X drops support for installing its iPad app on the Mac
Last year, X (formerly known as Twitter) killed its dedicated Mac app and removed it from the Mac App Store. At the time, the company pointed users to the iPad version of the app, which remained available on the Mac App Store for Apple Silicon users to install. Now, however, X is blocking users from installing the iPad version of the app on macOS. The essentially means the company has ditched the Mac entirely. more…

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How can I recover lost or deleted data from my Mac
Macworld Life might not be entirely paperless yet, but the truth is that the vast majority of our important documents, photos, videos and other files are all now digital. This is good, as it saves space in our homes and the money in our pockets. But this also means we can lose everything if a drive fails, becomes corrupted, or we accidentally delete data. This is a nightmare, especially if you don’t have a solid backup solution in place. So, what can be done to recover lost or deleted files from your Mac or iPhone?  Check your backups or cloud accounts With devices now being so heavily interconnected, you might find that the missing files are backed up in iCloud, Google Drive, Onedrive or any other cloud-based storage service you use. So, the first step is to look there. If that comes up empty, then checking to see if you have a Time Machine backup of your files is the next step. Should this be the case, then simply copy those files onto a new drive and you’ll be back to normal. If you can’t find the files, or your drive has crashed and taken the system with it, then it can feel a bit hopeless. That’s not where the story ends though, as professional recovery software can still provide a high probability of safely retrieving that precious data. Restoring lost or deleted date with professional recovery software You’ll find a wide range of recovery software available, but we recommend you go for one with a longstanding reputation and large user-base. Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac is an excellent option, as the company has been a specialist in the sector for 30 years, with the software downloaded over 130 million times. The simple and easy to use interface means that you don’t have to be a tech expert to find and restore your lost data. Simply tell it the type of files you’re looking for, scan the drive, preview the files to see if they’re the ones you’re after, then save them to a new location. It’s all done in a few clicks. You can even pause the process at any time, so your Mac isn’t tied up with the search for the lost data. Stellar Don’t let the simplicity fool you though, as Stellar Data Recovery is incredibly powerful and can rescue data from a wide range of problems. Whether it’s been deleted accidentally or wiped out when a drive was formatted, the software has a 98.6% recovery rate, meaning there’s an excellent chance you’ll get it back. It also works with crashed and unbootable systems, corrupted hard drives, SSDs, USB sticks, SD cards, Bootcamp partitions, Time Machine backups and encrypted drives. So, no matter the media, your data could still be found. Stellar Data Recovery can be used to find a huge selection of file types, such as documents, photos, videos, emails, ZIP files and others, plus there’s also versions for iPhone, Android and Windows if you have a cross-platform set-up. Get your data back with Stellar Data Recovery You can sign up for a free trial of Stellar Data Recovery today, which will scan your system and show you which data is recoverable. Then, if you’re able to get back the files you need, Stellar Data Recovery Professional has all the tools you need for only £89.99/$89.99. That’s a lifetime purchase too, so you won’t need to worry about a subscription. Try out Stellar Data Recovery Professional today! Data disappearing can be annoying at best, catastrophic at worst. Don’t lose heart though, with professional recovery software all is not lost.

