If you've been wondering how to run Windows programs on a Mac, firstly, it's not the strangest thought. It's so popular, Apple created a dedicated utility to help us do so, called Boost Camp Assistant–more on that shortly.
Reasons to run Windows programs on a Mac:
The app offers a really easy way to get a Microsoft Publisher-esque experience without the need to look into the details of how to run Windows on Mac. Although Apple does offer direct alternatives for some Windows apps — TextEdit for Notepad, Terminal for Command Prompt, etc. — new Mac users are often surprised to learn that there’s no. The downside here is that you can’t run macOS applications and Windows applications side-by-side at the same time. If you just want to run a Windows desktop application alongside your Mac applications, a virtual machine will probably be ideal. On the other hand, if you want to play the latest Windows games on your Mac, Boot Camp will be ideal.
Play Windows PC games
Software compatibility
Website & Application Testing
Some Apps Don't Work In MacOS
There's lots of outdated information out there and some less than recommended ways to run Windows programs on a Mac without installing Windows. So, I've put together a look at 2020's top solutions for you.
Let's get started.
Quick Tip: Running Windows programs on your Mac can increase the demand on your system. CleanMyMac X can help to keep your Mac optimized under pressure and has some great tools. I'll talk you through some of the features later, but for now, download the free version here. — It's also notarized by Apple.
1. Boot Camp Assistant
Boot Camp Assistant is a built-in software from Apple, and in a nutshell, It lets you safely partition your Mac so you can run Windows on one side and macOS on the other.
What you need to use Boot Camp Assistant:
A MacBook from 2012 or later, installed with the latest updates.
Minimum of 64GB free space on your Mac startup disk.
An external USB flash drive with minimum capacity of 16GB, unless your Mac model allows to install Windows without a flash drive.
How to use Boot Camp Assistant to install Windows on your Mac:
- First, we need to create a partition, so open Finder, select Applications, then Utilities and Boot Camp Assistant, and follow the on-screen instructions. If asked to insert a USB drive, do so, and Boot Camp Assistant will create a bootable USB for the Windows Install. When asked to specify the size of the partition, you can use the minimum storage requirements from above. It won’t be possible to change this later.
- After Boot Camp Assistant finishes, your Mac will reboot to Windows installer. Select the BOOTCAMP partition and click Format. (usually, this is automatic)
- Now, press Next and follow the on-screen guidance to start installing Windows.
- After the Windows is installed, your Mac will boot in Windows. After the “welcome to the boot camp” installer appears, follow the prompted steps to install Boot Camp. You'll be asked to restart your Mac when the installation is complete.
FYI: Only one operating system can be running at any given time, so you'll need to restart your Mac to switch between Windows and macOS.This is the downside to running Windows programs on Mac with Boot Camp Assistant.
Did you know? Boot Camp Assistant started as an unsupported beta for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. Along with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, it was introduced as a new utility and then has been a part of newer versions of the macOS. This year, Apple announced its transition to ARM-based Apple silicon, which means there's no indication if this feature will remain.
2. Wine HQ
How To Run Windows Apps On Mac
Wine is a free, open-source compatibility layer that enables application software and computer games developed for Windows to run on other operating systems, integrating Windows applications into your Desktop. Since it's open-source, it's under continual development, with new improvements, features, and well-maintained packages.
Wine is not 100% perfect. There are programs that it won't support; you can check the Wine AppDB to find which applications are supported.
When any program runs, Wine requests resources like memory and disk space from the operating system. It answers and translates those requests so that the program can run correctly, and as far as the program knows, everything is running smoothly. It doesn't know it’s not running on Windows.
You don't need a copy of Windows, which is quicker than emulating a whole new computer.
What you need to install Wine:
macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or above
Access to an Admin account, with the password
Internet connection
How to install Wine:
There are quite a few customized versions available via third-party apps, but these are entirely unsupported by the Wine developers. You could come into some issues with these versions, and there's no support.
There are a couple of ways you can download Wine, but I always recommend you find the right method for your needs via their official website and follow their official install instructions.
3. Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop claims to be the fastest, easiest, and most powerful application for running Windows on Mac - without rebooting.
When it comes to running Windows apps on Mac, these guys are well-known and trusted within the Mac world, and support thousands of Windows apps like Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, Internet Explorer, Quicken, Access, and even graphic-intensive games and CAD programs without compromising performance or rebooting.
How does it work?
It creates a virtual machine (VM) inside your Mac. You can install Windows, just as you would install any operating system on a regular computer. Then you can run multiple OSes at the same time, all on your Mac. It's like two computers in one!
It's sadly not free, but it does come with a 14 day free trial with full functionality, which you can download here.
It's a simple install with easy instructions from the developer.
