Jul 07, 2020 Best Virtual Machines That Run on a Desktop. VMware Player is a FREEWARE for personal use software that will allow you to mount and run VMs directly from a Windows or Linux desktop. Though it cannot create new VMs from an ISO, it is still a powerful virtual machine software. Apr 21, 2020 Using a virtual machine to run Windows Softwares on MacOS is the best way. This method will run all of your windows application easily. Also, the Virtual machines a free software so you dont have to pay any extra charges for it.
Mac is renowned for safety and smooth operation. However, if you are not switching from your Windows to Mac, because you don’t want to lose the programs compatible specifically with Windows, then you must know that there is a workaround with which you can run those programs.
Yes, you heard it right, with the help of a virtual machine, it is possible to work on both MacOS and Windows operating system on the same computer. With virtual machines, you can run Windows on Mac and also switch both the operating systems effortlessly.
Simple Ways to Run Windows on Mac
You must be thinking what a virtual machine is and how it works! So, without any further ado, let us know about Virtual machines!
Virtual Machine
In simple words, a Virtual machine (VM) is a program or image which acts an emulation of a computer system. It is one of the best methods to run Windows on a Mac, eliminating the need for actual physical hardware. With VM, a user can install Windows, Linux or any other OS in a window on Mac. Windows stay under the impression that it is running on a real computer however, it is running within software on Mac.
The Virtual Machine is based on computer architecture and operates as a physical computer. It runs in a window just like any other program on a computer, which provides a similar experience on Virtual Machine as they get on the host operating system. The software inside the Virtual Machine can’t tamper with the computer settings as the VM is sandboxed from the rest of the system.
Therefore, the virtual machines are an ideal software for those who want to use another operating system for testing beta releases, creating OS backup, accessing infected files and more. Every virtual machine has its own virtual hardware that’s CPU, hard drives, network interfaces, and other devices.
The VM is linked to the actual hardware on a physical machine which reduces the costs, as you don’t need physical hardware, hence, no maintenance costs applied to it.
Now you know about Virtual Machines, then read further to know some of the best ways to run Windows on a Mac using virtual machine apps.
Parallels Desktop
One of the best ways to run Windows on Mac is by using Parallels. Whether you want to switch from Windows to Mac or want to transfer data between them, Parallels can do it all. The tool is available for trial and you can get all of it in the paid version.
Let’s check the requirements to run Windows programs on Mac.
Hardware
- Mac computer with Intel Core i9, Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Core 2 Duo, Core i7, Intel Core M or Xeon processor.
- Recommended 8 GB, 4 GB minimum required.
- 600 MB disk space on Macintosh HD for Parallels desktop application installation.
- Working internet connection to activate the product and select features.
- SSD drive for better performance.
- Additional disk space for VM
Software
The tool is available all mentioned operating system of Mac in the list:
- OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 or later
- macOS Sierra 10.12.6 or later
- macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or later
- macOS Mojave 10.14
Guest Operating System
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows 8
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 10
Features Of Parallels:
Using Windows and Mac on the same screen on your Mac computer is easy with Parallels. It makes sharing files and folders, images and text between Mac and Windows apps effortless.
Once downloaded, it is easy to install and get started with another operating system. No matter how heavy a Windows application is, it will run smoothly without affecting your Mac’s performance.
The program works for both the latest version of Windows 10 and macOS Mojave. For easy access, it enables a user to add Windows application to Touch Bar. Parallels has the potential to optimize VM settings and performance for you, to match up the current mode. So, whether you are playing games or are into testing or development, Parallels will modify VM settings as per the need.
VMware Fusion
Vmware Fusion gives you the power to run Windows and other operating systems side by side with Mac apps, without even rebooting. The platform is quite simple, therefore could be useful for home users and is powerful to be handle developers, professionals and businesses needs.
To install Vmware Fusion on your Mac to run Windows, you need:
- Mac launched in 2011 or later except 2012 Mac Pro “Quad Core” using the Intel® Xeon® W3565 Processor.
- 2010 Mac Pro “Six Core”, “Eight Core” and “Twelve Core”.
