Parallels
Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
Difficulty: EasyCost: FreeEstimate
Parallels
How to play Apex Legends on Mac
Action / Adventure / Free To Play · 2019
Best in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine via Parallels.
Overall rating: Runs well with the right setup · 72% of 165 players say it runs well
Your setup
Detect your Mac to see whether Apex Legends will run.
Best in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine via Parallels.
How to run Apex Legends on your Mac in 2026
Best path: Parallels
Should run in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine (Parallels). This is an estimate — not a verified report. Demanding 3D titles may need lower settings.
- Heads up on Parallels: Estimated compatibility — no verified report yet
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ParallelsPick | Good | Medium | $99/yr | Get it ↗ |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Estimate | Easy | $16.99 /mo | Get it ↗ |
Apex Legends
89
Metacritic
10.0
Metacritic Users
Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale featuring squad-based combat with unique character abilities. It emphasizes team synergy and fast-paced gunplay within a vibrant science-fiction universe.
Apex Legends is available on GeForce NOW — stream it to your Mac without a local install.
What the world thinks
Performance
How Apex Legends runs on your Mac, from our performance model and player reports.
See exactly how Apex Legends will run on your Mac
Pick your chip and RAM for a personalised estimate.
Best way to play it on Mac
Apex Legends is available on GeForce NOW — stream it to your Mac without a local install.
See if this is the right method for your setup
Ways to play Apex Legends on Mac
Here are all the options available, ranked by what we recommend first.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
Needs 25+ Mbps internet, wired ideal.
Difficulty: EasyCost: Game Pass Ultimate subscriptionEstimate
Compare methods at a glance
Lower = betterHow each supported method stacks up on setup effort, time and runtime overhead.
Method
Setup Difficulty
Time Investment
Performance Overhead
- ParallelsVMTop pickSetupModerateTime30 minOverheadHigh
- Xbox Cloud GamingCloudSetupSimpleTime5 minOverheadLow
Where to buy Apex Legends
Live prices compared across trusted PC key sellers — updates every few hours.
Platform-by-platform reliability
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Step-by-step setup guides
Idiot-proof walkthroughs for every method.
How to run Apex Legends on Mac with Parallels
Estimate· CompatibilityUsing Parallels to play Apex Legends means running a full copy of Windows 11 ARM inside macOS. This is the most "it just works" approach for games that don't behave under CrossOver, and DirectX 11 is hardware-accelerated. You'll need a Windows license and roughly 80 GB of disk space.
Step-by-step
- Buy / start a trial of Parallels Desktop.
- Install Windows 11 ARM via the one-click wizard.
- Inside Windows, install Steam / Xbox app and Apex Legends.
- Enable DirectX 11 in Parallels settings for best 3D performance.
Video proof
Try Parallels Desktop free ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
How to run Apex Legends on Mac with Xbox Cloud Gaming
Estimate· StreamingStreaming Apex Legends through Xbox Cloud Gaming is the fastest way to start playing on a Mac — there's nothing to install, no Windows VM, no compatibility layer. The game runs on a remote GPU and your Mac just receives the video, which means even a base M1 MacBook Air can play the most demanding AAA titles at high settings. The tradeoff is that you need a stable internet connection (ideally wired or 5GHz Wi-Fi with 25+ Mbps down) and a subscription.
Step-by-step
- Get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
- Open xbox.com/play in Safari, Chrome, or Edge.
- Search Apex Legends and click Play — no install required.
Video proof
Open Xbox Cloud Gaming ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
Our recommendation
For most Mac players we recommend Parallels as the fastest, smoothest way to play Apex Legends. Full Windows 11 ARM inside macOS.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ParallelsPick | Good | Medium | $99/year + Windows licence |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Estimate | Easy | Game Pass Ultimate subscription |
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