macOS isn’t the only operating system you can run on your Mac computer. Surprised? Absolutely, running Windows on Mac is not a big deal.
Many new Mac users would be surprised to know this hack that can change their lives forever. You don’t need to buy a Windows computer to run Windows-only applications and then continue other tasks on your Mac. It is possible to run Windows, Linux, and plenty of different operating systems on a Mac device, and this is what makes them the most versatile computers you can purchase.
Here’s what you need to run Windows on Mac M1. And do you want in on another secret? It is possible to run macOS and Windows simultaneously, and Apple itself offers some in-built features to do so.
Apple’s Boot Camp – Best-known Option for Running Windows on Mac
Boot Camp is the best-known option for running Windows on a Mac device. It is free with your device and allows you to install Windows OS and select between Windows and macOS on startup.
Since this option directly runs Windows on Mac’s hardware, you can expect the best possible speed.
Apple provides the Boot Camp Assistant to make the process straightforward and smooth. It would be best if you started by partitioning the startup drive so there’s enough room for Windows and also the drivers that must be installed for the OS to work without a fuss.
Then, open the Boot Camp Assistant > choose your desired ISO image > select the disk image you downloaded or created, which will copy the ISO file to the memory stick.
- Boot Camp Assistant will download the relevant driver software, and you can also do some manual downloading.
- Choose the size of your Windows partition, and please note that this cannot be adjusted after creation.
- Once the partition size is selected, click install.
- Your Mac will switch off, and when it switches on, follow the instructions for installing Windows.
- Finally, you can choose between Windows and macOS whenever you turn on your device.
Microsoft Remote Desktop
If you don’t want to install Windows on your Mac, you can use this method to run virtually on your Mac. Set up Microsoft Remote Desktop on a Windows computer and then connect it to your Mac.
The Windows desktop will appear on your Mac, and within this window, you can manipulate the Windows desktop, move files around, launch apps, play games, etc. However, you won’t be able to run graphic-intensive apps or games due to bandwidth restrictions.
Installing and setting up remote desktop software is simple. Download it from the Mac App Store and enable remote access on the Windows system. Within the Remote Desktop app, choose the Windows system and use its apps.
Virtualization
You can run different operating systems at the same time, thanks to virtualization. Virtualization makes it look like each operating system has its own RAM, processor, storage, and graphics.
Virtualization uses a software layer called a hypervisor to emulate the underlying hardware. Hence, the guest operating system running on the virtual machine doesn’t run as speedily as in Boot Camp. However, unlike Boot Camp, you can run both operating systems simultaneously.
The three top virtualization apps for Mac are:
- Parallels – The app supports a wide range of guest operating systems, including Mac, Linux, and Windows. It is the first app to bring virtualization to Mac devices. You can run Windows and Mac simultaneously without rebooting.
- VirtualBox – VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization application supported by Oracle. This is a free application that runs on multiple computer systems. You can use this virtualization app to run different operating systems.
- VMWare Fusion – VMWare offers the Mac virtualization app known as Fusion. The app is a leader in virtualization tech and supports the installation of different operating systems.
The virtualization apps can be installed like any other Mac app. All three apps mentioned above have support services and lively forums to help with tuning the performance.
Crossover Mac
Crossover Mac is an application from Codeweaver, and it is designed to make the best utilization of Wine translator in a macOS environment. The installer is user-friendly, and you can get started right away.
There’s no need to venture into Terminal as it is required with Wine (another virtualization software). Crossover Mac hides the underlying UNIX bits and bobs behind the standard user interface of the Mac device.
This app offers a better user experience, but it continues to rely on the Wine code for translating Windows API to their macOS equivalents. Hence, this virtualization app may face the same issue as Wine. You can keep this as the last option if the ones mentioned above don’t work.
The Bottom Line
There you have it! These are some simple and straightforward methods to run Windows on Mac. Select the best option for you and start running Windows games and apps on your Mac device.