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Best Virtual Machine (VM) Software for Mac 2026: Parallels vs VMware and more
Macworld Even the most loyal Mac users recognize that Windows still rules the roost in the world of desktop and laptop computers, and there are many important apps that only run on Windows. For example, the Windows version of Microsoft Office includes the Access database that has never been available for the Mac, and there are many professional graphics and video tools that are Windows-only. And, of course, there are all those A-List games that have never even glanced in the direction of us poor, forgotten Mac gamers. If you need to run Windows software or games on your Macs then this article will reveal the best way to do so. Read on to discover the best options for running Windows, and Windows apps, on your Mac. You may also like to read our guide to How to install Windows and run Windows apps on a Mac (M-series models). We also cover how to run Windows on an Intel Mac separately. Best Virtual Machine for Mac 2026: Best VMs to run Windows on a Mac Read on for the best virtual machines for Mac. Our top choice is Parallels, but we also consider VMware and alternative options, including emulators that let you run Windows apps on a Mac without even installing Windows to Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. At a Glance Best VM Comparison ToolBest ForPriceApple Silicon SupportParallels DesktopBest overallPaidYesVMware FusionFree personal useFreeYesCrossOverWindows apps w/o WindowsPaidYesUTMGood budget optionFree/$9.99Yes 1. Parallels Desktop: Best VM software for Mac Pros Frequent updates and new features. Good performance on multi-core Apple chips. Slick, easy-to-use interface. Ability to run x86 Windows on M-series Macs. Cons Most editions require a subscription. Virtual machines require a lot of memory and processor power. Windows On ARM is expensive. Price When Reviewed: Standard – $99.99 annual subscription or $219.99 perpetual license; Pro – $119.99 annual subscription; Business – $149.99 annual subscription Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Parallels (1 year) $99.99 View Deal Parallels (Perpetual License) $219.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Parallels Desktop allows you to create a virtual machine on your Mac. The software simulates the physical hardware of a Windows PC and lets you run Windows on your Mac.   One of the benefits is Parallels Desktop allows you to run Mac and Windows apps side by side, without having to reboot to switch between the operating systems. With Parallels you can keep Windows and macOS completely separate or you can use Coherence mode to fully integrate your Windows apps on your Mac–you can even add them to your Dock. Parallels also offers a Rollback mode, which is useful for experimenting developers. Nothing is saved, so when you restart the computer the VM will return to it’s original state.  Parallels makes installing Windows really easy. Since Parallels Desktop version 18 it has been possible to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 within Parallels. You do need to buy a license for the ARM version of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise (unfortunately, the cheaper Home edition isn’t supported). If it’s the old x86 version of Windows you want then Parallels has been working to support this on M-series Macs. The 20.2.0 update in January 2025 introduced the limited ability to create virtual machines (VMs) that run certain versions of Windows that were written for Intel processors (sometimes known as ‘x86_64’, referring to 64-bit software written for Intel’s x86 processors). It’s important to note, though, that there are some major limitations such as a lack of sound and assigning a maximum of 8GB memory to each VM. It’s also slow. But that’s only going to apply to you if you are running an Intel version on an M-series Mac. Parallels Desktop has a regular update cycle that tends to coincide with Apple’s big macOS updates. Parallels Desktop was updated in September 2025, bringing support for macOS Tahoe and it’s new features. Parallels Desktop 26 includes technical updates that allow it to run smoothly with the new system for handling background processes that has been introduced with macOS 26. It’s also compatible with the latest Windows 11 25H2. A number of new AI-specific features aimed at developers were introduced with the September 2024 update (Parallels Desktop 20). A ‘Parallels AI Package’ allows developers to create a new virtual machine with a pre-installed set of AI tools and features, including the ability to control Parallels Desktop using plain language commands (more info here).   Read our full Parallels Desktop for Mac review 2. VMware Fusion – Free Mac VM (for personal use) Pros Fusion allows you to use it for free if it’s for personal, home and student use. Cons VMware doesn’t update Fusion as regularly as Parallels is updated. Price When Reviewed: Free (personal use); $120 (commercial) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price VMware (Fusion Player, personal use) Free View Deal VMware Fusion Pro (non-commercial use) Free View Deal VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro $120 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For many years, VMware Fusion was in lock-step with Parallels Desktop, with the two rivals releasing regular updates and competing for the top spot in the Mac virtualization market. In recent years, though, VMware seems to have taken its foot off the pedal and has allowed Fusion to fall behind a bit (in fact, you actually have to dig around quite a bit simply to find Fusion on the VMware website these days). When Fusion version 13 arrived in November 2022, it brought support for ARM virtualization