The first step to determining if your Mac can run a game or a program is to see if it’s compatible with macOS — Apple’s desktop and laptop operating system. Since most personal computer owners still use Windows, according to CNBC, some developers have opted only to release their games or programs for Microsoft’s operating systems.
Luckily, Apple makes it as easy as possible to know which games or programs are compatible with macOS. Using the built-in App Store on your Mac, you can browse through curated lists of games or programs developers have explicitly built to run smoothly on macOS.
- Navigate to the App Store by finding the Dock, usually at the bottom of your screen. If you don’t see the App Store icon, you can also find it by navigating to the Menu Bar, according to Apple.
- Using the menu on the left, you can browse by categories such as Create, Work, and Play.
- Click on the game or program you want to download and select Get It.
However, just because Apple hasn’t listed a game or program in the App Store doesn’t mean it’s incompatible with your Mac. If you’re looking to download or install an app that’s not in the App Store and are unsure if it’s compatible with macOS, you can usually find the answer on the website’s hardware and software requirements page.
