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Open File Exe For Mac

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Problem:You need to open an .exe file but you have a Mac®.

Solution:You can easily open an .exe from your Mac by using Parallels Desktop® for Mac.

Open exe file on mac using terminal

I frequently get questions like this from Mac users:

Tip: If you want to bypass File Open and always use the Open dialog box, do this: Select File Options Save, and then select the Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files check box. Then, close and reopen any open Office applications. Note that this change only affects what you see when you press CTRL+O to access the Open Files dialog box. In the following table, you can find a list of programs that can open files with.mac extension.This list is created by collecting extension information reported by users through the 'send report' option of FileTypesMan utility. The product name, description, and company name are taken from the version information of the.exe file.The 'Actions' list is taken from the context menu items added. Although EXE files could be opened on computers running on Mac OS X using the Stuffit Expander, the file extension EXE indicates that it is an executable file for the Windows Operating System. That is why Windows can be run on Mac computers by means of a virtual machine application or Boot Camp.

My friend asked me to download a file named Paint-tool-sai.exe, but I can't open it on my Mac. How can I open this file?

Open exe in mac

From a person who only uses Mac computers and iPads, this is a very reasonable question.

The quick, short answer is, 'By itself, the Mac can't open this file.'

The longer, more positive answer requires a little background.

File Extensions

Both PC and Mac computers use three- or four-letter extensions on file names—the portion of the name after the period—to determine which application can open a file.

You may have noticed that files with extensions '.jpg' or '.jpeg' are opened by the Preview app on the Mac. Those files are images or photos.

Similarly, you may have noticed that files with extensions '.docx' or '.doc' are opened on the Mac by Microsoft Word or TextEdit. Those files are word processing documents.

What you may not have noticed is that Mac applications themselves have an '.app' extension. Iexplorer for mac. (See figure 1.)

Figure 1_Applications on the Mac have the file name extension '.app'

When you double click on a file with the '.app' extension on a Mac, the macOS® launches that application. In other words, opening a file with an '.app' extension is really launching that application; the macOS itself opens that file.

With this background, it is understandable that the Mac by itself can't open an '.exe' file because the .exe extension means that the file is a Windows application. The Windows operating system is needed to open an '.exe' file.

Enter Parallels Desktop

When you have Parallels Desktop and a Windows virtual machine (VM) on your Mac, everything just works when you double click on an '.exe' file. It feels a little bit like magic.

Underneath, here is how the magic works: Parallels Desktop tells the Mac that it can open '.exe' files. So when you double click on that '.exe' file, the macOS® launches Parallels Desktop. This is just like when you double click on a '.jpg' file and the macOS launches Preview, or when you double click on a '.docx' file and the macOS launches Microsoft Word.

When Parallels Desktop is launched because you clicked on an '.exe' file, Parallels Desktop boots your Windows VM and tells Windows that you want this '.exe' file opened. Windows then launches the application for that '.exe' file.

While the quick, short answer to the question at the beginning of this blog post still is, 'By itself, the Mac can't open this file'…

The longer, more positive answer is, 'This is a Windows file, so you need Windows to open it. The easiest way to get Windows on your Mac is to get Parallels Desktop and a Windows VM.'

Oh yeah, and if you have Boot Camp® on your Mac, you still won't be able to double click on that '.exe' file and have it open. The short answer to 'Why not?' is because the macOS and Boot Camp can't talk to each other. The long answer will be the subject of a future blog post.

Try Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days!

Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Mac's impressive library of apps gives you everything you need but let's face it: Windows has a far larger library.

Haven't you ever come across software native to Windows which endear themselves to you? But since they all come with the EXE file extension, your Mac is incapable of running them. Well, there are workarounds to this problem and you'll learn about them today.

They are willing to make things right for us. Me and my wife were extremely pleased. Cars for mac.

It's possible to safely open and run EXE files on your Mac using mediums like Boot Camp, Remote Desktop, CrossOver, Virtual Machine, and WINE, to mention the most prominent ones. And you don't need to be an expert to do this. As long as you can follow simple instructions, you're all set.

Part 1: Can You Run an EXE File on a Mac?

Yes, you can. With how innovative and creative developers have become, it was only a matter of time before they devised a means to run EXE files on Mac, even though such files are incompatible with macOS.

