Dec 15, 2017 Unlimited access to Crossover for Mac FREE. You do not need to run Bootca. If you want to run Windows-only applications on your Mac computer, this is the way. With the release of CrossOver Mac 7 on June 17, 2008, CrossOver Mac was divided into Standard and Pro editions like CrossOver Linux. The Standard version included six months of support and upgrades, while the Pro version included one year of support and upgrades, along with a free copy of CrossOver.

1. Free Programs Like Crossover For Mac Pro
2. Free Programs Like Crossover For Mac Pro

CrossOver is a Microsoft Windowscompatibility layer available for Linux, macOS, and Chrome OS. This compatibility layer enables many Windows-based applications to run on Linux operating systems, macOS, or Chrome OS.

CrossOver is developed by CodeWeavers and based on Wine, an open-source Windows compatibility layer. CodeWeavers modifies the Wine source code, applies compatibility patches, adds configuration tools that are more user-friendly, automated installation scripts, and provides technical support. All changes made to the Wine source code are covered by the LGPL and publicly available. CodeWeavers maintains an online database listing how well various Windows applications perform under CrossOver.^[2]

Versions[edit]

CrossOver Linux[edit]

CrossOver Linux is the original version of CrossOver. It aims to properly integrate with the GNOME and KDEdesktop environments so that Windows applications will run seamlessly on Linux distributions. Prior to version 6 it was called CrossOver Office. CrossOver Linux was originally offered in Standard and Professional editions. CrossOver Linux Standard was designed for a single user account on a single machine. CrossOver Linux Professional provided enhanced deployment and management features for corporate users, as well as multiple user accounts per machine. With the release of CrossOver Linux 11 in 2012 these different editions have all merged into a single CrossOver Linux product.

CrossOver Mac[edit]

In 2005 Apple announced a transition from PowerPC to Intel processors in their computers, which allowed CodeWeavers to develop a Mac OS X version of CrossOver Office called 'CrossOver Mac'^[3]

CrossOver Mac was released on January 10, 2007.^[4] With the release of CrossOver Mac 7 on June 17, 2008, CrossOver Mac was divided into Standard and Pro editions like CrossOver Linux. The Standard version included six months of support and upgrades, while the Pro version included one year of support and upgrades, along with a free copy of CrossOver Games. With the release of CrossOver Mac 11 in 2012 these different editions were all merged into a single CrossOver Mac product.

In 2019, macOS went 64-bit only and eliminated 32-bit compatible libraries. In December 2019 Codeweavers released CrossOver 19, providing support for 32 bit Windows applications on an operating system with no 32 bit libraries solving this problem.

Discontinued products[edit]

A standard copy of CrossOver now includes the functionality of CrossOver Games, CrossOver Standard, and CrossOver Professional editions. These older individual versions of Crossover have since been retired.^[5]

CrossOver Games, announced on 10 March 2008, was a product intended to let users play a broad range of games by providing current Wine patches.^[6] The expectation was that it would update on a weekly to monthly schedule in order to incorporate the latest Wine programming work being accepted. In contrast the general CrossOver Office product focused more on stability and productivity software, and had a much slower beta and release schedule. CrossOver Games wasn't able to release updates with enough frequency to justify its separate production track and was discontinued in 2012. It was merged back into a unified CrossOver product.

CrossOver Server was a specialized version of CrossOver Linux which allowed Windows applications to run on thin-client systems. It was discontinued in 2007 as many of its features were present in the CrossOver Linux Pro edition.

Software giveaway[edit]

On October 28, 2008 as the result of the Lame Duck Challenge, Codeweavers gave all of their products away for free. Codeweavers' main page was temporarily replaced due to the day's unusually high traffic.^[7] According to CodeWeavers at least 750,000 product registrations were given away during October 28.^[8]

On October 31, 2012, CodeWeavers had a second software giveaway, this one entitled 'Flock the Vote'.^[9] CodeWeavers promised to have such a giveaway if 100,000 American voters would promise to vote on election day, in a nonpartisan bid to encourage activism. More than 100,000 people pledged, so CodeWeavers allowed any person in the world to download and register a copy of CrossOver Linux or CrossOver Mac.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Change Log For CrossOver'. CodeWeavers. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
2. ^'What Runs - CrossOver Mac and Linux'. CodeWeavers. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
3. ^'CodeWeavers Expands Developer Services, Enabling Future Windows Application Porting To Mac OS' (Press release). SAINT PAUL, MN: CodeWeavers. June 22, 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
4. ^'CodeWeavers Releases CrossOver 6 for Mac and Linux'. Slashdot. January 10, 2007. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
5. ^'CrossOver - Change Log - CodeWeavers'. Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
6. ^White, Jeremy (2008-03-10). 'Roadmap for 2008'. Blogs. CodeWeavers. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
7. ^Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. (October 28, 2008). 'Free (as in beer) CodeWeavers CrossOver Linux and Mac'. Computerworld Blogs. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
8. ^2008.10.28 We Came! We Saw! We Burned to the Waterline!
9. ^Kruchowski, Anna. 'CodeWeavers software free for download for 24 hours on October 31, 2012'. CodeWeavers blog. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

External links[edit]

Every now and then, a Mac user is going to say, 'Man I wish there was a version of (insert program here) for Mac. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.' It's happened to me more times that I really wish to count. Thankfully, most of the apps I want to run on my Mac exist as native apps.

