Run Microsoft Exe On Mac

Apr 01,2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Part 1: Can You Run an EXE File on a Mac? Microsoft word mac free. Yes, you can. With how innovative and creative developers have become, it was really only a matter of time before they devised a means to run EXE files on Mac, even though such files are incompatible with macOS. The Official site of Microsoft Silverlight. Download and install the latest version Microsoft Silverlight plug in for your browser.

Mac’s impressive library of apps gives you everything you need but let’s face it: Windows has a far larger library.

Haven’t you ever come across software native to Windows which endear themselves to you? But since they all come with the EXE file extension, your Mac is incapable of running them. Well, there are workarounds to this problem and you’ll learn about them today.

It’s possible to safely open and run EXE files on your Mac using mediums like Boot Camp, Remote Desktop, CrossOver, Virtual Machine and WINE, to mention the most prominent ones. And you don’t need to be an expert to do this. As long as you can follow simple instructions, you’re all set.

Part 1: Can You Run an EXE File on a Mac?

Yes, you can. With how innovative and creative developers have become, it was really only a matter of time before they devised a means to run EXE files on Mac, even though such files are incompatible with macOS.

What’s an EXE file, though? It’s a file extension which denotes an executable file format. Okay, but what’s an executable file? It’s any file capable of being executed as a program. To put it simply, it’s what makes the installation and running of software possible.

EXE files are used in a few operating systems, the most notable of them being Microsoft Windows. You can think of EXE files as the Windows version of APP files (APP files, if you’re unaware, are executable files under macOS).

Go further and learn how to fix MS Word not responding on Mac.

Running EXE files on Mac is very possible but only through backdoor means, so to speak. You need an emulator (WINE is by far the most popular), or you install a virtual machine software on your macOS to enable you to load Windows VM, or make an extra partition on your disk where you can simultaneously have both macOS and Windows in your Mac.

Part 2: How to Open EXE Files on Mac

Again, you have several options to choose from when attempting this. So many software out there can help you open EXE files on Mac. You are advised to go with the Parallel Desktop.

Parallel Desktop

This software is simplistic and won’t take up much on your time because it doesn’t even require a Mac restart anytime you wish to run a Windows application. A copy of Microsoft Windows is required though. You have to install it on your hard disk but it’s easy to do:

Step 1: Windows Installation

  • Open up your Mac’s Application folder and double-click on the “Parallels” icon (you have to do this to install Windows).
  • Click on “File.”
  • Click on “New.”
  • Click on “Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file.”
  • Click on “Continue.” You can easily install Windows either from a DVD or the more popular .iso disc image; or even a bootable USB drive.
  • You can even switch to the manual mode, locate the source for the Windows installation and choose it by clicking on “Select a file…”
  • Click on “Continue”. You will be taken to a Windows product key window.
  • Leave the “Express installation” as it is, input the key and click “Continue.”
  • You will be asked to select how you wish to use Windows: Whether for productivity, games only, software development, design, etc. Once you’re done selecting, click on “Continue.”
  • Type in a name for the virtual machine and select the directory or location for the Parallels Desktop.
  • Click on “Continue” and the Windows installation will commence. All Intel-based Macs are compatible with both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows: From Windows XP to Windows 10.
  • Once the installation concludes you can open up Windows by clicking on the “Power” button in the list of the Parallels Virtual Machine.
  • Step 2: Using Parallels Desktop

  • The very first time Windows restarts, “Parallels Tools” will be installed. This will be what ultimately integrates your Mac with your Windows desktops. After the installation is done, you will be asked to restart Windows.
  • Open up your Parallels Desktop from “Spotlight.’
  • Click on “Virtual Machine.”
  • Select “Configure” in the drop-down menu which appears.
  • Click on “Options.”
  • Click on “Shared Folders.”
  • Click on “Add.”
  • Click on “Choose.” Doing this will add a location from your Mac’s desktop to the virtual machine. Simply put any EXE file in this location to enable Windows to access and install them
  • Part 3: How to Run Windows APPs on Mac

    The question now is not whether you want to run EXE files on your Mac, but rather how to go about it conveniently. There are countless of great Windows apps which never made it to macOS, and they probably never will. A lot of them have very attractive features that make Windows the envy of all Mac owners.

    Running EXE files on Mac is made easy and convenient via Boot Camp and Remote Desktop. You can use any. It depends on preference and what you find more convenient.

    Boot Camp

    This application makes it possible for you to install Windows on your Mac. Switching between macOS and Windows thus becomes a matter of you restarting your system and deciding which OS to log into.