What's an EXE file, though? It's a file extension that denotes an executable file format. Okay, but what's an executable file? It's any file capable of being executed as a program. To put it simply, it's what makes the installation and running of software possible.

EXE files are used in a few operating systems, the most notable of them being Microsoft Windows. You can think of EXE files as the Windows version of APP files (APP files, if you're unaware, are executable files under macOS).

Go further and learn how to fix MS Word not responding on Mac.

Running EXE files on Mac is very possible but only through backdoor means, so to speak. You need an emulator (WINE is by far the most popular), or you install a virtual machine software on your macOS to enable you to load Windows VM or make an extra partition on your disk where you can simultaneously have both macOS and Windows in your Mac.

Part 2: How to Open EXE Files on Mac

Again, you have several options to choose from when attempting this. So many software out there can help you open EXE files on Mac. You are advised to go with the Parallel Desktop.

Parallel Desktop

This software is simplistic and won't take up much on your time because it doesn't even require a Mac restart anytime you wish to run a Windows application. A copy of Microsoft Windows is required though. You have to install it on your hard disk but it's easy to do:

Step 1: Windows Installation

  • Open up your Mac's Application folder and double-click on the 'Parallels' icon (you have to do this to install Windows).
  • Click on 'File.'
  • Click on 'New.'
  • Click on 'Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file.'
  • Click on 'Continue.' You can easily install Windows either from a DVD or the more popular .iso disc image; or even a bootable USB drive.
  • You can even switch to the manual mode, locate the source for the Windows installation, and choose it by clicking on 'Select a file…'
  • Click on 'Continue'. You will be taken to a Windows product key window.
  • Leave the 'Express installation' as it is, input the key and click 'Continue.'
  • You will be asked to select how you wish to use Windows: Whether for productivity, games only, software development, design, etc. Once you're done selecting, click on 'Continue.'
  • Type in a name for the virtual machine and select the directory or location for the Parallels Desktop.
  • Click on 'Continue' and the Windows installation will commence. All Intel-based Macs are compatible with both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows: From Windows XP to Windows 10.
  • Once the installation concludes you can open up Windows by clicking on the 'Power' button in the list of the Parallels Virtual Machine.

Step 2: Using Parallels Desktop

  • The very first time Windows restarts, 'Parallels Tools' will be installed. This will be what ultimately integrates your Mac with your Windows desktops. After the installation is done, you will be asked to restart Windows.
  • Open up your Parallels Desktop from 'Spotlight.'
  • Click on 'Virtual Machine.'
  • Select 'Configure' in the drop-down menu which appears.
  • Click on 'Options.'
  • Click on 'Shared Folders.'
  • Click on 'Add.'
  • Click on 'Choose.' Doing this will add a location from your Mac's desktop to the virtual machine. Simply put any EXE file in this location to enable Windows to access and install them

Part 3: How to Run Windows APPs on Mac

The question now is not whether you want to run EXE files on your Mac, but rather how to go about it conveniently. There are countless of great Windows apps that never made it to macOS, and they probably never will. A lot of them have very attractive features that make Windows the envy of all Mac owners.

Running EXE files on Mac is made easy and convenient via Boot Camp and Remote Desktop. You can use any. It depends on preference and what you find more convenient.

Boot Camp

This application makes it possible for you to install Windows on your Mac. Switching between macOS and Windows thus becomes a matter of you restarting your system and deciding which OS to log into.

Step 1: Windows Installation File

  • Boot Camp is compatible with Windows 8,8.1. and 10 (you will need an ISO file of any of these three releases).

Step 2: Launch Your Mac's Utilities folder

  • Type in 'Utilities' in your Mac's search bar, then click it.

Step 3: Launch Boot Camp Assistant

  • The app's icon looks like a grey hard drive. Click it.

Step 4: On-screen Instructions

  • You will be instructed to choose the Windows ISO, the drive you intend to install it on, and restart your Mac.
Open File Exe For Mac
Open file exe for mac windows 7

Step 5: Your Mac Will Restart

  • Once you're done setting up Boot Camp, you will be asked to restart Mac.
  • After that, you will be taken to the Windows installer screen.

Step 6: Install Windows

  • Follow the instructions to install the version of Windows you chose.

Open Exe File On Mac Free

Step 7: Startup Manager

  • Once the install has been completed, your system will restart. Press and hold the 'Option' key while this happens and the 'Startup Manager' will appear.
  • Let go of the 'Option' key and you will see all the drives you can boot your Mac from.

