Are you tired of your boring old Mac just… computing? Sick of your laptop acting like it’s too good for Candy Crush? Well, folks, have we got news for you! Introducing the all-new, revolutionaryiOS-on-Mac experience! It’s like giving your Mac a smartphone’s brain transplant! “But wait,” you say, juggling your devices, “there’s no way my Mac can run iPhone apps!”
Well, butter my biscuit and call me grandma, because it CAN! For just three easy payments of your dignity, your Mac can now identity-shift faster than a chameleon at a disco! Call now, and we’ll throw in afreeexistential crisis for your MacBook! No, seriously, you can actually run iOS on your Mac and it’s not all that complicated. Let me walk you through the thing real quick.
What You Need To Know
The big news is that newer Macs powered by Apple’s own M1 or M2 chips can now run iOS apps designed for iPhones and iPads. This is made possible because these Apple Silicon chips use the same underlying architecture (ARM) as the processors in Apple’s mobile devices. So your Mac is now like a big iPhone or iPad under the hood.
But there are a couple requirements you need to take advantage of this:
If your Mac meets both those requirements, you’re good to go! You’ll be able to browse and download iOS apps from the App Store just like you would on an iPhone or iPad.
Cool Trick #1: Downloading Apps From the Mac App Store
The easiest way to get iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac is to use the App Store that’s built-in to your MacOS. Just follow these steps:
Keep in mind not all iOS apps are available on the Mac App Store since it’s up to the developers. But when they are, this is by far the simplest way to run those apps on your Mac.
Cool Trick #2: Using Your Apple ID Purchase History
If you’ve previously purchased or downloaded an iOS app on your iPhone or iPad, you might be able to install it on your Mac, even if it doesn’t appear in Mac App Store searches. Here’s how:
This method can be particularly useful for apps that you know exist but can’t find through a regular App Store search on your Mac.
Cool Trick #3: Using Third-Party Emulators
While Apple’s native solution is the most seamless, there are third-party emulators that allow you to run iOS apps on Mac. These can be especially useful if you have an older Mac without Apple Silicon. However, be aware that using emulators can be more complex and may not provide the same level of performance or compatibility. A popular option is Xcode’s iOS Simulator, primarily used by developers for testing apps. While it’s not designed for everyday app use, it can be a way to run iOS apps on Mac:
Remember, this method is not ideal for regular app use and is more suited for developers or those willing to deal with a more technical setup.
Optimizing Your Experience
Once you’ve installed iOS apps on your Mac, you might notice that the experience isn’t always perfect. Here are some tips to enhance your use of iOS apps on Mac:
Advanced Techniques
For those willing to delve deeper, there are more advanced methods to run iOS apps on Mac:
I’ve actually tried doing this (with iOS and Windows) and it worked just fine. My laptop got way too heated up when I tried to run GTA V through the Windows, though. That was the day I decided to just shut up and buy a PS5.
Remember, these advanced techniques come with risks and may require a deeper understanding of iOS and macOS systems. I’m only including these ideas in this article for educational purposes. You do not want to go into this without having complete mastery of what you’re tinkering with.
FAQs
Can I run all my iPhone games on my Mac?
you may run any iPhone game on your Mac as long as it’s available in the Mac App Store and your Mac meets the requirements. However, some games may not be optimized for Mac or may not be available.
How do iOS apps handle notifications on Mac?
iOS apps can send notifications on Mac, which appear in the Notification Center just like native Mac app notifications. You can manage these notifications in System Preferences > Notifications & Focus, where you’ll find settings for each app.
Can I use Split View or Stage Manager with iOS apps on Mac?
Yes, iOS apps on Mac can be used with macOS window management features like Split View and Stage Manager. This allows you to use iOS apps alongside native Mac apps for improved multitasking.