    Step 1: Windows Installation File

  • Boot Camp is compatible with Windows 8,8.1. and 10 (you will need an ISO file of any of these three releases).
  • Step 2: Launch Your Mac’s Utilities folder

  • Type in “Utilities” in your Mac’s search bar, then click it.
  • Step 3: Launch Boot Camp Assistant

  • The app’s icon looks like a grey hard drive. Click it.
  • Step 4: On-screen Instructions

  • You will be instructed to choose the Windows ISO, the drive you intend to install it on, and restart your Mac.
  • Step 5: Your Mac Will Restart

  • Once you’re done setting up Boot Camp, you will be asked to restart Mac.
  • After that, you will be taken to the Windows installer screen.
  • Step 6: Install Windows

  • Follow the instructions to install the version of Windows you chose.
  • Step 7: Startup Manager

  • Once the install has been completed, your system will restart. Press and hold the “Option” key while this happens and the “Startup Manager” will appear.
  • Let go of the “Option” key and you will see all the drives you can boot your Mac from.
  • Step 8: Boot Camp

  • Select “Boot Camp” and click on “Return”.
  • Your Mac will now be loaded into Windows.
  • Navigate to your EXE file and run it.
  • Remote Desktop

    This free tool does what many others fail at: lets you take full advantage of your Windows apps from your Mac. That’s pretty convenient, don’t you agree? Even though you’ll need Mac and PC to use the Remote Desktop, it’s still a great software that deserves praise. Here’s how you use it:

    Step 1: Get Your PC Ready

  • Open the start menu and navigate to “Settings”, then “System”, then “Remote Desktop.”
  • Turn “Enable Remote Desktop” on and “Confirm.”
  • Step 2: Know Your IP Address & PC Name

  • Still on the “Remote Desktop” menu, and below the “How to connect to this PC”, jot down your PC name.
  • Go to your “Settings’, then “Network & internet”.
  • Click “Wi-Fi” and select the network you’re connected to. This will bring up the network connection properties screen. At the bottom of the page is your “IPv4 address”. Jot it down.
  • Step 3: Install the Mac Version of Microsoft Remote Desktop

  • Pick up your Mac and open up your Mac App Store, then search for “Microsoft Remote Desktop.”
  • Download and install it.
  • Step 4: Open Add Your PC to Remote Desktop

  • Open up Remote Desktop on your Mac.
  • Click on “Add Desktop.”
  • A dialogue box will pop up. Type in the PC Name you jotted down; if it doesn’t work, type in the IP address.
  • Click “Save”.
  • Step 5: You Can Now Connect

  • Keep your PC turned on and make sure it is connected to the network your Mac is connected to.
  • Remote Desktop will now show your computer below “Saved Desktops.”
  • Double-click on it to connect.
  • You will be required to enter your username and password.
  • Click “OK.”
  • A security warning will pop up. Since you’re on a private network, ignore the warning and click “Continue.”
  • That’s the last step. You can now view and use your Windows on your Mac via Remote Desktop.

Closing Words

Well, there you have it. Running your EXE files via your Mac is now a thing of the past. As long as you have the right tools, you can do it in a matter of minutes.

These tools make your Mac more versatile than even Apple intended and anticipated because they enable you to go beyond what your Mac is capable of doing. You can achieve an end goal that would have otherwise been impossible. That’s the power of a Mac for you.

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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.

  1. You can use Apple's Boot Camp and run a full installation of Window natively on your Mac
  2. Use a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop
  3. 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:

FeatureDual BootingVirtual MachineCrossOver
Run without RebootingNoYesYes
Run without Windows OS LicenseNoNoYes
Runs ALL Windows AppsYesNo. Not all graphic-intensive features are supportedNo. Some run. Some run OK. Some won't run at all
Runs Apps at Native SpeedYesNoYes
Needed to Run an AppWindows License, App LicenseVM License, Windows License, App LicenseCrossOver 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.

  1. Navigate to CodeWeavers and download CrossOver.
  2. 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.

  3. Double click the CrossOver.app in your Downloads folder. It will offer to move itself to your Applications folder.

  4. 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.

  5. From the screen that appears, click the Install a Windows Application button.

  6. Type the name of the application you want to run. CrossOver will search its database and display appropriate matches.

  7. 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.
  8. Click the Continue button.

  9. Select an installer source.
  10. 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.
  11. Select the app.
  12. Click the Use this installer button. You'll return to the Select an Installer Source screen.
  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  1. Click the Continue button.

  2. 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).
  3. Click the Install button.

  4. 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.

  5. Click Done. The Installation process will close.
  6. Click the CrossOver icon in the Dock. CrossOver's Collections screen will appear, listing all the bottles you have installed on your Mac.
  7. 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.

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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