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Run Windows-based Programs on a Mac
Apr 10, 2020 How to Run Windows Software on Mac. There are essentially three ways to run a Windows program on a Mac: running Windows on a virtual machine (like Parallels Desktop or VirtualBox), installing Widows on a Macbook as a secondary OS (via Boot Camp), and running Wine. Virtual machines let you install and open Windows in a window on your Mac desktop. Open the downloaded DMG file. Drag and drop both Wine and WineBottler applications to your Applications folder to install them, just like you would any other Mac application. You can then launch WineBottler from your Applications folder. WineBottler lists a number of different programs you can easily install. Oct 09, 2014 Running Windows Apps/Games on a Mac using Wineskin. Wine serves as a bridge between Windows and Unix based systems. Though there are numerous ways of getting Windows applications to run on a Mac, this is the classic and most convenient route. It creates a wrapper, allowing you to run apps from within. Oct 29, 2019 If you want to play the latest games on your Mac, you have no choice but to install Windows. There are a few ways you can play Windows games on your Mac without having to dedicate a partition to Boot Camp or giving away vast amounts of hard drive space to a virtual machine app like VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop. The Complete Guide A to Z to Install Wine On Mac OS X. Every Mac user I know loves their Mac and wouldn’t trade it for the world. But every now and then, there is a Windows.
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Turn Windows-based programs into Mac apps –
NOT. ;)
WineBottler packages Windows-based programs like browsers, media-players, games or business applications snugly into Mac app-bundles.Your company provides you with a login, mail, calendar and contacts that only work on certain browsers?
You quickly want to test your websites in Windows-based browsers.
You want to play games, that are not ported to OS X?
Your online trading platform or accounting tool only runs on Windows?
Your audio book player is not available on OS X?
No need to install emulators, virtualizers or boot into other operating systems – WineBottler runs your Windows-based programs directly on your Mac.
This is possible thanks to a Windows-compatible subsystem, which is provided by the great OpenSource tool Wine.
WineBottler does Automated Installations:
Select from a wide range of software for which WineBottler offers automated installations. It is as easy as hitting 'Install' – and WineBottler will leave you with a neat app on your desktop. WineBottler does not come with the programs themselves, but with scripts, that take care of downloading, configuring and installing everything into an app for you.WineBottler can pack your .exe into an Mac .app ...
Double-click your .exe or .msi and convert it into an app with WineBottler. You can run the generated app like every other program on your Mac. For advanced users, WineBottler gives you a selection of options: install special dependencies and even turn your .exe into a self-contained app - that is an app, that contains everything to run it... even on other Macs. Porting to OS X never was easier ;).Find out more - have a look at the Documentation.
... or just run that .exe.
You don't care about generating an app and just want to run it? Double-click the .exe, choose 'Run directly' and Wine will run it in a generic environment.Enjoy, it's free!
Like Wine, WineBottler is free software. We've made it out of our own needs and now we share the result. If you are happy with it, you can keep the project rolling by sending a small Donation.Need other Versions of WineBottler or Wine.app?
We keep selected builds for you. Versions before 1.4.1 still run on OS X Tiger and Leopard.
You find them under Downloads.
Support
If you have questions installing a certain program, please have a look at the documentation or at appdb.winehq.org first. winehq.org is the hub for all info about wine. It contains notes, hints and tricks to install all major programs.winehq.org is NOT affiliated with WineBottler in any way. So please do NOT post bug-reports or questions about WineBottler there - write an eMail to mikesmassivemess(at)kronenberg.org and if time permits, i'll try to get your exe running.
WineBottler is my hobby and it is free, so please understand, that I can't give you a one-to-one support. If you are looking for a Wine version with great dedicated support: Note down this Promo Code: 'CX64BIT' (for a 25% discount) – then head over to CrossOver.
Every now and then, a Mac user is going to say, 'Man I wish there was a version of (insert program here) for Mac. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.' It's happened to me more times that I really wish to count. Thankfully, most of the apps I want to run on my Mac exist as native apps.
However, there are a couple that slip through my fingers, like Microsoft's Visio Professional. It doesn't exist on the Mac side and I really need it for my day job as a software quality vice president.
Thankfully, there's more than one way to run Windows apps on your Mac.