Step 8: Boot Camp

  • Select 'Boot Camp' and click on 'Return'.
  • Your Mac will now be loaded into Windows.
  • Navigate to your EXE file and run it.

Remote Desktop

This free tool does what many others fail at: lets you take full advantage of your Windows apps from your Mac. That's pretty convenient, don't you agree? Even though you'll need Mac and PC to use the Remote Desktop, it's still a great software that deserves praise. Here's how you use it:

Step 1: Get Your PC Ready

  • Open the start menu and navigate to 'Settings', then 'System', then 'Remote Desktop.'
  • Turn 'Enable Remote Desktop' on and 'Confirm.'

Step 2: Know Your IP Address & PC Name

  • Still on the 'Remote Desktop' menu, and below the 'How to connect to this PC', jot down your PC name.

Open Exe File For Mac

  • Go to your 'Settings', then 'Network & Internet'.
  • Click 'Wi-Fi' and select the network you're connected to. This will bring up the network connection properties screen. At the bottom of the page is your 'IPv4 address'. Jot it down.

Step 3: Install the Mac Version of Microsoft Remote Desktop

  • Pick up your Mac and open up your Mac App Store, then search for 'Microsoft Remote Desktop.'
  • Download and install it.

Step 4: Open Add Your PC to Remote Desktop

  • Open up Remote Desktop on your Mac.
  • Click on 'Add Desktop.'
  • A dialogue box will pop up. Type in the PC Name you jotted down; if it doesn't work, type in the IP address.
  • Click 'Save'.

Step 5: You Can Now Connect

  • Keep your PC turned on and make sure it is connected to the network your Mac is connected to.
  • Remote Desktop will now show your computer below 'Saved Desktops.'
  • Double-click on it to connect.
  • You will be required to enter your username and password.
  • Click 'OK.'
  • A security warning will pop up. Since you're on a private network, ignore the warning and click 'Continue.'
  • That's the last step. You can now view and use your Windows on your Mac via Remote Desktop.
Program

I frequently get questions like this from Mac users:

Tip: If you want to bypass File Open and always use the Open dialog box, do this: Select File Options Save, and then select the Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files check box. Then, close and reopen any open Office applications. Note that this change only affects what you see when you press CTRL+O to access the Open Files dialog box. In the following table, you can find a list of programs that can open files with.mac extension.This list is created by collecting extension information reported by users through the 'send report' option of FileTypesMan utility. The product name, description, and company name are taken from the version information of the.exe file.The 'Actions' list is taken from the context menu items added. Although EXE files could be opened on computers running on Mac OS X using the Stuffit Expander, the file extension EXE indicates that it is an executable file for the Windows Operating System. That is why Windows can be run on Mac computers by means of a virtual machine application or Boot Camp.

My friend asked me to download a file named Paint-tool-sai.exe, but I can't open it on my Mac. How can I open this file?

From a person who only uses Mac computers and iPads, this is a very reasonable question.

The quick, short answer is, 'By itself, the Mac can't open this file.'

The longer, more positive answer requires a little background.

File Extensions

Both PC and Mac computers use three- or four-letter extensions on file names—the portion of the name after the period—to determine which application can open a file.

You may have noticed that files with extensions '.jpg' or '.jpeg' are opened by the Preview app on the Mac. Those files are images or photos.

Similarly, you may have noticed that files with extensions '.docx' or '.doc' are opened on the Mac by Microsoft Word or TextEdit. Those files are word processing documents.

What you may not have noticed is that Mac applications themselves have an '.app' extension. Iexplorer for mac. (See figure 1.)

Figure 1_Applications on the Mac have the file name extension '.app'

When you double click on a file with the '.app' extension on a Mac, the macOS® launches that application. In other words, opening a file with an '.app' extension is really launching that application; the macOS itself opens that file.

With this background, it is understandable that the Mac by itself can't open an '.exe' file because the .exe extension means that the file is a Windows application. The Windows operating system is needed to open an '.exe' file.

Enter Parallels Desktop

When you have Parallels Desktop and a Windows virtual machine (VM) on your Mac, everything just works when you double click on an '.exe' file. It feels a little bit like magic.