Keep your Mac optimized
When running Windows apps on your Mac, it's a good idea to keep your Mac optimized and running smoothly. Well, it's always a good idea to keep your Mac maintained, but especially when we're expecting a lot from our machines.
You can easily keep your Mac running like new with the System Junk and Optimization Modules from CleanMyMac X.They can help you to clean up your system, resolve errors, and increase your Mac output.
CleanMyMacX is an excellent all-in-one tool to clean, protect, and optimize your Mac. Download the free version here - it's notarized by Apple and is safe to use.
How to optimize your Mac with CleanMyMacX:
Open and launch the app — download the free version here.
From the left sidebar, select System Junk, press Scan, once complete press Clean and let the app do its magic.
Next select Optimization from the left sidebar and press View Items.
Select the items you want to manage, and click
I like to run regular maintenance on my Mac, and I really enjoy the interface and simplicity of use.
So, when it comes to running Windows programs on your Mac, the programs I've covered today are my top recommendations for 2020.
Just remember to use the official downloads if you're using Wine or Parallels Desktop, and keep your Mac optimized for best performance.
Mac is renowned for safety and smooth operation. However, if you are not switching from your Windows to Mac, because you don’t want to lose the programs compatible specifically with Windows, then you must know that there is a workaround with which you can run those programs.
Yes, you heard it right, with the help of a virtual machine, it is possible to work on both MacOS and Windows operating system on the same computer. With virtual machines, you can run Windows on Mac and also switch both the operating systems effortlessly.
Simple Ways to Run Windows on Mac
You must be thinking what a virtual machine is and how it works! So, without any further ado, let us know about Virtual machines!
Virtual Machine
In simple words, a Virtual machine (VM) is a program or image which acts an emulation of a computer system. It is one of the best methods to run Windows on a Mac, eliminating the need for actual physical hardware. With VM, a user can install Windows, Linux or any other OS in a window on Mac. Windows stay under the impression that it is running on a real computer however, it is running within software on Mac.
The Virtual Machine is based on computer architecture and operates as a physical computer. It runs in a window just like any other program on a computer, which provides a similar experience on Virtual Machine as they get on the host operating system. The software inside the Virtual Machine can’t tamper with the computer settings as the VM is sandboxed from the rest of the system.
Therefore, the virtual machines are an ideal software for those who want to use another operating system for testing beta releases, creating OS backup, accessing infected files and more. Every virtual machine has its own virtual hardware that’s CPU, hard drives, network interfaces, and other devices.
The VM is linked to the actual hardware on a physical machine which reduces the costs, as you don’t need physical hardware, hence, no maintenance costs applied to it.
Now you know about Virtual Machines, then read further to know some of the best ways to run Windows on a Mac using virtual machine apps.
Parallels Desktop
One of the best ways to run Windows on Mac is by using Parallels. Whether you want to switch from Windows to Mac or want to transfer data between them, Parallels can do it all. The tool is available for trial and you can get all of it in the paid version.
Let’s check the requirements to run Windows programs on Mac.
Hardware
- Mac computer with Intel Core i9, Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Core 2 Duo, Core i7, Intel Core M or Xeon processor.
- Recommended 8 GB, 4 GB minimum required.
- 600 MB disk space on Macintosh HD for Parallels desktop application installation.
- Working internet connection to activate the product and select features.
- SSD drive for better performance.
- Additional disk space for VM
Software
The tool is available all mentioned operating system of Mac in the list:
- OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 or later
- macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later
- macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or later
- macOS Mojave 10.14
Guest Operating System
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows 8
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 10
Features Of Parallels:
Using Windows and Mac on the same screen on your Mac computer is easy with Parallels. It makes sharing files and folders, images and text between Mac and Windows apps effortless.
Once downloaded, it is easy to install and get started with another operating system. No matter how heavy a Windows application is, it will run smoothly without affecting your Mac’s performance.
The program works for both the latest version of Windows 10 and macOS Mojave. For easy access, it enables a user to add Windows application to Touch Bar. Parallels has the potential to optimize VM settings and performance for you, to match up the current mode. So, whether you are playing games or are into testing or development, Parallels will modify VM settings as per the need.
VMware Fusion
Vmware Fusion gives you the power to run Windows and other operating systems side by side with Mac apps, without even rebooting. The platform is quite simple, therefore could be useful for home users and is powerful to be handle developers, professionals and businesses needs.
To install Vmware Fusion on your Mac to run Windows, you need:
- Mac launched in 2011 or later except 2012 Mac Pro “Quad Core” using the Intel® Xeon® W3565 Processor.
- 2010 Mac Pro “Six Core”, “Eight Core” and “Twelve Core”.
