Wine was initially developed with Linux in mind, but eventually, it was ported over to Mac OS. There are other compatibility layers built on top of Wine, such as PlayOnLinux and CrossOver for Mac. It allows users to directly run Windows apps on Mac OS. Wine serves as a bridge between Windows and Unix based systems. Though there are numerous ways of getting Windows applications to run on a Mac, this is the classic and most convenient route. It creates a wrapper, allowing you to run apps from within. Here is how you can run Windows apps on a Mac using Wine.
Wine is an open source program for running Windows software on non-Windows operating systems. While it’s most often used on Linux, Wine can run Windows software directly on a Mac, too–without requiring a Windows license or needing Windows running in the background.
This isn’t necessarily the best option if you want to run Windows software on a Mac. Wine isn’t perfect, and not every application will run ideally. Some applications will crash or not run at all.Virtual machines and Boot Camp are more rock-solid options, but they do add more overhead and require a Windows installation. For apps that do work, however, Wine can be extremely useful.
How to Download Wine on a Mac
There are several ways to get Wine on a Mac. The official project website at WineHQ now provides official builds of Wine for Mac OS X. However, those aren’t necessarily the best option. These Wine binaries allow you to run Windows software, but don’t provide any helpful graphical tools for installing and setting up common applications, so they’re best for advanced users already familiar with Wine.
Instead, you should probably consider one of the third-party projects that take the Wine source code and build a more convenient interface on top of it, one that helps you quickly install and configure common applications. They often perform tweaks that you’d have to perform by hand if you were using the barebones Wine software. They include their own Wine software, too, so you only have to download one thing.
Third-party tools include WineBottler, PlayOnMac, and Wineskin. There’s also the commercialCrossOver Mac, which is the only application here you have to pay for. We’ll be using WineBottler for this tutorial, as it seems like the most popular option among Mac users. It can create Mac .app bundles for Windows programs. The other third-party applications will work similarly.
How to Run Windows Software on a Mac With WineBottler
To get started, download WineBottler. Be sure to download a version that works on your release of Mac OS X. When this article was written, that meant OS X El Capitan and Yosemite users needed to download version 1.8.
Open the downloaded DMG file. Drag and drop both Wine and WineBottler applications to your Applications folder to install them, just like you would any other Mac application. You can then launch WineBottler from your Applications folder.
WineBottler lists a number of different programs you can easily install. For example, you could install various versions of Internet Explorer if you needed to test websites with them on your Mac. The Windows version of Steam is available, and which could allow you to run some Windows-only games on your Mac. Choose any of these options and WineBottler will automatically download, install, and configure these applications for you.
![How To Run Windows Apps On Mac Using Wine How To Run Windows Apps On Mac Using Wine](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133933951/824259555.jpg)
The installed application will appear under “On My Mac” in the WineBottler window. You can uninstall them from here, if you like. Click an application and it will launch in a window, receiving its own icon on your dock.
To run another application that doesn’t appear in the WineBottler list, you can simply download it, then right-click or Ctrl-click its .exe file to select Open With > Wine.
WineBottler allows you to quickly execute the .exe directly, if you like. You can also choose to install the application in a Mac .app file created by WineBottler.
If you choose to convert it to an OS X application bundle, you will be taken to the Advanced screen in WineBottler. Provide the .exe file used to install the application and you can install it as an .app using the options here. Depending on the application, you may need various third-party libraries from the Winetricks list, DLL override options, or runtime arguments here to make it work.
However, that often isn’t necessary–just executing .exe files directly with Wine should generally work.
If you can’t get an application working, you should perform a web search for its name and “wine” or “winebottler” for tips on what advanced functions you might need.
Bear in mind that WineBottler is best if you have a single program or handful of programs that work well. If you plan on testing out a lot of software or you use software that Wine doesn’t support well, you’ll have a much better time just running it in a virtual machine. These offer more or less guaranteed compatibility with Windows software on a Mac.
Copyright: Howtogeek.com
Run Windows-based Programs on a Mac
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Turn Windows-based programs into Mac apps –
NOT. ;)
WineBottler packages Windows-based programs like browsers, media-players, games or business applications snugly into Mac app-bundles.Your company provides you with a login, mail, calendar and contacts that only work on certain browsers?
How To Run Windows Apps On Mac Using Wine Opener
You quickly want to test your websites in Windows-based browsers.
You want to play games, that are not ported to OS X?
Your online trading platform or accounting tool only runs on Windows?
Your audio book player is not available on OS X
![How to run windows apps on mac using wine labels How to run windows apps on mac using wine labels](/uploads/1/3/3/9/133933951/351237259.jpg)
No need to install emulators, virtualizers or boot into other operating systems – WineBottler runs your Windows-based programs directly on your Mac.
This is possible thanks to a Windows-compatible subsystem, which is provided by the great OpenSource tool Wine.
WineBottler does Automated Installations:
Select from a wide range of software for which WineBottler offers automated installations. It is as easy as hitting 'Install' – and WineBottler will leave you with a neat app on your desktop. WineBottler does not come with the programs themselves, but with scripts, that take care of downloading, configuring and installing everything into an app for you.WineBottler can pack your .exe into an Mac .app ...
Double-click your .exe or .msi and convert it into an app with WineBottler. You can run the generated app like every other program on your Mac. For advanced users, WineBottler gives you a selection of options: install special dependencies and even turn your .exe into a self-contained app - that is an app, that contains everything to run it... even on other Macs. Porting to OS X never was easier ;).Find out more - have a look at the Documentation.
... or just run that .exe.
You don't care about generating an app and just want to run it? Double-click the .exe, choose 'Run directly' and Wine will run it in a generic environment.Enjoy, it's free!
Like Wine, WineBottler is free software. We've made it out of our own needs and now we share the result. If you are happy with it, you can keep the project rolling by sending a small Donation.Need other Versions of WineBottler or Wine.app?
We keep selected builds for you. Versions before 1.4.1 still run on OS X Tiger and Leopard.You find them under Downloads.
Support
If you have questions installing a certain program, please have a look at the documentation or at appdb.winehq.org first. winehq.org is the hub for all info about wine. It contains notes, hints and tricks to install all major programs.winehq.org is NOT affiliated with WineBottler in any way. So please do NOT post bug-reports or questions about WineBottler there - write an eMail to mikesmassivemess(at)kronenberg.org and if time permits, i'll try to get your exe running.
WineBottler is my hobby and it is free, so please understand, that I can't give you a one-to-one support. If you are looking for a Wine version with great dedicated support: Note down this Promo Code: 'TANGENT' (for a 30% discount) – then head over to CrossOver.