Here’s how you can get those programs running your Mac in no time. Apple recognizes that there’s some reasons why people have to use Windows, and there’s just We recommend using VirtualBox for Mac. This is a free piece of virtual machine software that you can download from Oracle.
Advertisement While many Windows systems come bloated with crap you will never need or want, Mac OS X provides these following gems., but there’s no denying that Windows software is widespread. Thus, many Mac users find themselves needing to run Windows-only apps from time to time. Maybe you need to use a specific piece of software that only runs on Windows, or just Thinking about switching over to a Mac? It's easy to find faults with Windows.
But are you aware of the things you'll miss? Whatever the case, you have options for running Windows programs on your Mac.
Here’s an overview of them all, plus our favorite method that will suit most people. Virtual Machines The term 'virtual' has been co-opted in so many ways. Virtual reality. Virtual schools.
But Virtualization in the context of PCs can be confusing. We're here to clear it up. inside a piece of software. The virtual OS thinks it’s running on a real computer, but you have full control over it thanks to the virtualization software. On macOS, you’ll find three big VM names:,. Want to run Windows apps on your Mac? Parallels Desktop can have your Windows 10 installation up and running in under 10 seconds., especially for beginners. You don’t have to configure anything or even download Windows yourself during the setup — the software does it all for you.
Coherence mode lets you run Windows apps right alongside Mac apps, even pinning them to your Dock, and get Windows out of the way. Indeed, Parallels has surged ahead of VMware Fusion. The biggest downside is the cost. Parallels costs $80, while VirtualBox is free.
However, VirtualBox requires you to perform the setup yourself. It also isn’t quite as smooth as Parallels, since the latter was specifically designed for macOS. With VirtualBox you can easily install and test multiple operating systems. We'll show you how to set up Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux as a virtual machine. Will help you if you decide to try it, though. We recommend giving the a try and deciding if it’s worth the cost to you.
If you don’t want to pay, VirtualBox is your best bet for having a copy of Windows at the ready. Thankfully, you can Regardless of how you arrived at Windows 10, there's a way to create your own installation media. Sooner or later you might need it. Let us show you how to be prepared. And use it without having to even activate the OS.
Opening a virtual machine doesn’t require you to reboot your PC. Running Windows programs alongside Mac apps is a breeze. Parallels offers an impressively smooth experience. You can scale how much space the virtual hard drive uses. Cons. Parallels is expensive.
VM graphics performance is poor so this isn’t a good solution for playing Windows games on your Mac. VirtualBox takes a bit of tinkering to set up. Older Macs might not have enough resources to keep a VM running smoothly.
Boot Camp While virtual machines let you run a copy of Windows inside software, Boot Camp lets you install Windows right onto your Mac. Also known as dual-booting, this lets you run Windows and macOS side by side on one hard drive. The Boot Camp Assistant in macOS walks you through the entire process. This will partition your hard drive and install Windows so you can reboot into it.
We’ve covered Microsoft offers a simple tool to create a bootable USB on Windows, but there is no such tool for Mac users. Fortunately the process is pretty easy, if you know how. And While Mac OS X works well for most tasks, there are times when it just can't do what you want it to.
More often than not this means running Windows on your Mac. If you decide to go with this method. Undecided between Windows and Linux?
It's possible to run multiple OSes on a single machine either by dual booting or using a virtual machine. Let's find out which one is best for you.
With Boot Camp is that you can’t run Windows and Mac programs side-by-side. Whenever you need Windows, you’ll need to restart your Mac and boot into Windows. However, this leads to better performance than a virtual machine, because Windows can utilize all of your machine’s resources. Pros. No additional cost. Offers the best performance for running games and other intensive Windows software.
Cons. You must reboot every time you want to access Windows programs. Can take up a good bit of disk space. Wine Both of the above solutions involve actually using the Windows OS to run Windows programs. But Wine is different.
It’s a Is there any way to get Windows software working on Linux? One answer is to use Wine, but while it can be very useful, it probably should only be your last resort. On macOS and Linux.
Wine is a lighter solution than an installation of Windows, if you just need to use a program or two. But it doesn’t come without its own set of problems. Wine isn’t guaranteed to work with all programs.