on Apple’s M1 and M2-series chips. As is the case with Parallels Desktop, you can only run the Arm version of Windows on M-series Macs. Unfortunately, installing the Arm version of Windows via VMware isn’t as simple as it is with Parallels, VMware told us that it’s up to the user to buy a license from Microsoft (which is a challenge due to it not being available to individual users). Version 13.5 arrived in October 2023 and with it much needed support for DirectX 11 3D graphics and an easier way to install Windows 11 on Arm via a “Get Windows” button. VMware Fusion 13.6 arrived in September 2024 and brought vmcli command line support and new guest operating system support. With the arrival of Fusion 12 in 2020, VMware started to offer a free version of the program – called Fusion Player – for personal use only, for home users and students. It’s since changed this strategy and is offering the Fusion Pro for free as long as it is for personal use. You’ll need to register for a VMware account, but Fusion Pro is free to download here. While Fusion hasn’t kept up to date with the latest developments in Mac hardware and software, the availability of the free version of Fusion Pro still makes it a great option for home users and students who occasionally need to run Windows apps or games on their Intel Macs. Read our full VMware Fusion review 3. Codeweavers CrossOver: Best for running Windows apps without Windows Pros 14-day trial Doesn’t require a full version of Windows Improved interface and ease of use Regular updates, good technical support Cons Some Windows apps aren’t compatible Can be complicated to use Requires Rosetta on Apple Silicon Price When Reviewed: $59.95 for a year, $494 for life Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CodeWeavers $74 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket CrossOver is based on WINE (see below), and uses a similar compatibility layer to allow Windows apps to run on the Mac without requiring a full version of Windows to be installed as well (you need to buy a copy of Windows for use with virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion). Although WINE is a free, open-source program, it’s complicated to use. In contrast, Codeweavers have developed CrossOver as a user-friendly alternative. A copy of CrossOver with a year of technical support is $74/£60, or you can pay $494/£414 for lifetime support. There is a 14-day free trial available. With CrossOver you install Windows apps in Bottles, which are self-contained files that can be launched and run on your Mac without requiring a full copy of Windows. You can create lots of different bottles for different apps, and bottles can even be configured to provide compatibility with different versions of Windows. This is useful as it allows you to create bottles that are suitable for older games and software that might require a particular version of Windows in order to run properly. Simplifying things further, CrossOver has a Mac-like interface and offers assistance for installing Windows apps and games. For example, when you launch CrossOver you see the main Install window, which lists popular Windows apps and games, such as Grand Theft Auto V and the Quicken accounting software for business users. You can even search for information on hundreds of Windows apps, and get an indication of how well they run with CrossOver. CrossOver 25 (March 2025) was one of the biggest updates of recent years, promising to bring “next level gaming to the Mac”. Some of the new features in v25 are under-the-bonnet changes, such as adopting the latest version of the underlying WINE technology, which Codeweavers claims includes thousands of programming updates to improve performance and compatibility. This update also introduces a new graphics technology, called DXMT that, according to Codeweavers, provides better performance for less powerful Mac models when running Windows games that use DX11 graphics. There’s improved compatibility with lots of big-name Windows games, allowing you to play games such as Path Of Exile 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Fallout 76 for the first time. And, along with Steam, CrossOver 25 now supports the Windows versions of the GoG and Epic game stores so that you can download games that you own from those stores. CrossOver is based on code written for Intel processors, so it relies on Apple’s Rosetta to run on Macs with Apple Silicon, but we found that performance was pretty good regardless. Codeweavers says that it is working on native support for Apple Silicon. The Codeweavers team puts a lot of effort into regular updates for CrossOver and the tech support is impressive. Even so, CrossOver can still be a little daunting at times, so it’s worth downloading the trial version to see how well it works with your favorite Windows games and other Windows software. Read our full CrossOver for Mac review 4. Whisky: Best for Windows games on Mac Pros Free, open-source app Works with Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit Supports DX12 Cons Supports fewer games than CrossOver No technical support Will no longer be developed Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Whisky Free View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It the main reason you want to run Windows on your Mac is so you can play Windows games on your Mac this is the solution for you. Just be aware that the developer of Whisky has said he will no longer be updating the software, so it’s days may well be numbered. Whisky emerged following Apple’s launch of the Game Porting Toolkit in 2023 and is based on GPTK and is focused on running Windows games rather than more serious business software that the other VM solutions focus on.  