By default and concept you can not do this natively,.exe files are designed only to run on Windows systems. If by any chance you need to run one on MAC (which i don't recommend cause is messy). How to Open Exe Files on Mac. This wikiHow teaches you how to run Windows' executable (EXE) files on a Mac. To do so, you can either install WINE, which is free software, or install Windows 8 or 10 using your Mac's Boot Camp feature. Hombrew calls itself the “missing package manager for OS X”, in which its purpose like many in this list is to run Windows-based applications or.exe files, rather. Bochs x86 PC Emulator. This is a portable package that allows you to run.exe or Windows, Linus and other types of operating systems for your Mac computer.
Table Of Content
- 1 How to open excel files on Mac
- 1.1 5 Ways to Open Exe file on Mac:
Do you want to run certain applications that only run in windows and not any other device? Tired of switching to Windows OS when you want to play some games?
If yes, then you are in the right place. But before knowing about how to open .exe files on Mac. Let us know about EXE files.
Exe File
The .exe word is the short form of the word “Executable”. This type of file is certainly found with the DOS, Windows OS, and other platforms.
These files can contain a variety of data from bitmaps, resources, bat commands, icons, and other components of an application. For most of the applications, it acts as a launch button.
The file type of .exe can also be compressed with the help of executable compressors like the CUP386 and UNP.Exe file format is widely used for containing different types of viruses which can harm the devices or the platform too.
On windows, The .exe file can be opened very easily just by double-clicking on the .exe file. Another application that is used to open .exe files is CorelDraw actually it can open the .exe file and modify it very easily.
5 Ways to Open Exe file on Mac:
Most of the .exe files are generally designed for windows users but most of the time it can also be used by the mac for certain purposes.
First, let us look at the in-built ways in which we are there to help mac users run a windows application.
1.) Parallel Desktop:
This software is inbuilt software in mac. This can be run and applied for the instance, as it does not require any restart of the Mac device to get the windows application running.
However, a copy of the Microsoft is required to install the OS in the parallel desktop application and use it. Given below are the detailed steps in how to use the parallel desktop.
- Go to mac application folder then open the parallel desktop.
- Click on file Then new.
- Click on the “install windows or another os from image file or DVD “button.
- Click on continue and browse for the location where you stored the OS. (you can easily install it from the USB drive or the DVD).
- Click on continue after selecting the os you want to install.
- It will ask for the product key usually written on the backside of the DVD.
- You will then be asked to fill in the details for which you will use the windows os.
- Click on continue after that and the windows installation process will begin. After the os is being installed then click on the Power button which will launch the parallel virtual machine.
- Once the Windows OS is installed then launch parallel desktop, every time you need to run .exe file on mac or to use the Windows OS.
2.) CrossOver MAC:
It is one of the oldest applications used to run the .exe file on windows. It was first launched in the year 2007. It is like a way to run windows applications without having windows OS.
This application is also very time efficient as you want to wait for the Windows OS to install and run the OS each time you want to run windows .exe files.
However, this application cant is the complete replacement of the windows OS, but the most common features of the windows os are generally included in this application ( around 90% ).
They also have a compatibility list of the application which it could run easily. The amazon link for this application is Crossover Mac on amazon.
3.) File Juicer:
It is not like an actual application to run .exe files but it searches for the images, flashes, or some other animations to run some part of the .exe file.
ZIP and RAR files are the most common files which are present on the .exe file which is generally self extracted whenever the file is run.
Some pc applications also called the Pocket PC application which is the only runner on windows can also be open which the help of the file juicer as it extracts the CAB files in them and later you can run them on Pocket PC inbuilt application on Mac OS.
4.) Virtual Box:
We all know about virtual box, it is an application that is used to run Many different OS on a certain platform. It virtualizes the entire OS on the platform so that the user can use all of its features.
However, to use windows OS on the virtual box and use it on Mac you will need a copy of windows OS and Virtual Box for Mac os is easily available on the internet.
You will at least need 30-40 GB of space and later you will need more space to store your apps and other things. Another con of this is you will need to run the Virtual box each time you want to use the Windows applications.
5.) WINE:
One of the most common applications which are used to run the windows applications on mac. The Wine application is also updated frequently running on the current version of 5.0.3.
One of the famous sayings of the developers of the wine is “Wine is not an emulator“, which is capable of running many Windows applications on several POSIX- based operating systems including mac.
Instead of stimulation a virtual environment to run the windows application, it converts the Windows API calls into POSIX calls which can be easily understood by the mac OS.
It can be easily integrated into Mac os and then you can also use the double click to open windows application just like windows. The download link for the WINE application is WINE FOR MAC OS.
According to my, Wine is the of the best ways to run the windows application on the Mac os. However, if you want to use the full features of the Windows Os on mac then go with the Virtual Box option. Hope you found this article informative. See you next time! Thank you.