- OS X 10.12 Sierra Minimum Required
Features Of VMware Fusion
VMware Fusion comes with an updated user interface along with customizable support for the latest Touch Bar enabled Macs. The tool supports the latest versions of Windows 10 as a virtual machine running on your Mac. Vmware Fusion has an ability to drive complex, GPU intensive applications and games with an improved hardware-accelerated 3D graphics engine by taking advantage of Apple Metal graphics technology.
When it comes to graphics performance and accuracy, VMware Fusion leads the way. With Unity View Mode, it allows you to hide Windows desktop, so you can run Windows apps on your Mac seamlessly.
This app allows you to launch Windows apps from Dock, Launchpad or Spotlight. With the common VMware hypervisor, Fusion makes it simple to transfer virtual machines back and forth with drag and drop or control VMs right from corporate data from the comfort of your Mac
BootCamp
Bootcamp is an inbuilt utility app which enables Mac OSX user to use Windows on the same screen. The app is easy to use and after installation, you just need to restart and switch between Windows and MacOS to run Windows on Mac.
Before you get started with it, let’s check the requirements to run Windows programs on Mac.
- Sufficient free disk space to form a Boot Camp disk partition with at least size of 64GB.
Note: It is recommended to have 128 GB space for better performance.
- An external mouse and Keyboard, in case you are on Mac desktop.
- A USB with free 16GB or more.
The List of Mac Models Supporting Windows 10 Home 64-bit version or Pro:
- MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- MacBook Air (2012 and later)
- iMac (2012 and later)*
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac mini (2012 and later)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
- Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
Features of Bootcamp:
Bootcamp is popular due to its performance. Having Windows on an internal drive of Mac eliminates the need for a virtual machine or external device. If you have ample space on your Mac, you should install Windows using this utility app.
Upon installing Windows on your Mac, you could use Windows & its applications with best possible performance. Your Mac and Windows PC both will perform with the same specifications. Install Windows using Bootcamp and enjoying using both platforms on the same screen.
VirtualBox
If you want to run Windows on Mac, without even rebooting your computer, then VirtualBox can help. VirtualBox is a free and open source hosted hypervisor for x86 computers.
If you want to get Windows 10, then you need to check the Installation requirements:
- 16GB free space on hard disk.
- A processor of 1 Gigahertz or more
- 1GB RAM for 32 bit and 2 GB for 64 bit
- Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device along with WDDM driver.
- IDE, SATA, and SCSI hard drives are supported.
- ISO disk image files are supported.
Supported guest operating system
You can install Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Debian, and FreeBSD while using VirtualBox
Features Of VirtualBox
Virtual Box allows you to run the applications on Windows and the applications on Mac side by side seamlessly. It allows the guest system to access physical hard disk partitions present on the host system.
It lets your guest system to directly access the USB devices connected to the host computer. You can set Shared Folders which can be accessed by both guest and host operating system. Copy, paste, drag and drop the files from guest to host or vice versa easily.
If you want to run server software inside the Virtual Machine, then VirtualBox allows you to set up port forwarding. Running VM on a remote system or server is possible with VirtualBox. The tool makes it possible with the help of VRDP which is backwards compatible with Microsoft’s RDP protocol. So, you can establish a remote connection to your VM by using the Remote Desktop Connection program(Windows program) without any VirtualBox app.
Wine
Wine originally means Wine Is Not An Emulator. The app is based on Linux. It is a compatibility layer that enables Windows applications to run on other operating systems. It is open and legal and is available for free. Also, you don’t need any Windows license to use the tool.
To install Wine on your Mac, you will need to have the following things:
- macOS 10.10 or later
- A working internet connection
- Access to an Admin account, with credentials
Features Of Wine
With Wine, Mac and Windows run side by side and you can switch between the two via Boot Camp. However, you need to reboot your computer every time you switch. Unlike other apps used to run Windows on Mac, Wine doesn’t take up a lot of disk space and doesn’t hog memory.
As it takes permission to use system resources such as disk space and memory from OS. Wine makes sure all the requests are responded so that the program can run properly. Therefore the programs get all the connections to work properly and it doesn’t feel that it is not on Windows. As it is only interpreting requests, no need to copy real Windows OS. Being an open-source, Wine is continuously refining and new features are added to it now and then.
