However, it does offer a fully functional 14-day trial, which is what we recommend that you use first. That said, CrossOver isn’t free - it costs $14.95 for a single license or $20.95 for a license with 12 months of support. You can also check that before installing an app in CrossOver itself. So, it’s best to head over to the CrossOver compatibility database and check out the compatibility rating - on a scale of 1-5 stars - for any specific Windows app that you want to run on your M1 Mac. Not all Windows apps may run well on CrossOver, however.

Here’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt running - almost - perfectly on an M1 Mac with CrossOver. It’s also updated for macOS Big Sur and fully supports the Apple M1 chip. It allows you to download, install, and run Windows apps in a simulated Windows environment without having to install Windows itself. If you use a MacBook Air, a MacBook Pro, or a Mac Mini with an M1 chip inside, you can still run Windows apps on it using the CrossOver compatibility layer.ĬrossOver is an application that provides a Windows compatibility layer on the Mac.

Also, popular Windows virtualization software such as Parallels are yet to adapt to the new chipset. But there’s a catch it’s architecture is radically different from the older Intel microprocessors, and that stops you from dual-booting into Windows using Boot Camp.

Apple’s M1 chip has revolutionized the Mac with outstanding performance and incredibly power-efficiency.

Run windows apps on m1 mac