Some may work perfectly, while others will crash or fail to run at all. You can check the to see if your preferred apps will work. Another problem is that the vanilla Wine program requires some tweaking that will likely confuse new users. The best way to, which adds some much-needed conveniences. Download WineBottler and open the DMG file when complete. In the resulting window, drag and drop both the Wine and WineBottler icons to your Applications folder just like you’d install other software. Launch WineBottler, and you’ll see some programs that you can install right away, Is it possible to run the flagship Microsoft browser on an OSX machine?
Read on to find out. To open other Windows programs, download them as EXE files Many software download sites are loaded with malware.
Here are some free software download sites you can trust. Right-click and choose Open With Wine and Wine can run them directly. Remember that not all programs will work under Wine, so you may have to Wine gives Linux users the the ability to run Windows software and can aid in switching operating systems. But it isn't, so what can you do to ensure your Windows software runs in Linux? If one fails.
Wine is best if you need to run a Windows program or two and is worth keeping around for those times. But if you need to run many Windows programs, you’re better off with another method. Pros. Free and fast install. Some common Windows software works out of the box. Doesn’t require installing Windows. Cons.
Not guaranteed to work with all software. Even supported programs may have problems.
CrossOver is a paid tool that’s based on Wine. It features a solid user interface, allowing you to simply type the name of the Windows software you want to install and handles it all for you. Since it’s commercial software, you can also ask the developers about adding support for a new piece of software if you’re a subscriber. But compared to your other options here, CrossOver really doesn’t offer the best package for most people’s needs. If you need to run several Windows programs, you’re better off with using a VM. Boot Camp will give you better performance for games, and Wine is free for testing one-off programs. At $40 minimum for CrossOver, we recommend skipping this one.
Pros. Marginally better support and interface than WineBottler. Focuses on supporting popular programs.
Cons. Cost is a lot to pay when WineBottler is free. Based on Wine, so may still have bugs. Not great for running lots of Windows software. Remote Access If none of the above solutions work for you, why not attack the problem in a different way? Those who have a Windows computer already can simply use a remote control software to access Windows from their Mac. Is a free and powerful remote control tool that will do this job just fine.
If you use Chrome, Need to remotely control your PC from another device? Struggling with RDP, or services like LogMeIn? Well, we have the solution: Google Chrome! Let's find out how to remote control a PC with Chrome.
All you need to do is install your chosen tool on both your Mac and Windows PC, sign into your account on both machines, and you can access your Windows computer whenever you need to. Depending on your internet connection you may experience some latency, and keyboard shortcuts may cause a bit of confusion.
High-intensity programs like games aren’t ideal over a remote connection, either. But if you just want to perform an action in Windows or need access to a specific program, remote access is easy and free. Pros. Free and easy to set up.
Doesn’t take up space on your Mac. Windows programs are guaranteed to work since they’re running on a Windows machine. Cons. Requires you to have a Windows PC that’s always on. A poor internet connection can hamper the experience.
It’s hard to use demanding programs over a remote connection. Don’t Forget Web Apps While you can’t run Windows apps through your browser, it’s worth mentioning that so much software is available online and doesn’t require an install.
No matter if you’re using macOS, Linux, or Chrome OS, these tools all work through any browser. If you prefer Microsoft Office to the iWork suite, you can Office Online is the free and cloud-connected version of Microsoft Office. Limitations are compensated by features, useful even to users of desktop Office. Best of all is its. You need batch editing tools when you have lots of photos to process and very little time. We introduce you to the best batch resizers, optimizers, or converters available online.
Offer an alternative to Windows apps like Paint.NET. And Collaborating online can save you and your team both time and money. Collaborating quickly can save a bit more. These tools are ready to go when you are.
No registration required. Let you communicate with others without anyone installing software. These give you a way to run alternative software if you don’t like the Mac offering available. The Easiest Way to Run Windows Programs on a Mac We’ve taken a look at the five most common ways to run Windows software on your Mac. But which is the easiest? As it turns out Unless you’re playing games, running a virtual machine is the best way for most people to access Windows software on macOS. Using a virtual machine lets you open Windows software alongside Mac apps, all without rebooting your Mac.
And it’s more reliable than Wine. Whether you should use Parallels or Virtualbox for your VM depends on your needs. If you don’t mind paying, aren’t comfortable with setting up your own VM, or want the absolute best experience, go with Parallels. Those who have some experience with VMs or don’t have extra money to spend will do fine with Virtualbox. Or Parallels if you don't mind paying every year for the upgrade to keep everything working. — Thomas Lutz (@thomaslutzde) How Do You Run Windows Software on Your Mac?