So, these are popular ways to run Windows on Mac. We know it is not as easy as installing Windows apps on Windows computer but with these apps, you can beat the need of having two operating systems on two separate machines, instead, you can have both of them on the same machine.
Which One To Choose?
If you have a Windows license and want the best compatibility on your Mac, then you must go with Parallels. However, don’t have or don’t want to buy Windows license key then you can use Wine to run Windows on Mac.
Well, this was our opinion on how to run Windows on Mac. Did you like the article? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
| Editor's Rating | |
|---|---|
| Features | |
| Overall | |
| Price | |
| Customer Service | |
Positives
- Boot Camp support
- Strong graphical performance
- Simplified OS installs
- Migration of an existing PC to Mac
- Windows apps appear in Dock, Launchpad
- Lifetime license per user
Negatives
- Can't install Windows without a disk
- Lacks energy efficiency settings
Mac users seeking to run multiple desktop operating systems without the need for a new computer have only one option: virtual machines. VMware Fusion 10 is one of the best solutions for this specific purpose on the market, both for home and business users. Its clean and Mac-friendly user interface and great performance make it a great tool for everyday use. Skeptics can try the software for free for 30 days and, if they like it, buy a VMware Fusion license that can be used on multiple Macs for as low as $79.99.
The company behind VMware Fusion for Mac is VMware, Inc., a subsidiary of Dell Technologies, focusing on cloud computing and platform virtualization software and services. VMware, Inc. provides a wide variety of services mainly for enterprise users, such as its data center and cloud infrastructure vSphere, networking and security tools, cloud management platforms, and desktop and application virtualization. VMware Fusion is part of VMware's personal desktop offerings, which includes extra software such as Horizon FLEX and Workstation Player.
Features
VMware Fusion lets you run more than 200 operating systems as virtual machines. Nearly all programs that run natively on these operating systems will run within VMware Fusion. Apps can range from widely used productivity suites (for example Microsoft Office) to graphics-intensive programs such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks, and much more.
Thanks to its 3D-accelerated graphics support, VMware Fusion 10 allows users to play most games that require DirectX 10.0 or OpenGL 3.3 in a virtual Windows environment, covering the whole range between XP Service Pack 3 all the way through to Windows 10. The VMware feature list includes support for NVMe devices, UEFI Secure Boot, UEFI boot, and TPM chips.
Select Operating System
Choose Windows Firmware
When you delete files from your virtual machine, Fusion does not return the space to your Mac. Users can perform a manual or automated cleanup of virtual machines to free up space on the Mac. The cleanup compacts and defragments the virtual machine.
File Sharing
Perhaps the most stand-out feature of VMware is the simplicity of its sharing settings. During setup you'll be prompted to choose between a “seamless” or “more isolated” integration of the operating system. The former means VMware Fusion will share the Mac's documents and apps with Windows, and any files on the Mac that Windows supports can be opened in Windows software if necessary. That, however, will raise some security concerns, so the use of antivirus software is highly recommended.
Best Vmware Software To Run Macos On Windows
If shared folders are enabled, then users can either set a custom folder or use any of the preset locations to allow Windows to access files. If isolated mode is chosen – our preference for security reasons – users can then drag and drop files to copy them from one OS to another, though copying and pasting between systems works too.
Integration
Guest operating systems can be run either in a separate window or integrated ‘natively’ into macOS. VMware Fusion calls this feature “Unity” and is activated easily with just a click on its dedicated button in the top right corner of the window. If enabled, a VMware Fusion Unity icon will appear in the Dock, alongside the addition of various Windows taskbar icons within the macOS menu bar. But the biggest change is that any apps running in Windows will appear in the Dock as regular macOS apps, only with a Windows label attached. Unity mode with VMware is less annoying and better integrated than its competitors, so if this is your preferred mode of running Windows, then you'll definitely appreciate it.
Enable Shared Folders
VMware Fusion Hardware Allocation Options
Windows Applications Settings
Connected USB Device Prompt
It’s worth noting that when you delete files from your virtual machine, Fusion does not return the space to your Mac. Users can perform a manual or automated cleanup of virtual machines to free this space on the Mac up by compacting and defragmenting the virtual machine.