Whisky isn’t an emulator or virtualization program, like Parallels Desktop or UTM. Rather than letting you run Windows on a virtual machine, it’s more like CrossOver in that it allows you to run a variety of Windows apps and software on your Mac without needing to install Windows. CrossOver and Whisky – and even Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit – are all based on the open-source WINE (see below for our review of WINE), which acts as a translation layer that converts the programming code in Windows apps and software into the Mac equivalent (a bit like Apple’s own Rosetta software, which translates software written for older Intel Macs to run on Macs with Apple Silicon processors). Whisky is a free, open-source alternative to CrossOver (CrossOver is also open-source, but has a $64 annual ‘license fee’ for technical support). Whisky allows you to create bottles, which are files that act as a container for the Windows apps you want to run. The bottles provide compatibility with various versions of Windows (right back to Windows 7 and XP for 32-bit era games). Once a bottle is created press Run to launch the installer program for the Windows game and that game then becomes part of that bottle. Whisky also allows you to install the Windows version of Steam within a bottle and install Windows games that you own on Steam in that bottle. In comparison to CrossOver, Whisky isn’t quite as easy to use, lacks the step-by-step help, and doesn’t work with the same wide range of games, but Whisky still does an impressive job for a free open-source app that was developed by just one person (and a 17 year old one at that). In our tests Whisky had no trouble at all with Call Of Cthulhu from 2018 and Guild Wars 2, providing very good performance on my MacBook Pro with M2 processor. Whisky supports a number of Windows games that use Microsoft’s DX12 graphics software. However, it doesn’t currently work with games such as Diablo IV and Fortnite. There’s a list of compatible games on the Whisky website. Read our full Whisky review 5. UTM Virtual Machines: Good value emulator Pros Affordable/free option for running Windows on Mac Runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Runs older versions of Windows and Linux Cons More complex than its rivals No tech-support Price When Reviewed: $9.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mac App Store $9.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket UTM Virtual Machines from Turing Software is currently sitting at no.1 on the Business section of the Mac App Store. It costs $9.99/£9.99 on the Mac App Store, but, because UTM is an open-source project, there’s also a free version–simply called UTM–available on the Turing website. UTM can run on Macs with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors (running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later). It provides two different options depending on the type of Mac you’re using–virtualization and emulation. So, if you have an Intel Mac, UTM can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs the Intel version of Windows. And, if you have a Mac with Apple Silicon you can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs Windows On Arm. But, if you want to run the older Intel version of Windows on a Mac with Apple Silicon, then UTM will use emulation in order to run Window since that version isn’t designed for the Mac processors. Virtualization provides better performance, but emulation is useful if you need to run Windows apps or software that require a specific version of Windows. Having those two options available within UTM makes it a more versatile than Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, which focus on virtualization rather than emulation. However, this adds complexity to UTM, and the app lacks the polished interface and ease of use of Parallels and VMware. You’ll need a basic understanding of Windows disk image files, such as ISO and VHDX, in order to download and install your copy of Windows. Don’t expect the level of step-by-step help available in Parallels Desktop. Performance is good, though. The one weakness is that UTM doesn’t currently support 3D graphics acceleration on its Windows virtual machines, which means that you won’t be able to play most Windows games that have 3D graphics. But if you just want to run business apps or check out the new AI features in Windows, then UTM is a good, low-cost option that will appeal to developers and technical users. Read our full UTM Virtual Machines review 6. Windows 365 Cloud PC – Cloud based Windows from a Mac Pros Can run Windows on your Mac and also your iPad or iPhone. Cons Needs a fast – and always on – Internet connection. Expensive. Price When Reviewed: $31 – $66 per month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $31 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Windows 365 (which launched in July 2021) has the potential to really challenge traditional virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. However, at the moment, Windows 365 is still pretty expensive and is very much aimed at large corporate users, rather than the individuals and smaller businesses that tend to use Parallels and Fusion. Microsoft describes Windows 365 as a Cloud PC, but its technical notes make it clear that Windows 365 is a form of virtual machine. The difference is that Parallels and Fusion create virtual machines that are stored locally on your Mac itself, and these virtual machines rely on your Mac’s own processor power, memory and storage to run Windows and Windows apps. In contrast, Windows 365 creates a virtual machine that is stored up in the cloud, and runs on Microsoft’s own servers. The video image for the Windows desktop on your cloud PC is then streamed to your Mac – or any other device, such as an iPad or even another Windows PC – via your broadband connection. This form of virtual machine can work well, as long as you have a fast enough – and always-on – Internet connection. But, as mentioned, Windows 365 is quite expensive, with prices ranging from $31/£26.40 to $66/£56.20 per month. That’s compared to $99.99/£89.99 for a full year for the home user version of Parallels Desktop, while Fusion even has a completely free version for home users and students. Windows 365 certainly has appeal to larger businesses that want to provide a standardized cloud PC that their staff can connect to from any location that has an Internet connection – it’s ideal for hybrid working and the ‘new normal’. However, it’s too expensive for ordinary home users, students and smaller businesses, so existing users of Parallels and Fusion will probably want to stick with those apps for the time being. Read more here: How to use Windows 365 on Mac, iPad and iPhone. 7. Wine: Free, but complex Pros Free. Cons Not really for beginners. Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Wine Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket As we mentioned above, the third technology option – after Boot Camp and virtualization – is Wine, which allows you to run Windows apps without Windows itself. Version 8 of Wine arrived at the end of January 2023, like version 7.5 of Wine, which arrived in March 2022, Wine still runs on M1 and M2 Macs via Rosetta 2. Wine 8 includes support for the latest versions of the Vulkan graphics engine and Microsoft Direct3D. It also adds support for the OCSP networking protocol. If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands a bit dirty, then Wine is an unusual but feasible option for running Windows software on your Mac. Like VirtualBox, Wine is an open-source program that you can download for free. However, it doesn’t use conventional virtualization technology to create a virtual machine for installing Windows – in fact, Wine is the only program in this group that doesn’t even require a copy of Windows at all. Instead, Wine acts as a kind of software middleman that translates the programming routines – called APIs – in Windows apps so that they can talk directly to macOS, without needing a full copy of Windows itself. And as you don’t need a lot of extra memory or processor power in order to run Windows, you may find that Wine can actually provide better performance than using a virtual machine (especially for games and graphics apps). Wine also gets very regular updates from a team of dedicated developers who provide the software for free. The downside is that Wine can be spectacularly confusing for beginners – to the point where we can only really recommend it to hobbyists who like a bit of a challenge. CodeWeavers CrossOver for Mac is a little easier to use than Wine, despite being closely related to the software. But of course Wine is free, which is a big bonus. 8. VirtualBox: Free, but not easy Pros Free for personal/educational use. Cons Very complicated, not for beginners Price When Reviewed: Free (personal/education); $61 per user (Enterprise Edition – minimum 100 users) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Oracle Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket This open-source virtualization program is free for personal use – but it’s more at home in a corporate environment. VirtualBox is a bit of a mixed bag. Like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, it allows you to create a virtual machine that can run Windows and Windows apps from within macOS itself. You’ll need to purchase a Windows license for installation and a special version of Windows, Windows On ARM, for Apple Silicon Macs. If you want it for personal or educational use then VirtualBox is free. The disadvantage of open-source software is that VirtualBox isn’t as polished or easy to use as Parallels or Fusion. As the program is free, you also don’t get any technical support and the 200-page manual is designed for IT managers and developers, making even simple tasks like changing the virtual machine window resolution baffling. Luckily there is a busy user forum where you can ask a few questions when you need to. Which is a good thing because VirtualBox throws a lot of jargon at you and if you don’t know the difference between a virtual hard disk and a virtual machine disk then you might find it a bit tricky to get started. Version 7.1 did introduce a new StartUp Wizard to simplify the setup process with separate ‘Basic’ and ‘Expert’ modes. However, this only partially addresses the program’s complex interface, and creating a Windows VM from a Windows 11 On ARM disk image on our M2 MacBook Pro took several attempts. Version 7.1 also added support for Apple Silicon (aka M-series Macs). The support for Apple Silicon is limited though. VirtualBox can run Windows VMs in its own window or in ‘Seamless’ mode, where individual Windows apps run as native Mac apps. However, we found apps in Seamless mode sometimes move around on the screen, leaving odd graphical after-images. We also experienced occasional crashes when shutting down the Windows VM. Oracle is really aiming VirtualBox at large corporations that have a proper IT department to help them out. However, business users do need to pay £49/$61 for the VirtualBox Enterprise edition, and you may need to commit to buying 100 licenses at a time, which pretty much rules it out for all but the largest businesses, or educational users who are prepared to tackle the free version. Read our full VirtualBox review 9. Apple Boot Camp: Intel only Pros Windows can run at full speed because its not being run at the same time as macOS. Cons Intel only. Absent from M-series Macs. You can’t run Windows and macOS at the same time. You can’t run Windows 11. Price When Reviewed: Free; preinstalled