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- Wine. Wine is an open-source compatibility layer. It allows Microsoft Windows software, games, and apps to function on Mac systems. The name is an acronym that stands for “Wine Is Not an Emulator.”
- Parallels® Desktop. Parallels Desktop provides a virtual machine for Mac users to run .exe files on their computers. It runs Windows apps quickly without slowing down your system while providing the foundation to move files between the host desktop and your virtual one.
- Boot Camp. Boot Camp is an official Apple utility that allows Mac users to switch from macOS to Windows on their computer. It comes with an assistant that guides you through the installation steps if you have an Intel-based iMac, MacBook, or Mac Mini.
- Overview
- Parallels (Apple Silico
- Boot Camp (Intel Processor
- Using Wine
This wikiHow teaches you how to run Windows executable (EXE or .exe) files on a Mac. To do so, you can either install Wine, which is free software, or install Windows 11 using Parallels (for Macs with Apple silicon processors) or your Mac's Boot Camp feature (for older Macs with Intel processors).
The easiest way to run an EXE file on Mac is to install Windows.
If your Mac has an Apple silicon processor, you’ll need to install Windows with Parallels. For Macs with Intel, use Boot Camp.
You can also use Wine (an API compatibility layer) to run Windows software on your Mac.
Make sure your Mac has an Apple silicon processor.
button at the top left corner of your screen, then click
Look at the line that says
, you’ll need to use Parallels. This app works like a virtual Windows desktop on your Mac. If your Mac has an Intel chip, you’ll need to use the Boot Camp method to install Windows instead.
You can also try the Wine method if you have a newer computer and would rather not buy a Parallels license.
Parallels allows you to run a slightly limited version of Windows on your Mac. To install it, go to the Parallels
Check if your Mac supports Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp utility lets you install Windows on your Mac for free so you can run EXE files. However, you can only install Windows with Boot Camp if your Mac has an Intel processor. For Macs with Apple silicon processors, you’ll need to use the Parallels or Wine method. To find out if your Mac has an Intel processor:
Look for an item labeled either “Chip” or “Processor.” If you see “Processor” followed by the name of an Intel processor, your Mac will support installing Windows with Boot Camp.
Most newer Macs (released in late 2020 or later) have an Apple silicon processor instead.
Make sure you have a Windows installation file.
MacOS' Boot Camp supports Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.
Install a Wine-based third-party app.
Wine is a compatibility layer that directly translates Windows commands into Mac commands so you can run Windows software without installing a new operating system. While you can
using Terminal or the free Wine app, it’s a tricky and complicated process getting it to work. Instead, you might want to try one of these third-party apps that are built on Wine but offer a more user-friendly interface:
This option is free and works with a wide variety of Windows apps.
is another free Wine-based app that lets you port PC games and other programs to your Mac, but it’s a bit more complicated to use than some of the other options.
(macOS Sonoma and later) is another option for advanced users. You may be prompted to
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Feb 21, 2022 · Updated on February 21, 2022. What to Know. An EXE file is an executable file that either runs an application or an application installer. Mac has a utility called Boot Camp you can use to install a copy of Windows to run Windows EXE files on some Mac.
- Jerri Ledford
- Using a Virtual Machine. Using a virtual machine is a popular method for running Windows applications on a Mac. A virtual machine essentially creates a simulated Windows environment within your Mac operating system, allowing you to install and run .exe files seamlessly.
- Using Boot Camp. If you’re looking for a more native Windows experience on your Mac, using Boot Camp is a viable option. Boot Camp is a utility built into Mac computers that allows you to install and run Windows natively alongside macOS.
- Using Wine. If you’re looking for a lightweight and flexible solution to run .exe files on your Mac without the need for a virtual machine or dual booting, using Wine is worth considering.
- Using CrossOver. If you’re looking for a more user-friendly and supported option to run .exe files on your Mac, using CrossOver is an excellent choice.
Jan 13, 2022 · Head to the “Download” section and select Install to download an app to your Mac. Select the app’s name to open the app’s description page. That’ll redirect you to the developer’s website in your Mac’s default browser. It’s also possible to open the EXE setup file for a Windows-based app outside WineBottler’s list.
Jan 15, 2024 · Open EXE Files on Mac Using WineBottler. WineBottler is a free and open-source program that allows users to run Windows applications on macOS. If you’re trying to o pen an EXE file on your Mac, WineBottler can be the first choice. Go to winebottler.kronenberg.org to download the WineBottler program on your Mac.
May 19, 2017 · Solution: You can easily open an .exe from your Mac by using Parallels Desktop® for Mac. I frequently get questions like this from Mac users: My friend asked me to download a file named Paint-tool-sai.exe, but I can’t open it on my Mac. How can I open this file?
