There’s so much that you love about your MacBook. It has a sleek design that you can’t get with any other laptop, and it runs all of your work software like a charm.
It is the computer for business professionals for a reason. The problem is that you can’t do anything fun with it. There are not many games that come to Mac.
What if we told you that you could have the best of both worlds? It’s possible to run Windows on Mac. We can teach you how it’s done.
Check out this guide to learn how to run Windows programs on Mac.
Is It Safe?
The first thing you might be wondering is if it’s even safe to run Windows 10 for Mac. The last thing you want is to break your computer.
We’re here to ease your mind by letting you know that there are no risks to downloading Windows to your MacBook. In fact, by running Windows on your computer, you isolate the Mac platform, which protects it from any potential viruses.
If you’re concerned about the legality of it, don’t be. You’re not breaking any rules.
If you’re still hesitant to make such large changes to your computer, you can always back it up to an external hard drive. This way, if anything goes wrong, you can revert it back to the way it was before.
Does It Work With Windows 11?
Windows 11 is the newest update to the OS. It goes without saying that you’re going to want to run it on your Mac. It is possible to make it happen.
Windows 11 does require a specific chip to run, but your Mac can emulate it. You won’t be able to use many Windows apps and games, but you’ll be able to run the program.
Virtual Machine
So, now that you know that your machine isn’t going to fall apart the second you try to run Windows on Mac for free, let’s get into the reason why you’re reading this article. How do you make Windows work on your MacBook?
If you aren’t that tech-savvy, virtual machine is going to be the easiest option for you. It’s a program that will allow you to run a different operating system in a window on your Mac’s Desktop.
Windows will think that it’s running on a regular computer, but it’s actually operating within a program. To make this work, you’ll need to have a Windows license. If you don’t have a product key, you’re out of luck.
This isn’t the option we would recommend if you’re a gamer. It doesn’t do graphics that well. It can handle older games okay, but if you try to play something new, you’re going to have a bad time.
Apple Boot Camp
If you’re a gamer, Apple boot camp is the option that you’ll want to go with. It’s a program that will allow you to install Windows alongside your usual Mac OS.
The catch is, you can’t run both operating systems at the same time. You’ll have to restart your Mac if you want to switch between it and Windows.
The reason why this option is so great for gamers is that your Mac will perform the same way as a Windows computer with similar specs. You won’t run into as many graphical problems.
Like with virtual machine, you will need a Windows license to use this option. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have a newer Mac, boot camp won’t be compatible with it.
Since you’ll be using both operating systems, you’ll need to back up both hard drives. You can go to https://setapp.com/how-to/partition-a-hard-drive-on-mac to learn how it’s done.
Wine
Wine is an application that originated with Linux. It works by altering the Windows code so that it’s compatible with other operating systems.
There are a lot of things that you’ll need to keep in mind before you use this application. The first thing is that it’s a 32-bit program. It won’t work with Catalina, which only supports 64-bit applications.
It’s also difficult to set up. If you’re not that tech-savvy, you’re going to have problems. On the upside, Wine is free to use, and you won’t need a Windows license to make it work.
CrossOver
CrossOver works a lot like Wine. It uses code to make Windows work with other operating systems. The difference is that it’s a lot easier to use.
The interface is more forgiving, and while you won’t be able to run a lot of programs, you’ll be able to use tons of popular Windows applications.
It works with some games, but you’ll be limited to the library that you have access to. CrossOver also isn’t free. You’ll have to pay about 40 bucks for it.
Remote Desktop
The last option we have for you is remote desktop. It’s not an ideal solution, but it works in a pinch if you have both a Mac and Windows computer.
You can use one of the various remote desktop software that exists to display your Windows screen on your Mac. The reason why it’s not the best option is that you’ll experience a lot of lag.
It won’t be that noticeable for some applications, but if you try to play a game with it, you’re going to run into issues.
Run Windows on Mac and Get the Best of Both Worlds
If you run Windows on Mac, it allows you to have the best of two worlds. You’ll get to run your business software and play games all on one machine.
Well, you can do that if you choose the right program. We hope that you’re able to use this guide to choose the best way to run Windows programs on Macs for you. For more tips that will help you make the most out of your computer, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.