on macOS Using dual-boot rather than virtualization technology, Boot Camp provides the best performance for Intel-based Macs that need to run Windows. (As we explained above, M1 or later Macs do not offer Boot Camp). It’s important to make a distinction between Boot Camp and the virtualization programs that we look at here, such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Instead of creating a virtual machine that allows you to run Mac and Windows apps together at the same time, Boot Camp is a dual-boot system that simply allows you to boot (start) your Mac using either the native macOS or Windows (but not both at the same time). Thanks to Boot Camp your Mac can act as a straightforward Windows PC, and devote all its processor power and memory to running Windows and your Windows apps. And, crucially, if your Mac has a decent graphics card, it can use the full power of the graphics card to help run your Windows software. That’s definitely the best option for people who need to run high-end graphics software or 3D games, as you get much better performance than when running Windows in a virtual machine. The disadvantage of using Boot Camp is that you lose access to all your Mac apps while you’re running Windows. If you use Apple Mail for your emails then you’ll need to shut down Windows and Boot Camp, and switch back to macOS every time you want to send or receive an email. And, if truth be told, the current version of BootCamp 6.1 isn’t quite as straightforward to set up as it used to be. Previous versions of Boot Camp did all the work for you – they would partition your hard drive, install Windows from a normal installer disk, and also install any driver software that you needed so that components such as your graphics card, keyboard and mouse all worked properly within Windows. Boot Camp 6.1.19 (as of August 2022) can only be used to install Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Windows 11 requires the host computer to have a TPM (trusted platform module) which Macs don’t have (some VM solutions, such as Parallels, can allow Macs with a T2 chip to run Windows 11). Since not all Macs will work with all versions of Windows, so before you even start to run the Boot Camp Assistant you’ll need to check the compatibility tables on Apple’s website to see which version of Windows will work on your Mac. You can’t install Windows from an old installer disk anymore either, so you’ll either have to download a disk image file for Windows – called an ISO file – from Microsoft’s own website, or use your Windows disk to create one. Boot Camp includes driver software for setting up Windows 8 and Windows 10, but if you’re a fan of Windows 7 (which some people prefer for gaming) then you’ll have to hunt around on Apple’s website for the drivers you need and make sure you follow the correct procedure when copying them on to your Boot Camp partition. Still, if you persevere with all that, you will eventually have Windows running at full speed on your Mac, giving you access to a wide range of Windows software and games that require more power and speed than you can get from using virtual machine technology. Just as long as you don’t have an M1 Mac… For more advice about accessories and software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks. How to run Windows on Mac: Apple Silicon vs Intel If you are still using an Intel-based Mac you can use Apple’s Boot Camp to run Windows. However, in 2020 Apple started using its own processors that are based on Arm architecture rather than the x86 architecture used by Intel. Now every Mac Apple sells has an Apple-made M-series processor. Boot Camp is not available on M-series Macs. That doesn’t mean that M-series Macs can no longer run Windows, it just means they can’t use Boot Camp and they need the Arm version of Windows. If you want to run Windows on an M-series Mac. You can choose from virtualization options like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, or emulation solutions like CrossOver and Wine, and even Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. You can read about all of these choices in our group test below as well as our individual reviews. Our top choice is Parallels Desktop, but all the others have some benefits that may suit you. For example, CrossOver doesn’t actually need a copy of Windows to run Windows apps, and there are even free options like Whisky and Wine. FAQ 1. What is a Virtual Machine? Virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion run on the macOS, but allow you to create a Virtual Machine (or VM) that mimics the hardware of a Windows PC. This makes it possible to create a VM on your Mac and then install Windows – or another operating system, such as Linux – on the VM. This is a great solution as it allows you to run the Windows apps that you need right alongside your main Mac apps as well. The only disadvantage is that you need a pretty fast Mac with plenty of memory and storage to run Windows as a VM, since it means that your Mac is effectively running two operating systems at the same time. 2. What is emulation? Emulation is a process that allows individual Windows applications to run on a Mac without the need for the Windows operating system to be installed. This is achieved through emulation tools, such as Wine and CrossOver, which are typically used by technically proficient users. 3. Do I need a Windows license? It depends on which of those two methods you are using. If you are running Windows in a VM then you need a license in order to create a Windows VM on Macs with Apple Silicon processors, and, unfortunately, the less expensive Home edition isn’t supported. However, it is possible to use an existing Windows license if you have one and Microsoft doesn’t differentiate between Windows On Intel and Windows On Arm, see Parallel’s website here. If you are using emulation you won’t need a copy of Windows. 