What CrossOver does on Mac
CrossOver is a commercial Wine-based compatibility layer that lets you install and run many Windows applications and games on macOS without a full Windows virtual machine or Boot Camp partition.
CodeWeavers packages and tests Wine for everyday Mac users, translating Windows API calls so software can run as a normal Mac app icon. You create bottles (isolated Windows environments) for different apps or games, install through CrossOver’s interface or supported installers like Steam, and launch titles from the Dock or CrossOver’s app list. Productivity tools, legacy utilities, and Steam libraries are common use cases.
How setup usually works
After downloading CrossOver, you pick or create a bottle with the Windows version and settings an app needs, then run an installer or use CrossOver’s one-click recipes for popular software. Games often need a 64-bit bottle and may require enabling DXVK, MoltenVK, or D3DMetal options depending on the title. CrossOver integrates with macOS so Windows apps appear alongside native software, and you avoid rebooting into another OS.
CrossOver 26 and this 26.2.0 update
The CrossOver 26 line rebased on Wine 11.0 with updates such as D3DMetal 3.0, DXMT, Wine Mono 10.4.1, and vkd3d 1.18, plus macOS Tahoe UI refinements from the February 2026 major release. Version 26.2.0 is a smaller maintenance build from June 9, 2026: it fixes Helldivers 2 failing to launch after a game update and adds clearer warnings when you use 32-bit bottles.
Requirements and licensing
CrossOver Mac runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (Apple Silicon needs macOS 11.1 or later and CrossOver 21+). CodeWeavers lists support from macOS 10.15 Catalina upward; on macOS 26 Tahoe you need CrossOver 25.1.1 or newer, so 26.2.0 qualifies. You need at least 1 GB of free disk space plus room for installed Windows software. CrossOver is a paid product with a 14-day trial; an annual license is required for updates and support. Compatibility varies by title—check CodeWeavers’ database before buying for a specific app.
Mount the disk image (.dmg) and open Open Gatekeeper friendly. In the Terminal window, press Enter to bypass Gatekeeper.
Drag the app into your Applications folder. Open the Extra folder, go to croslic, right-click license.tool, choose Open With → Terminal.
Terminal will open. Enter your Mac login password (nothing will appear as you type — that is normal), then press Enter. Wait until the process finishes. The app is ready to use.