However, there are a couple that slip through my fingers, like Microsoft's Visio Professional. It doesn't exist on the Mac side and I really need it for my day job as a software quality vice president.

Thankfully, there's more than one way to run Windows apps on your Mac.

1. You can use Apple's Boot Camp and run a full installation of Window natively on your Mac
2. Use a virtual machine like Parallels Desktop
3. Install Windows apps directly with CrossOver and use a Windows app like any other native Mac App

There are advantages and disadvantages to each, but that last one – installing Windows apps directly under CrossOver – is a bit different, and it offers some distinct advantages if you know how to get things going.

With CrossOver, you don't install Windows and then the app. It's all about the app, and only the app. Thankfully, while CrossOver is different, it's not difficult to use. However, there are a few things you need to know. For example, CrossOver doesn't run ALL Windows apps. Some run better than others, and some won't run at all.

What's the best way to install Windows apps?

When trying to determine the best way to install a Windows app, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the three different ways to run Windows on a Mac — natively, via VM or via CrossOver:

How to install Windows apps on your Mac using CrossOver

If you want to install Windows apps on your Mac without all the overhead associated with Windows, follow these steps. Free crossover programs for mac.

1. Navigate to CodeWeavers and download CrossOver.

2. Go to your Downloads folder and locate the Zip file you downloaded. Double Click it to open it. Archive Utility will Open it up and decompress the contents of the archive.

3. Double click the CrossOver.app in your Downloads folder. It will offer to move itself to your Applications folder.

4. CrossOver will start for the first time. When it does, it's going to ask you how you want it to run. By default, it runs in trial mode. However, you also enter in your registration information or buy a license right from this page.

5. From the screen that appears, click the Install a Windows Application button.

6. Type the name of the application you want to run. CrossOver will search its database and display appropriate matches.

7. Click on the application you want to run. CrossOver will display compatibility information on it from its database, telling you how likely and how well it will run.

8. Click the Continue button.

9. Select an installer source.
10. Click the Choose Installer File. A Finder window will slide down over the app and allow you to navigate to where you have the installation file stored.
11. Select the app.
12. Click the Use this installer button. You'll return to the Select an Installer Source screen.

13. Click the Continue button. Remember: CrossOver will not find and download the software you want to run for you. You actually have to have the installation file for the software you want to run.

14. Select a bottle.

What are bottles?

CrossOver is powered by the Wine Project. As such, all Windows apps are installed in 'containers' called bottles (get it?). When you install an application for the first time, CrossOver will create a bottle and automatically place your application in it. When you install new applications, CrossOver will also give you hints about which apps can work and play well in the same bottle. If your apps can be installed in the same bottle, putting them together will save some space. If they can't, CrossOver will tell you and suggest creating a new bottle. It will also suggest a name for it. Keep the suggestion or give the bottle a name of your own choice.

1. Click the Continue button.

2. You'll be taken to the Ready to Install screen. CrossOver will give you a summary of what it's installing, where it will install it from, and the name of the bottle where it will install it. CrossOver will also install any needed support software (such as .NET Framework, or the link).

3. Click the Install button.

4. The software will install. CrossOver displays a progress screen where it will run through not only the creation of the bottle, but it will download any needed support software, and then run the installer you chose. Once the installation process completes, you should be ready to run your software.

5. Click Done. The Installation process will close.
6. Click the CrossOver icon in the Dock. CrossOver's Collections screen will appear, listing all the bottles you have installed on your Mac.

7. Find the bottle you just created and run your software.

Running Windows and Windows apps on a Mac can be challenging. Finding the right method for you and your needs can be equally as challenging; however, if you think about it, there are a number of ways to run Windows on a Mac.

Some are expensive. Some aren't.

Some take time and are complicated. Others aren't.

CrossOver isn't just easy to use, it's affordable. For less than 1/4 the price of Windows plus the price of the application you need to run, you can run it on your Mac. For the odd app out, this is a total no-brainer; and it's fairly easy to do. If you want to make sure your app works with CrossOver before you give it a shot, you can always search for it on their website.

macOS Catalina

Main

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Free Programs Like Crossover For Mac Pro

Apple reminds us all that 'creativity goes on' in new YouTube video

Free Programs Like Crossover For Mac Pro

Apple's latest YouTube video knows just how to tug at the heartstrings.