4. How can I get the Arm version of Windows If you want to run Windows on a Mac with a M-series chip you will need the Arm version of Windows. (Although, as mentioned above, Parallels Desktop version 20.2 can run some versions of Windows that were written for Intel processors, albeit with some limitations (one being that it runs really slow). The good news is that an Arm version of Windows does exist. Windows On Aar, aka WoA, is Microsoft’s version of Windows is designed to run on ARM chips. The Arm version of Windows isn’t normally licensed to individual users. Fortunately, Parallels has worked closely with Microsoft to simplify the process of creating VMs that use the ARM version of Windows. With the arrival of Parallels Desktop 18 in 2022 Parallels gained the ability to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. Microsoft even endorsed Parallels for Windows on M1 and M2 Macs, effectively authorizing Parallels Desktop 18 users to run Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise. Read our full review of Parallels Desktop for more information. To download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. All you need to do is: Press the button that says Get Windows 11 From Microsoft. Parallels will download the relevant version of Windows 11 for your Mac (if your Mac has an ARM processor then it will download the ARM version of Windows 11). You can then use the Microsoft Store app within your Windows VM to purchase a license or use an existing Windows 11 license if you have one. You can also buy a license through the Download option from the Microsoft store. 5. How do I run the X86 version of Windows on a Mac One option, if your Mac has an M-series chip is Parallels Desktop – version 20.2.0 – but it will run slowly. If you are looking to run Windows on a Mac that isn’t powered by an Apple M-series chip, then you can download Windows 11 for free (as long as your Mac has the necessary specs, such as the Trusted Platform Module, to qualify for the free upgrade). Download Windows 11 from Microsoft, free upgrade as long as you qualify. You could take advantage of various deals for Windows 11 Pro including: Windows 11 Professional, $79.99 (usually $199.99). 6. Can I run Windows 11 on a Mac using VM software? You can run Windows 11 on a Mac using virtual machine (VM) software. This method allows you to run Windows and its applications alongside macOS without needing to reboot your computer. If your Mac has an M-series chip it use ARM-based processors and requires the ARM version of Windows 11, officially called Windows on ARM (WoA) or Windows 11 Arm64. You cannot run the standard Intel (x86) version of Windows on these Macs through virtualization without significant performance loss via emulation. A popular solution for accessing Windows-exclusive software, games, or development tools on a Mac is to create a “virtual machine” on your Mac, which is software that simulates the hardware of a PC. You can then install Windows 11 on this VM. To run Windows 11 in a VM, your Mac needs to be powerful enough to run two operating systems simultaneously. This means having sufficient memory (RAM), storage space, and processor power. a machine with at least 16GB of RAM is recommended for a smooth experience.

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Macworld Podcast: 2025 Apple software and services year in review
Macworld It was a big year for Apple software and services. We talk about Liquid Glass, Apple Intelligence, Apple TV, and the other services and software that shaped the company’s year. This is episode 963 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross,  and Roman Loyola. Watch episode 963 on YouTube Listen to episode 963 on Apple Podcasts

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Office 2024 Home for PC or Mac is $30 off and yours for life
Macworld TL;DR: A lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home is only $119.97 (MSRP $149.99) through Dec. 21, giving you powerful, modern productivity apps without a subscription. Sometimes you do need the latest and greatest—and Microsoft Office 2024 Home fits that definition perfectly. It’s built for the way we actually work today: faster pace, more collaboration, and more AI helping us along the way. And because it’s available for just $119.97 through Dec. 21, this is one of the easiest upgrades to justify before the year wraps. Office 2024 Home includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, redesigned with a cleaner interface and smarter tools. The updated Ribbon surfaces what you need when you need it, accessibility features jump in with real-time feedback, and the Quick Access Toolbar keeps your favorite commands front and center. Collaboration gets a big glow-up, too. You’ll see real-time edits, built-in commenting, chat, and version history—perfect for families, students, or projects. And then there’s the AI boost: features that help summarize content, suggest text, analyze data, and even generate design ideas. If you want to head into the new year with the freshest productivity tools—and without paying subscription-model prices—this offer is a solid win. Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home for PC or Mac for only $119.97 (MSRP $149.99) through Dec. 21. Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time PurchaseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple published a new Press Release
Apple just published a new Press Release:Apple announces changes to iOS in Japan

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New third-party iOS App Stores in Japan preserve user privacy, child safety