Just because a virtual machine is the best method for the average user to use Windows apps on a Mac, it doesn’t mean it’s the best solution for you. Let’s review the five methods in turn to summarize what kind of user can benefit from each:.
Virtual Machine: Best for anyone who wants to use a variety of Windows software along with their Mac apps without having to reboot into Windows. Doesn’t offer powerful performance for games. Boot Camp: Best for those who need their machine’s full power when running Windows, like when playing video games. Inconvenient to reboot into Windows. Wine: Handy to keep around if you only run a handful Windows programs on your Mac. Inferior to a VM if you want to run lots of apps, as many don’t work in Wine.
CrossOver: Not worth paying for over Wine. You’re better off with a VM. Remote Desktop: Worth setting up if you have a Windows PC already. May have problems with network latency. Using a VM is cheaper than buying a dedicated PC for this.
What’s your favorite solution for running Windows software? Is there a better method than the ones we’ve listed here?
Talk to us down in the comments!
2:51 Editors' note: This post was updated on August 12, 2015, with information on how to remove Windows from a dual-boot Mac. If you haven't already heard, Windows 10 is pretty great and worth installing on your PC. Apple fans won't miss out either, since the new operating system can be installed on your Mac as well.
To install Windows 10 on a Mac, you will need the following:. The Mac you plan to install Windows 10 on. A thumb drive with at least 5GB of storage space (for reference, I named mine 'WININSTALL'). A second computer that already runs Windows.
A fast Internet connection Note that you won't need a Windows 10 license for the installation, but you will need to buy one if you want to continue to use it on your Mac after the 30-day trial period. Following these instructions will install Windows 10 on your Mac in a dual-boot configuration, meaning you'll have the option to choose which operating system (Windows 10 or Mac OS) to use each time you turn on the computer.
And, if you later on change your mind, the guide also includes the information on how you can remove Windows afterwords. This guide is for a Mac that doesn't have already have Windows installed. If yours already has Windows 7 or Windows 8 on your Mac, you can.
Part 1: Getting the Windows 10 file on your Mac Step 1: Insert the flash drive into your Windows computer and download Windows 10's. There are and versions, depending on which Windows system you intend to use the tool on. If you're not sure whether your computer is using 64-bit or 32-bit Windows,. Only the version compatible with your system will actually run.
Pick the option to create an installation media. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 2: Open the downloaded media creation tool, choose Create installation media for another PC then click Next. Make sure you pick the 64-bit architecture. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 3: Select the Language, Edition and the 64-bit Architecture for Windows 10, then click Next.
It's important that you select the 64-bit Architecture, unless your Mac specifically supports only the 32-bit architecture (very few do). If you select the 32-bit or both option, you may run into problems later on. As for what edition of Windows to get, check out this to find out if Pro or Home fits you best.
Keep in mind that you will need to buy a license later when you need to activate Windows and the Pro edition is more expensive than the Home edition. The N edition of Windows 10 is for certain European markets. Choose to save Windows 10 installer as an ISO. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 4: Choose to save Windows 10 installer as an ISO file then click on Next. Don't worry, you won't need a DVD burner or a DVD at all.
Note that you'll want to avoid using the USB flash drive option here since, in my experience, the Windows 10 USB installer drive created using Windows has trouble working on certain Macs. Save Windows 10 ISO file.
Dong Ngo Step 5: Choose a location to save the Windows ISO file. For this guide, I chose to save that file on the flash drive, but you can save it anywhere on the computer and then copy it onto the flash drive later. Depending on your Internet connection, this will take between a few minutes and several hours. Once the file has been saved on the flash drive, remove it from your Windows computer and insert it into your Mac. You will not need the Windows computer again for the rest of the process. Part 2: Getting the flash drive and your Mac's partition ready Note: At times you'll be prompted to type in the password for your Mac's admin account.
Make sure you have that ready. Copy Windows 10 ISO file onto the Mac's desktop Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 1: Insert and then open the flash drive. Copy the Windows ISO file onto the Mac's desktop. Leave the flash drive connected to the Mac for the rest of job. Make sure there are no other flash drives or external hard drives connected to the Mac.