- You can use Apple's Boot Camp and run a full installation of Window natively on your Mac
- Use a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop
- Install Windows apps directly with CrossOver and use a Windows app like any other native Mac App
There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but that last one – installing Windows apps directly under CrossOver – is a bit different, and it offers some distinct advantages if you know how to get things going.
With CrossOver, you don't install Windows and then the app. It's all about the app, and only the app. Thankfully, while CrossOver is different, it's not difficult to use. However, there are a few things you need to know. For example, CrossOver doesn't run ALL Windows apps. Some run better than others, and some won't run at all.
What's the best way to install Windows apps?
When trying to determine the best way to install a Windows app, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the three different ways to run Windows on a Mac — natively, via VM or via CrossOver:
Feature | Dual Booting | Virtual Machine | CrossOver |
---|---|---|---|
Run without Rebooting | No | Yes | Yes |
Run without Windows OS License | No | No | Yes |
Runs ALL Windows Apps | Yes | No. Not all graphic-intensive features are supported | No. Some run. Some run OK. Some won't run at all |
Runs Apps at Native Speed | Yes | No | Yes |
Needed to Run an App | Windows License, App License | VM License, Windows License, App License | CrossOver License, App License |
Approximate Costs (App not included) | $120 - $200 for Windows 10 | $80 for Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, $120 - $200 for Windows 10 | $40 - $60 for CrossOver |
How to install Windows apps on your Mac using CrossOver
If you want to install Windows apps on your Mac without all the overhead associated with Windows, follow these steps.
- Navigate to CodeWeavers and download CrossOver.
- Go to your Downloads folder and locate the Zip file you downloaded. Double Click it to open it. Archive Utility will Open it up and decompress the contents of the archive.
- Double click the CrossOver.app in your Downloads folder. It will offer to move itself to your Applications folder.
- CrossOver will start for the first time. When it does, it's going to ask you how you want it to run. By default, it runs in trial mode. However, you also enter in your registration information or buy a license right from this page.
- From the screen that appears, click the Install a Windows Application button.
- Type the name of the application you want to run. CrossOver will search its database and display appropriate matches.
- Click on the application you want to run. CrossOver will display compatibility information on it from its database, telling you how likely and how well it will run.
- Click the Continue button.
- Select an installer source.
- Click the Choose Installer File. A Finder window will slide down over the app and allow you to navigate to where you have the installation file stored.
- Select the app.
- Click the Use this installer button. You'll return to the Select an Installer Source screen.
- Click the Continue button. Remember: CrossOver will not find and download the software you want to run for you. You actually have to have the installation file for the software you want to run.
- Select a bottle.
What are bottles?
CrossOver is powered by the Wine Project. As such, all Windows apps are installed in 'containers' called bottles (get it?). When you install an application for the first time, CrossOver will create a bottle and automatically place your application in it. When you install new applications, CrossOver will also give you hints about which apps can work and play well in the same bottle. If your apps can be installed in the same bottle, putting them together will save some space. If they can't, CrossOver will tell you and suggest creating a new bottle. It will also suggest a name for it. Keep the suggestion or give the bottle a name of your own choice.
- Click the Continue button.
- You'll be taken to the Ready to Install screen. CrossOver will give you a summary of what it's installing, where it will install it from, and the name of the bottle where it will install it. CrossOver will also install any needed support software (such as .NET Framework, or the link).
- Click the Install button.
- The software will install. CrossOver displays a progress screen where it will run through not only the creation of the bottle, but it will download any needed support software, and then run the installer you chose. Once the installation process completes, you should be ready to run your software.
- Click Done. The Installation process will close.
- Click the CrossOver icon in the Dock. CrossOver's Collections screen will appear, listing all the bottles you have installed on your Mac.
- Find the bottle you just created and run your software.
Running Windows and Windows apps on a Mac can be challenging. Finding the right method for you and your needs can be equally as challenging; however, if you think about it, there are a number of ways to run Windows on a Mac.
Some are expensive. Some aren't.
Install Windows App Using Wine On Mac Computer
Some take time and are complicated. Others aren't.
CrossOver isn't just easy to use, it's affordable. For less than 1/4 the price of Windows plus the price of the application you need to run, you can run it on your Mac. For the odd app out, this is a total no-brainer; and it's fairly easy to do. If you want to make sure your app works with CrossOver before you give it a shot, you can always search for it on their website.
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