Performance
In our testing on our MacBook Pro (late 2016) we set Windows 10 to start up alongside the launch of VMware Fusion for Mac. The boot times are somewhat inconsistent, at first taking sub-30 seconds, but later taking almost a minute to launch both VMware Fusion and Windows. However, users can set up VMware to save the state of the virtual machine so that it can be restored to that point if necessary, and in this case the boot up time is reduced significantly – in our tests rebooting took only 17 seconds.
When it comes to data transfer, VMware smartly asks you to select the platform that you want a connected drive to associate itself with. VMware isn’t the quickest when it comes to data transfer, though, with a 4.36GB file transfer between systems from an NTFS-formatted pen drive taking 48 seconds.
Thanks to its Metal support, the graphics capabilities of VMware Fusion Pro are really great. This gives the virtual machine you are using a boost to performance and stability, although it's anything but energy efficient.
Setup
Setting up VMware Fusion is less streamlined than it should be, as users need to go through several steps before they can actually use the software and install the desired operating system.
After purchase, users need to register the product by creating a VMware Fusion Account. Only after that hassle are they able to access their license key and start the download process.
From that moment on, getting Windows on a Mac is just a matter of having an install disk/DVD to hand or virtual machine that you want to import. The installation process is straightforward once you’ve decided which custom operating system (guest OS) you want to use with the virtual machine, including a variety of Windows platforms, Apple operating systems, Linux, Novel Netware, and much more. VMware Fusion users can also import previously used virtual machines.
The operating system will use the Mac's internet settings to connect to networks and printers, so getting started is hassle free.
Pricing
The $79.99 VMware Fusion license price tag includes the virtual machine software license and eligibility for an upgrade to the next major release. Upgrading from an earlier VMware Fusion version is cheaper, though, at $49.99. Fusion Pro, which includes additional features such as the ability to create linked clones, advanced networking, secure VM encryption, and other extras comes with a higher price tag of $159.99. However, before committing to a license users have 30 days to decide whether this virtual machine and its features fit their needs.
- Easily switch from a PC to a Mac
- Use specific Windows-only devices on the Mac
- Upgrade pricing eligibility with next major release
- –
- –
- Create linked clones to save time and disk space
- Connect to vSphere to run, download or upload virtual machines
- Create custom virtual networking configurations
- Create restricted virtual machines that can expire
For that price the user will get a lifetime VMware Fusion license for the available version. However, compared to its primary competitor, Parallels, VMware offers a per-user license and not per-Mac. This means users can install VMware Fusion on multiple Macs without any extra charge and the number of connected computers will appear in the My VMware account.
The company accepts all major credit card – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, JCB – as well as Diner's Club, PayPal, purchase order, and wire transfer.
Customer Service
If you happen to run into issues while using VMware Fusion Pro, then the best way to get support is by visiting the Fusion Support Center. You can use the search field to find a quick answer in the knowledge base, read the guides, or get support by logging into your My VMware account.
Some of the knowledge base articles are accompanied by videos, which are very useful for understanding how things work. In case this doesn't answer your question, VMware provides access to a community forum (registration required) where users can share their information and experiences, as well as user groups (VMUGs) for a group of live, local gatherings of VMware users. Every purchase includes complimentary installation support for up to 18 months following product registration.
VMware Fusion Knowledge Base Article With Video
VMware Fusion Account
Additional phone or web support from a Technical Support Engineer is available for purchase from the VMware store. Pricing depends on the number of incidents you expect to have per year.
Best Vmware Software To Run Macos On Windows 10
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a solid, user-friendly virtual machine, VMware Fusion is one of the best solutions you can get. What makes this product outstanding is not only its stability, Mac-friendly user interface and the accessibility of available features, but the graphical performance thanks to its support for Apple's Metal Host Graphics Rendering Engine.
Although it lacks some of the features of its competitors, a major advantage of VMware Fusion is the company's pricing strategy: instead of requiring a subscription you get a lifetime license, which is per-user not per-Mac – an obvious boon for users with multiple Macs. Of course, VMware will charge you for every major upgrade, but the software will still function regardless, so it’s up to the user to decide whether the extra features are appealing enough to shell out the money.
Best Alternative Mac Optimization Software
| Rank | Company | Info | Visit |
| |||
| |||
|