Apple is introducing alternative app stores and payment options in Japan to comply with a new competition law, while maintaining that platform-level security and child safety controls remain in place.App StoreApple compares this approach with the EU's Digital Markets Act, which compelled Apple to support third-party app stores, alternative payments, and broader distribution pathways. The company maintains those requirements fragmented oversight in ways Japan's law avoids.For iPhone users, the changes expand app distribution choices without fully dismantling Apple's platform-level controls. Apple is using Japan's rollout to highlight what it sees as shortcomings in the EU's DMA, while arguing that competition and user protections can coexist. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple announces more ads are coming to App Store search results
Apple is expanding the number of ads that appear in App Store search results. In an update on its Apple Ads website today, the company detailed that it will introduce more ads “to increase opportunity in search results” starting next year. more…

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Apple announces sweeping App Store and iPhone changes in Japan
To comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), Apple has announced a set of major changes to the App Store and iPhone in Japan. The changes include new app distribution options for developers and new alternative payment rules for the App Store. more…

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Apple's AI & ML research papers show instant 3D image conversion, more
Apple continues to focus on AI-powered image modification, with new studies detailing evaluation frameworks and an AI model that can turn 2D images into 3D scenes in a second. Here's what the company's research has revealed.visionOS can convert 2D images to 3D scenes in momentsWith iOS 26, Apple made it possible to turn two-dimensional photos into three-dimensional "Spatial Scenes," allowing for a more dynamic viewing experience with an added sense of depth. Now, the iPhone maker has published additional research relating to the same concept, albeit with much more impressive results.Among other research papers made available in December 2025, Apple released a scientific study dubbed "Sharp Monocular View Synthesis in Less Than a Second." The study, which can be found on the Apple Machine Learning blog, details an open-source AI model known as "SHARP," which is capable of turning a 2D image into a 3D scene in under a second. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple TV announces ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ spin-off
Following the success of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple confirmed today that it is expanding Legendary’s Monsterverse with a new spin-off series for Apple TV. Here are the details. more…

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Apple TV announces ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ spin-off
Following the success of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple confirmed today that it is expanding Legendary’s Monsterverse with a new spin-off series for Apple TV. Here are the details. more…

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Apple Music now available as an app on ChatGPT, here’s how to use it
Following yesterday’s announcement that Apple Music would soon be available on ChatGPT, the app is now live. Here’s what you can do with it. more…

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Ergatta Luxe Water Rower review: delivering a powerful, low-impact workout for big budgets
The Ergatta Luxe Water Rower delivers a smooth, full-body blend of cardio and strength training, even if its premium design comes with a price tag that's harder to justify.Ergatta Luxe Water RowerI like rowing. Specifically, I like canoeing and kayaking, but I don't hate rowing on an indoor rowing machine.This is especially when its a water rower. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Stop guessing: This smart camera ear cleaner shows you exactly how to remove wax safely
The Smart Visual Ear Cleaner's camera gives you a clear view of what’s happening in your ear. It's a high-tech earwax removal method. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Morgan Stanley bumps Apple stock price target, but maintains Overweight rating
The new price target reflects a higher revenue forecast, despite a recent spike in memory costs. Here are the details. more…

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Morgan Stanley sees Apple moving from AI laggard to leader in 2026
Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring on Wednesday, reiterated an overweight rating on AAPL stock while hiking the price target to $315… The post Morgan Stanley sees Apple moving from AI laggard to leader in 2026 appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple releases impressive open-source model that instantly turns 2D photos into 3D views
The model, called SHARP, can reconstruct a photorealistic 3D scene from a single image in under a second. Here are some examples. more…

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Jeff Carlson Reveals How Cell Carriers Handle Disasters and Mega-Events
From the Las Vegas F1 race to the Pacific Northwest's devastating floods, Jeff Carlson's CNET articles reveal the trucks, trailers, drones, and dedicated spectrum that keep first responders connected when it matters most.Read original article

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Jefferies boosts Apple price target citing resilience to cost pressures
Jefferies has increased its price target for Apple to $283.36 from $246.99, according to a new research note… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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