- OS X 10.12 Sierra Minimum Required
Features Of VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion comes with an updated user interface along with customizable support for the latest Touch Bar enabled Macs. The tool supports the latest versions of Windows 10 as a virtual machine running on your Mac. Vmware Fusion has an ability to drive complex, GPU intensive applications and games with an improved hardware-accelerated 3D graphics engine by taking advantage of Apple Metal graphics technology.
When it comes to graphics performance and accuracy, VMware Fusion leads the way. With Unity View Mode, it allows you to hide Windows desktop, so you can run Windows apps on your Mac seamlessly.
This app allows you to launch Windows apps from Dock, Launchpad or Spotlight. With the common VMware hypervisor, Fusion makes it simple to transfer virtual machines back and forth with drag and drop or control VMs right from corporate data from the comfort of your Mac
BootCamp
Bootcamp is an inbuilt utility app which enables Mac OSX user to use Windows on the same screen. The app is easy to use and after installation, you just need to restart and switch between Windows and MacOS to run Windows on Mac.
Before you get started with it, let’s check the requirements to run Windows programs on Mac.
- Sufficient free disk space to form a Boot Camp disk partition with at least size of 64GB.
Note: It is recommended to have 128 GB space for better performance.
- An external mouse and Keyboard, in case you are on Mac desktop.
- A USB with free 16GB or more.
The List of Mac Models Supporting Windows 10 Home 64-bit version or Pro:
- MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2012 and later)
- iMac (2012 and later)*
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac mini (2012 and later)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
- Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
Features of Bootcamp:
Bootcamp is popular due to its performance. Having Windows on an internal drive of Mac eliminates the need for a virtual machine or external device. If you have ample space on your Mac, you should install Windows using this utility app.
Upon installing Windows on your Mac, you could use Windows & its applications with best possible performance. Your Mac and Windows PC both will perform with the same specifications. Install Windows using Bootcamp and enjoying using both platforms on the same screen.
Run Windows Applications On Mac
VirtualBox
If you want to run Windows on Mac, without even rebooting your computer, then VirtualBox can help. VirtualBox is a free and open source hosted hypervisor for x86 computers.
If you want to get Windows 10, then you need to check the Installation requirements:
Run Windows Apps On Mac Free
- 16GB free space on hard disk.
- A processor of 1 Gigahertz or more
- 1GB RAM for 32 bit and 2 GB for 64 bit
- Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device along with WDDM driver.
- IDE, SATA, and SCSI hard drives are supported.
- ISO disk image files are supported.
Supported guest operating system
You can install Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Debian, and FreeBSD while using VirtualBox
Features Of VirtualBox
Virtual Box allows you to run the applications on Windows and the applications on Mac side by side seamlessly. It allows the guest system to access physical hard disk partitions present on the host system.
It lets your guest system to directly access the USB devices connected to the host computer. You can set Shared Folders which can be accessed by both guest and host operating system. Copy, paste, drag and drop the files from guest to host or vice versa easily.
If you want to run server software inside the Virtual Machine, then VirtualBox allows you to set up port forwarding. Running VM on a remote system or server is possible with VirtualBox. The tool makes it possible with the help of VRDP which is backwards compatible with Microsoft’s RDP protocol. So, you can establish a remote connection to your VM by using the Remote Desktop Connection program(Windows program) without any VirtualBox app.
Wine
Wine originally means Wine Is Not An Emulator. The app is based on Linux. It is a compatibility layer that enables Windows applications to run on other operating systems. It is open and legal and is available for free. Also, you don’t need any Windows license to use the tool.
To install Wine on your Mac, you will need to have the following things:
- macOS 10.10 or later
- A working internet connection
- Access to an Admin account, with credentials
Features Of Wine
With Wine, Mac and Windows run side by side and you can switch between the two via Boot Camp. However, you need to reboot your computer every time you switch. Unlike other apps used to run Windows on Mac, Wine doesn’t take up a lot of disk space and doesn’t hog memory.
As it takes permission to use system resources such as disk space and memory from OS. Wine makes sure all the requests are responded so that the program can run properly. Therefore the programs get all the connections to work properly and it doesn’t feel that it is not on Windows. As it is only interpreting requests, no need to copy real Windows OS. Being an open-source, Wine is continuously refining and new features are added to it now and then.
So, these are popular ways to run Windows on Mac. We know it is not as easy as installing Windows apps on Windows computer but with these apps, you can beat the need of having two operating systems on two separate machines, instead, you can have both of them on the same machine.
Which One To Choose?
If you have a Windows license and want the best compatibility on your Mac, then you must go with Parallels. However, don’t have or don’t want to buy Windows license key then you can use Wine to run Windows on Mac.
Well, this was our opinion on how to run Windows on Mac. Did you like the article? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.