You can Read:- Best Emulator For PC: Enjoy Different OS on One PC
Dec 12 2019
EXE files are made for users of Microsoft's Windows, but today you have several ways to use EXE files on your Mac.File Juicer | VirtualBox | Parallels | Fusion | ClamAV | Boot Camp | Crossover |
Extracts images, CAB and other files from EXE | Virtual Machine can run Windows | Virtual Machine can run Windows | Virtual Machine can run Windows | Virus scanning | Lets your Mac run Windows natively | 95% Windows replacement |
$18 | $0 + $129 | $80+$129 | $99+$129 | Free | $0+$129 | $40- |
File Juicerdoes not run EXE files. It searches inside the EXE file to see if it contains images, Flash games or animations, compressed .ZIP or .RAR archives and many other formats. If if finds any, it will extract and save them. An example EXE file containing photos: AutumnToadStools.EXE
13 second movie showing how to extract images from an EXE file (a screen saver). This will work on some EXE files, but not if the EXE file is encrypted or use a proprietary storage system.
ZIP and RAR files are common inside EXE files which are made 'self extracting' on Windows by wrapping them in an EXE file. You open ZIP files by double-clicking them. RAR files require RAR Expander.
Pocket PC applications are often packaged as 'Windows only installers' in EXE files, and the developers forget to make an installer for Mac OS X.
File Juicer can extract the CAB files from the exe file, and you can manually copy this file to the Pocket PC and get it installed this way.
Adobe/Macromedia's Flash files are also often wrapped inside an EXE file. File Juicer can extract them, and you can play them with iSwiff .
Some EXE files containing other files are not possible to open with File Juicer. Typically this is packages made by installer applications like InstallerVise from MindVision.
The most affordable free and supported app to run Windows and apps on your Mac is VirtualBox from Oracle.
You do need a copy of Microsoft Windows, and the Home Edition of Windows 10 is about $129
It takes only a few minutes to download and install Virtual Box, but it may take more than an hour to get your copy of Windows and all the Windows software updates installed. You will also need 30-50GB of free disk space to set aside as to a virtual disk for your 'Windows PC'. I have successfully been able to run Windows 7 on a 20GB virtual disk
Parallels Desktop require a Mac with an Intel processor. It is more convenient to use than Apple's Boot Camp as it does not require to restart your Mac every time you want to run a Windows application.
Parallels Desktop is focused on personal use, while VMWare cater for enterprise users even though they keep VMWare Fusion for personal use
You still need a copy of Microsoft Windows and install it on a part of your hard disk. You also need to keep this part of your disk free of spyware, viruses. You can keep the Mac part of your disk separate from your Windows part, so nasty applications will not ruin your Mac data.
If your Mac is not quite new and only updated to macOS 13 'High Sierra' you can get away with an older copy of Parallels from Amazon: Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac
How To Open A Keygen Exe File On Mac Download
If you have a Mac with an Intel processor, VMWare Fusion will be an alternative to Parallels Desktop. VMWare is mostly focused on business users, but they still sell a version for personal use which is conveninent if you want to use the same software at home and at work. They are already known for making virtual Windows environments on Windows, so Windows users can run different versions of Windows on the same PC.
You do need a copy of Microsoft Windows
EXE files can be nasty to Windows users. If you want to use any of the applications below to run the EXE file you have, I recommend checking it for virus first. This is a good idea even though Windows viruses will only be dangerous for the part of your hard disk you set aside for Windows: one can never be too careful when running EXE files. Because File Juicer does not run EXE files, but search them for images, Flash animations and more, even infected EXE files are not dangerous when dropped on File Juicer for a search for extractable files.
ClamAV knows about 90.000 viruses. It is free and you can download ClamXav for Mac OS X here.
ClamXav is quite nice as it does not run in the background and slow your Mac down unless you directly ask for it (by launching ClamXav Sentry from the File menu).
The newest Macs have an Intel processor inside, and Apple has made it possible via BootCamp to install Windows in a part of your disk. With Boot Camp, you shut down your Mac and restart it as a real Windows PC which works at full speed. When you want to go back to Mac OS, you restart it again as a Mac.You still need to purchase a copy of Microsoft Windows, install it and keep that corner of your hard disk free of virus, worms and spyware.
Amazon: Microsoft Windows
How To Open A Keygen Exe File On Mac Os
Codeweavers CrossOver (since 2007) - is a way to Windows applications without having Windows. This is of course more affordable, and you don't have to work through a Windows installation which may take hours.The disadvantage is that it is not a 100% Windows replacement, but they have focused on the most common parts of Windows, and if an application only depend on those it should work. Their compatibility list of supported applications give an impression of how much of Windows they support.
Amazon: Code Weavers Crossover Mac (Mac)
The 3 most popular places to look for Mac software are: Visit them both as they are different in how they present their lists. MacUpdate and VersionTracker has user reviews of the software too.While all active software developers list their software on these 3 sites, there are more which write about using Mac software. MacWorld.