Lee Stanton Read more July 20, 2022

Most people think that Mac applications are only available on Mac devices. But what if your Intel-based PC wants in on the fun?

Running Mac apps on a Windows computer may not seem possible, but there are ways to overcome any obstacles. Read on to learn about your options.

Just like you can’t open Windows apps on a Mac, no Windows PC will be able to run a macOS app without taking a few extra steps. However, note that Mac-exclusive apps are exclusive for a reason. Nothing will beat the experience of using them on the platform they were designed for. In addition, installing Apple apps on non-Apple devices is against their terms of use. If you need to run a Mac app on a Windows PC regardless, you have the following options:

Here’s how to tackle the issue.

Installing a virtual machine is the best way to overcome any problems between you and the Mac application you want to run on your Windows PC. Imagine a virtual machine like an operating system within your operating system. It will allow you to open the macOS interface in a window on your PC and access all the apps only available on Mac.

Virtual machines can be a bit demanding for PCs with lower specs, so make sure you use a capable device for this task for the smoothest experience.

Besides a PC with strong specs, you’ll need to download two things to get started:

Once you’ve installed VirtualBox and your macOS file is ready, create a Mac interface within your Windows in the following way:

The virtual machine is now added to your PC. But you still need to configure the settings before you can start using it:

Your virtual Mac is still not fully ready. The next step in the setup process involves executing a few command prompts.

Having executed these commands, you can now boot your macOS using VirtualBox.

The installation process can take from several minutes to several hours, but eventually, you’ll be greeted by a Mac interface. Log in to your Apple ID, and you’ll be able to download any macOS app on your Windows PC by doing the following:

When you’re done using your Mac apps on your Windows PC, be sure to shut down your virtual Mac by clicking the Apple logo and selecting “Shut Down.”

Installing a virtual machine locally can be demanding for your device. On the lowest recommended settings, you might notice your computer lagging. You can leverage the same idea by using a cloud service to save your device from such hardships. A virtual machine on the cloud gives you the same options as a local one without taking up valuable space.

However, this option is not ideal either. Lags can still occur between your device and the servers, especially if your internet speed isn’t stellar. In addition, cloud services can be costly, so consider carefully whether this option is worthwhile for you.

Virtual machines do the job, but they aren’t without their drawbacks. You can skip lengthy installation processes and expensive cloud subscriptions by simply looking for an alternative to the app you need.

Many macOS apps also have Windows versions, and finding these apps may be the simplest solution to your problem. Look up the developers’ website to find the version you need. If you can’t see a Windows version, you should message the developers to ask whether one will be released in the near future. If no Windows version is available for the app you need, you can also Google an alternative to the app that will provide a similar experience.

If running Mac apps on Windows were an easy and compromise-free process, the apps would hardly be exclusive. But nothing is impossible, and there are several ways to run Mac apps even without a Mac device when you really need to. Install a virtual machine on your device to get access to Apple’s ecosystem without the hardware. You can also choose the easier route and look for an alternative app available for Windows.

Which Mac apps do you wish were available on Windows? Do you think it’s worth going out of your way to get them on your Windows PC? Let us know in the comments section below.

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