Licences and source code
Updated 7 November 2026 · Uncork 1.6.0
In short: Uncork is built on open projects. Windows programs run on Wine in the Sikarugir build; graphics are translated by Apple's D3DMetal, DXMT and DXVK. Uncork's display driver is based on Wine, so it is under the LGPL 2.1 and its source code is available. The rest of Uncork's code is closed.
What Uncork is built on
| What | What for | Licence | How it reaches your Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine 10.0, Sikarugir build | runs Windows programs on macOS | LGPL 2.1 | downloaded from GitHub during setup, not inside the app |
| Uncork's display driver | windows and input in games | LGPL 2.1, a derivative work of Wine | inside the app |
| D3DMetal from Game Porting Toolkit | translates DirectX 11 and 12 to Metal | Apple's licence, closed source | downloaded only after you accept Apple's licence |
| DXMT v0.80 with our changes | translates DirectX 10 and 11 to Metal | MIT | inside the app |
| DXVK, DXVK-macOS build | games on DirectX 9 | zlib | downloaded when needed |
| SDL 3 and sdl2-compat | wheel force feedback | zlib | in the Pro module |
| micro-ecc | signature checks | BSD-2-Clause | inside the app |
| Cormorant, Golos Text and JetBrains Mono fonts | interface | SIL OFL 1.1 | inside the app |
| highball-db compatibility database | community reports about games | CC0 1.0 | a snapshot is inside the app |
| highball-db forecasts from ProtonDB data | a forecast for games nobody has tested on a Mac | ODbL 1.0 | the database is inside the app as a separate, unchanged file |
The full notices, with versions and checksums: third-party-notices.txt. The same text is in the app: Settings → Help → Component licences.
The driver's source code
Uncork's display driver is a derivative work of Wine and is covered by the LGPL 2.1. It is built from our fork; the exact commit is recorded in the app.
Written offer: for at least three years from the date you received your copy of Uncork, the author will give any third party, for no more than the cost of physically performing the distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of this driver's source code under the terms of the LGPL 2.1. Ask for it at t.me/uncorkwin.
The driver can be removed or replaced without changing the rest of Uncork: winebottle setup-driver --remove restores the engine's original driver byte for byte.
What is closed
The Uncork app and the Pro module are closed; their source code is not published. If open source matters to you, see the comparison: it names the open apps.
Uncork is not affiliated with the authors of the projects listed here, with Apple or with Valve.
Read next
- How Uncork works — graphics choice, Find out why, game recipes, Game Mode, and what Pro adds
- What Uncork sends from your Mac, and where — the list of what the app sends and where, and how to check it yourself
- Uncork: frequently asked questions — price, safety, first launch, supported Macs and games
Won’t start, crashes or something is unclear? Message us on Telegram at @uncorkwin and we’ll sort it out. If you sent a problem report from Uncork, include its number.