CrossOver Mac

CrossOver Mac is a macOS application that lets you run Windows software on a Mac by using a Windows compatibility approach built around “bottles,” so each app lives inside its own managed Windows-style environment.

This is for Mac users who need access to specific Windows-only apps (including some games and productivity tools) and prefer a setup that keeps those apps organized and separated from each other.

Windows apps that feel integrated with macOS

A strong part of CrossOver Mac is how it presents installed Windows programs in a way that fits into everyday Mac use. The app offers a Home view that gathers icons for installed Windows applications, and it supports hiding icons without removing the underlying application. It also creates Launchpad icons for installed Windows apps, and those icons can be placed in the Dock for quicker access.

Bottles: clear separation, flexible control

CrossOver’s core organizational feature is the bottle system. Each bottle includes a C: drive structure, a Windows registry, CrossOver-specific settings, installed Windows applications, and saved user data. By default, CrossOver installs each Windows application into a new bottle, which helps when different apps need different settings. Bottles can also be configured to emulate different Windows versions, and CrossOver provides a way to change the Windows version reported to an application through its configuration tools.

For maintenance and portability, CrossOver includes bottle actions such as duplicating, renaming, exporting a bottle to an archive, and importing an archive back into CrossOver. For shared Macs, it also supports publishing a bottle so applications in that bottle can be made available across user accounts on the same system, with an update step to push changes.

Install profiles, plus tools for edge cases

CrossOver distinguishes between “listed” applications that have a predefined install profile (a CrossTie) and “unlisted” applications, which can still be installed even when there is no preset profile. When a listed app is supported by a CrossTie, CrossOver can guide the process with that profile, and depending on the app, it may be able to obtain the installer automatically or prompt you to point CrossOver to the installer file.

When things are less straightforward, CrossOver includes utility features aimed at troubleshooting and advanced workflows, including Run Command for launching tools or executables that do not have a launcher icon, and “Run with Options” for capturing logs and supplying extra command-line options or environment variables.

Compatibility checks and basic requirements

Before committing to a specific Windows program, CrossOver points you to its Compatibility Database to check whether the Windows software you want is expected to work. On the platform side, CrossOver Mac is listed as supporting Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon Macs (M1 or newer) running macOS 10.15 or later, with disk space required for the app plus additional space for the Windows applications you install into bottles.