Underneath, here is how the magic works: Parallels Desktop tells the Mac that it can open '.exe' files. So when you double click on that '.exe' file, the macOS® launches Parallels Desktop. This is just like when you double click on a '.jpg' file and the macOS launches Preview, or when you double click on a '.docx' file and the macOS launches Microsoft Word.

When Parallels Desktop is launched because you clicked on an '.exe' file, Parallels Desktop boots your Windows VM and tells Windows that you want this '.exe' file opened. Windows then launches the application for that '.exe' file.

While the quick, short answer to the question at the beginning of this blog post still is, 'By itself, the Mac can't open this file'…

The longer, more positive answer is, 'This is a Windows file, so you need Windows to open it. The easiest way to get Windows on your Mac is to get Parallels Desktop and a Windows VM.'

Oh yeah, and if you have Boot Camp® on your Mac, you still won't be able to double click on that '.exe' file and have it open. The short answer to 'Why not?' is because the macOS and Boot Camp can't talk to each other. The long answer will be the subject of a future blog post.

Try Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days!

Sep 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Mac's impressive library of apps gives you everything you need but let's face it: Windows has a far larger library.

Haven't you ever come across software native to Windows which endear themselves to you? But since they all come with the EXE file extension, your Mac is incapable of running them. Well, there are workarounds to this problem and you'll learn about them today.

They are willing to make things right for us. Me and my wife were extremely pleased. Cars for mac.

It's possible to safely open and run EXE files on your Mac using mediums like Boot Camp, Remote Desktop, CrossOver, Virtual Machine, and WINE, to mention the most prominent ones. And you don't need to be an expert to do this. As long as you can follow simple instructions, you're all set.

Part 1: Can You Run an EXE File on a Mac?

Yes, you can. With how innovative and creative developers have become, it was only a matter of time before they devised a means to run EXE files on Mac, even though such files are incompatible with macOS.

What's an EXE file, though? It's a file extension that denotes an executable file format. Okay, but what's an executable file? It's any file capable of being executed as a program. To put it simply, it's what makes the installation and running of software possible.

EXE files are used in a few operating systems, the most notable of them being Microsoft Windows. You can think of EXE files as the Windows version of APP files (APP files, if you're unaware, are executable files under macOS).

Go further and learn how to fix MS Word not responding on Mac.

Running EXE files on Mac is very possible but only through backdoor means, so to speak. You need an emulator (WINE is by far the most popular), or you install a virtual machine software on your macOS to enable you to load Windows VM or make an extra partition on your disk where you can simultaneously have both macOS and Windows in your Mac.

Part 2: How to Open EXE Files on Mac

Again, you have several options to choose from when attempting this. So many software out there can help you open EXE files on Mac. You are advised to go with the Parallel Desktop.

Parallel Desktop

This software is simplistic and won't take up much on your time because it doesn't even require a Mac restart anytime you wish to run a Windows application. A copy of Microsoft Windows is required though. You have to install it on your hard disk but it's easy to do:

Step 1: Windows Installation

  • Open up your Mac's Application folder and double-click on the 'Parallels' icon (you have to do this to install Windows).
  • Click on 'File.'
  • Click on 'New.'
  • Click on 'Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file.'
  • Click on 'Continue.' You can easily install Windows either from a DVD or the more popular .iso disc image; or even a bootable USB drive.
  • You can even switch to the manual mode, locate the source for the Windows installation, and choose it by clicking on 'Select a file…'
  • Click on 'Continue'. You will be taken to a Windows product key window.
  • Leave the 'Express installation' as it is, input the key and click 'Continue.'
  • You will be asked to select how you wish to use Windows: Whether for productivity, games only, software development, design, etc. Once you're done selecting, click on 'Continue.'
  • Type in a name for the virtual machine and select the directory or location for the Parallels Desktop.
  • Click on 'Continue' and the Windows installation will commence. All Intel-based Macs are compatible with both 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows: From Windows XP to Windows 10.
  • Once the installation concludes you can open up Windows by clicking on the 'Power' button in the list of the Parallels Virtual Machine.

