keys act as a game controller's d-pad.
MACAPK_TILT_CONTROL=1	Off	Arrow keys tilt the "phone" for games you steer by tilting.
MACAPK_SPACE_TAP=1	Off	The space bar taps the middle of the screen.
MACAPK_SCROLL_SCALE=<0.05 to 4.0>	0.5	How far a two-finger trackpad swipe moves in the app. Raise it for longer swipes, lower it for shorter ones.
MACAPK_SCROLL_NO_MOMENTUM=0	Momentum off	Lets a swipe keep coasting after your fingers lift, the way macOS scrolling does. It's off by default because swipe-to-steer games feel much better without it.

Network, devices and printing

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_OFFLINE=1	Uses your Mac's connection	The app sees no network at all, as if the phone were in airplane mode. Useful for apps that hang at startup trying to reach a server, and for keeping an app offline on purpose.
MACAPK_MIC=0	Microphone available	Turns the microphone off for the app. Any attempt to record fails, so the app never gets to ask macOS for the mic.
MACAPK_PRINT_DESTINATION=<queue>	Your default printer	Sends the app's print jobs to a specific printer. Use the printer's queue name (lpstat -p in Terminal lists them), default for your default printer, or none to make printing fail.

Installing

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_INSTALL_NOUI=1	Asks first	Installs without the confirmation dialog, for scripts: open --env MACAPK_INSTALL_NOUI=1 -a /Applications/Mac.apk.app app.apk
MACAPK_EXTRACT_ASSETS=1	Reads assets from the APK	Copies an app's assets out onto disk instead. Only worth trying if an app that used to work stops finding its own files. If it helps, please tell us.

Logs and bug reports

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_LOG_LEVEL=<2 to 7>	Keeps everything (4 from the Mac.apk window)	The least important kind of log line to keep: 2 verbose, 3 debug, 4 info, 5 warnings, 6 errors. Higher numbers mean a shorter log. For a bug report, leave it unset.
MACAPK_DEV_TRACE=1	Off	Detailed tracing for a bug report. Big games slow to about one frame a second while it's on, so only use it when we ask.
MACAPK_AUDIO_TRACE=1	Off	Adds detail about sound to the log, for apps with missing or broken audio.
MACAPK_CAMERA_TRACE=1	Off	Adds detail about the camera to the log, for apps whose camera doesn't work.

Logs are in ~/Library/Logs/macapk/. See Reporting Problems.

Compatibility

Flag	Default	What it does
MACAPK_FORCE_ABI=armeabi-v7a	Uses 64-bit code when the app has it	Runs the app's 32-bit native code instead. Only for comparing the two when we're chasing a bug. Also the Force ARM32 switch in the Developer Menu.