Run Boot Camp Assistant Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 2: Run Boot Camp Assistant, then click on Continue. Boot Camp Assistant is located in Applications Utilities folder. You can also quickly search for it using Spotlight. Make sure all tasks are checked.
Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 3: Make sure all three tasks Create a Windows 7 or later version install disk, Download the latest Windows support software from Apple and Install windows 7 or later version are checked. Then click Continue. Prepare to make Windows 10 install disk. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 4: If you've copied the Windows ISO file to the Mac's desktop, it will be automatically located. If you put it elsewhere on the computer, you'll need click on Choose and browse for it. The flash drive will be automatically chosen as the install disk if it's the only flash drive plugged in.
Verify everything then click on Continue. Boot Camp Assistant will then confirm the erasing of the flash drive before turning it into a Windows 10 install disk (make sure you have no important information on the flash drive.) After that it will also download the latest Windows support software onto the flash drive. Make sure you choose the right partition size for Windows 10. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 5: Boot Camp Assistant will prompt you to choose the size of the partition that you'll use for Windows. Use the slider to select the size. Windows 10 itself requires at least 20GB to install, so you'll want more than that to make room for software and data.
Note that this is the only time you can pick the partition size for Windows so make sure you make up your mind before continue. Once done, without removing the flash drive, click on Install. The partitioning will takes place and then the Mac will restart. This is the end of part 2. Make sure the flash drive remained plugged in for the entire part 3. Part 3: Installing Windows 10 Windows 10 installation starts Dong Ngo/CNET Step 1: The Mac will automatically boot up from the flash drive and start the Windows Setup process.
You'll be prompted to choose the Language, Time and currency format, and Keyboard settings for Windows. Do this, then click on Next. Note: If somehow the Mac doesn't boot from the flash drive, just restart it, hold down the Option key after the Apple startup sound for available boot options, use the left/right keys to pick the flash drive - which will likely appears as 'Windows' - and press Enter to boot from it.
Enter the Windows 10 product key or skip it. Dong Ngo/CNET Step 2: Enter the Windows 10 product key if you have it, then click on Next, or click on Skip. The installation process will then ask you to confirm the Windows edition you want to install, and ask you to agree to the terms and conditions.
Reformatting the partition for Winodws 10. Dong Ngo/CNET Step 3: Eventually, you will be presented with the all existing partitions, one of which is marked as BOOTCAMP.
This is the partition you want to install Windows 10 on. Select it then click on Format.
Do not do anything about the rest of the partitions. Confirming the formatting of the BootCamp partition. Dong Ngo/CNET Step 4: Windows Setup will then ask you to confirm, click on OK and then click on Next. Windows Setup doing its thing. Dong Ngo/CNET Step 5: Windows Setup will continue the rest of the setup process by itself. This should take about about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the speed of your Mac. After that, the Mac will start up with Windows 10.
You will be asked to go through with the normal steps of setting up a new Windows computer, including creating an user account. Installing Boot Camp software is the last step that makes Windows 10 run well on your Mac. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET Step 6: As you log in for the first time, you will be greeted with this Boot Camp installation message. Click on Next and follow the rest of the installation, reboot the computer, and you're done! If you don't see this message, open the flash drive, and double-click on the Setup file inside the BootCamp folder.
Once Boot Camp is done installing, you can remove the flash drive from the computer. It's no longer needed.
Windows 10 brings new excitement to Mac computers. Dong Ngo/CNET While you have both Mac OS and Windows 10 on the same machine, you can only run one of them at a time. To manually select which operating system to run, during the startup, hold down the Option key after the Apple startup sound and then use the left and right keys to select which one you want to boot into, then press Enter.
To set which operating system to boot up as default, use the Boot Camp control panel (Windows) or Startup Disk in System Preferences (Mac). Removing Windows If for some reason, you don't want to have Windows 10 (or any version of Windows for that matter) on your Mac anymore, you can permanently remove it and regain the disk space the Mac OS.
Here are the steps. Boot into Mac OS, run Boot Camp Assistant and click Continue. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET. Pick the third option that reads Remove Windows 7 or later version then click on Continue. Removing Windows means the entire Boot Camp partition will be earased. Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET 3.
In this step, just click on Restore; you will be prompted for the Mac's admin password to confirm. After a short process, Windows will be removed like it had never been installed. Note that removing Windows also means that all data, including software and files, stored on the Windows partition will be permanently erased.