Step 2: Using Parallels Desktop

  • The very first time Windows restarts, 'Parallels Tools' will be installed. This will be what ultimately integrates your Mac with your Windows desktops. After the installation is done, you will be asked to restart Windows.
  • Open up your Parallels Desktop from 'Spotlight.'
  • Click on 'Virtual Machine.'
  • Select 'Configure' in the drop-down menu which appears.
  • Click on 'Options.'
  • Click on 'Shared Folders.'
  • Click on 'Add.'
  • Click on 'Choose.' Doing this will add a location from your Mac's desktop to the virtual machine. Simply put any EXE file in this location to enable Windows to access and install them

Part 3: How to Run Windows APPs on Mac

The question now is not whether you want to run EXE files on your Mac, but rather how to go about it conveniently. There are countless of great Windows apps that never made it to macOS, and they probably never will. A lot of them have very attractive features that make Windows the envy of all Mac owners.

Running EXE files on Mac is made easy and convenient via Boot Camp and Remote Desktop. You can use any. It depends on preference and what you find more convenient.

Boot Camp

This application makes it possible for you to install Windows on your Mac. Switching between macOS and Windows thus becomes a matter of you restarting your system and deciding which OS to log into.

Step 1: Windows Installation File

  • Boot Camp is compatible with Windows 8,8.1. and 10 (you will need an ISO file of any of these three releases).

Step 2: Launch Your Mac's Utilities folder

  • Type in 'Utilities' in your Mac's search bar, then click it.

Step 3: Launch Boot Camp Assistant

  • The app's icon looks like a grey hard drive. Click it.

Step 4: On-screen Instructions

  • You will be instructed to choose the Windows ISO, the drive you intend to install it on, and restart your Mac.

Step 5: Your Mac Will Restart

  • Once you're done setting up Boot Camp, you will be asked to restart Mac.
  • After that, you will be taken to the Windows installer screen.

Step 6: Install Windows

  • Follow the instructions to install the version of Windows you chose.

Open Exe File On Mac Free

Step 7: Startup Manager

  • Once the install has been completed, your system will restart. Press and hold the 'Option' key while this happens and the 'Startup Manager' will appear.
  • Let go of the 'Option' key and you will see all the drives you can boot your Mac from.

Step 8: Boot Camp

  • Select 'Boot Camp' and click on 'Return'.
  • Your Mac will now be loaded into Windows.
  • Navigate to your EXE file and run it.

Remote Desktop

This free tool does what many others fail at: lets you take full advantage of your Windows apps from your Mac. That's pretty convenient, don't you agree? Even though you'll need Mac and PC to use the Remote Desktop, it's still a great software that deserves praise. Here's how you use it:

Step 1: Get Your PC Ready

  • Open the start menu and navigate to 'Settings', then 'System', then 'Remote Desktop.'
  • Turn 'Enable Remote Desktop' on and 'Confirm.'

Step 2: Know Your IP Address & PC Name

  • Still on the 'Remote Desktop' menu, and below the 'How to connect to this PC', jot down your PC name.

Open Exe File For Mac

  • Go to your 'Settings', then 'Network & Internet'.
  • Click 'Wi-Fi' and select the network you're connected to. This will bring up the network connection properties screen. At the bottom of the page is your 'IPv4 address'. Jot it down.

Step 3: Install the Mac Version of Microsoft Remote Desktop

  • Pick up your Mac and open up your Mac App Store, then search for 'Microsoft Remote Desktop.'
  • Download and install it.

Step 4: Open Add Your PC to Remote Desktop

  • Open up Remote Desktop on your Mac.
  • Click on 'Add Desktop.'
  • A dialogue box will pop up. Type in the PC Name you jotted down; if it doesn't work, type in the IP address.
  • Click 'Save'.

Step 5: You Can Now Connect

  • Keep your PC turned on and make sure it is connected to the network your Mac is connected to.
  • Remote Desktop will now show your computer below 'Saved Desktops.'
  • Double-click on it to connect.
  • You will be required to enter your username and password.
  • Click 'OK.'
  • A security warning will pop up. Since you're on a private network, ignore the warning and click 'Continue.'
  • That's the last step. You can now view and use your Windows on your Mac via Remote Desktop.

Closing Words

Well, there you have it. Running your EXE files via your Mac is now a thing of the past. As long as you have the right tools, you can do it in a matter of minutes.

How To Run Exe On Mac

These tools make your Mac more versatile than even Apple intended and anticipated because they enable you to go beyond what your Mac is capable of doing. You can achieve an end goal that would have otherwise been impossible. That's the power of a Mac for you.

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