Xbox is a Microsoft-owned gaming brand that was introduced to the market in 2001. Since that time, the game has been produced in different flavors and types – from Xbox one down to the Xbox X and S series.
Despite being available for iOS devices, Xbox does not have a dedicated app for macOS PCs. To play Xbox Play games or have access to Xbox live through the Xbox app on your Mac, you first need to have Windows 10 installed.
Don’t worry if this is a little confusing for now. In a short while, I will walk you through the process of downloading and installing the Xbox app for Mac. The reason why you need to first install Windows 10 on your Mac is that Microsoft has integrated Xbox live games with this operating system. Now let’s get started on how to play Xbox on your Mac.
How to Get Windows 10 for Mac
There are two main methods to get Windows 10 running smoothly on your Mac. You can either install windows by using Boot Camp or through a virtual machine.
The best option is to use the Boot Camp method which involves creating a space, also known as a partition, on your Mac’s hard drive to install Windows 10 using the Boot Camp assistant. You can then use the Alt/Option key on your keyboard to switch to any of the operating systems when you boot your device.
This process would make playing Xbox games smooth on Mac, and you can gain entry to Xbox play anywhere and anytime.
You can download Windows 10 as a disk file from Microsoft’s website before you begin the setup process. After the download, get a Bootcamp or virtualization software to begin the setup process.
How to set up Windows 10 on Mac through Bootcamp
Fortunately, Apple provides a Bootcamp app for its users. To find it, go to the “Utilities” folder in the “Applications” folder.
The following are the requirements for installing Windows 10 on your Mac. Double-check and confirm you have these before you start the process.
- Minimum of 64GB or 128GB free space on the internal hard drive.
- Memory stick of at least 16GB of storage for extra driver software required by Windows to control some of your Mac components like the Camera and keyboard. Your Mac may automatically download these drivers.
- A copy of the Windows software with its license number.
If you have all these essentials ready, let’s begin the process of setting up Windows 10 on Mac with Bootcamp.
- Launch Boot Camp assistant – After you open the Boot Camp assistant, you will have to fulfill some prompts.
For example, you’d be asked to choose an ISO image. Just click the “Choose” button and select the one you created or downloaded.
This step will copy your Windows ISO file onto the USB memory stick to make it easier to install Windows.
- Download driver software – Boot camp will inform you that it will also download the driver software for Windows to the USB memory stick.
- Partition your drive – Boot Camp will then create a space division on your device’s hard drive. At the bottom of the page, you’d find the box.
MacOS will be on the left and Windows on the right. You can use the slider which is in the form of a dot between both partitions to control allocated space to both space divisions.
You can dedicate one full drive for Windows if your Mac has more than one internal drive. Avoid using an external hard drive or USB for this setup process because you may encounter difficulties with the setup.
- Install Windows – After the partition process, Boot Camp will launch the Windows Installer program from the USB memory stick. Follow the prompts to complete the download.
You will also be required to download additional Bootcamp drivers from the memory stick.
- Run Windows – When you are done with the setup, you can now press the alt key on your keyboard to dual-boot after you start your Mac. The two partitions will appear and you can choose the one you want to work with.
How to setup Windows 10 on Mac through Virtual Machine
Unlike Boot Camp which may not work with certain apps like Apple mail, Virtualisation software is quite easy to use and pair perfectly with all apps. These software work like PCs when you download them to your device so you don’t have to partition your hard drive.
There is a couple of virtualization software in the market but two outstanding ones are Parallel Desktop and VMware Fusion. You need to pay to use these programs – Parallel Desktop for example costs about £69.99/79.99. If you need a free VM, you can go for Virtual Box though it’s quite complex to use.
You may configure your hardware and software as you would a PC to let your Virtual Machine work smoothly. Devote extra memory, disk space, video memory, and even graphics card to improve performance.
After downloading the Virtual Machine, follow the prompts to install and start using it immediately.
How to get Xbox App for Mac
When you are done setting up Windows on your Mac following our previous guide, follow the steps below to get the Xbox app for Mac.
- On the Windows interface (after you’ve switched to Windows on your Mac), search for App on the Start Menu at the bottom left-hand corner or Just click on the Microsoft Store if you see it.
- Sign in to the Windows Store App. Then search for Xbox > Click on the dedicated Xbox app.
- Download and Install the app to your device. Sign in to your Microsoft account if you want to use Xbox live.
You’ll see your activity feed after you sign in and it will differ depending on how long you’ve been using the account
- Check for compatible games, download them, and start playing Xbox games on Mac.
On the Xbox app, you see your achievements and chat with friends that are equally using the app. To successfully go through this process, ensure to use a Mac device with high specifications like a MacBook Pro. This is because a lower version may lack memory space or overheat due to pressure on the hardware.
Also, if you successfully go through the process with a low-end device, the games you download may lag, thus frustrating your game session.
Final Note
Though setting up Windows on Mac and finally downloading the Xbox app may seem a bit stressful, it is in fact a simple one. Just try not to miss a step and you’ll have access to Xbox games in no time. It is also worth noting that even though you can install Windows on Mac, the reverse is not possible. There’s no way you can use Mac on Windows, at least for now.
If you were able to pull this off or faced difficulty in the process, let’s know in the comment section.
