How to Open EXE Files on Macbook

This article shows you how to open executable files (EXE) on Mac. To do this, you can install the free software WINE, or install Windows 8 or 10 using your Mac's Boot Camp feature.

Use WINE

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Visit the WineBottler site at http://winebottler.kronenberg.org/ . WINE is an advanced program, and WineBottler adds a user-friendly interface to WINE.

However, some programs are not affiliated with WINE. If the EXE file does not run on WINE, you will need to use Boot Camp.

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Click the "WineBottler 1.8-rc4 Development" button. This is the button that appears in the middle of the page and has a green arrow icon.

If you use an operating system older than OS X Capitan, click WineBottler 1.6.1 Stable .

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Click Download when asked. This will take you to the advertising screen.

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Click SKIP AD (Skip ads). This option appears in the upper right corner of the screen after 5 seconds.

Do not click on any other links on this page while waiting for the SKIP AD button to appear.

If you use an ad blocker, you'll need to turn off ad blocking on this site first.

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Wait for the WineBottler download to complete. If WineBottler does not download automatically after 5 seconds, you can click on the "WineBottlerCombo_1.8-rc4.dmg" link to request a download.

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Install WineBottler. To do this, you'll double-click the WineBottler installation file, then drag the "Wine" and "WineBottler" icons into the "Applications" folder.

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Click with two fingers on the EXE file. This will bring up a menu.

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Select Open With . It's near the top of the drop-down menu.

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Click Wine . You will see this program to the left or right of the selection list in the window that appears. A warning will appear on the screen.

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Make sure the "Run directly in" option is selected. If not, you'll click the circle to the left of "Run directly in [address]".

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Click Go . It's the blue button in the bottom right corner of the warning window. If supported by WINE, the EXE file will start.

If the EXE file does not display when you use WINE, try the next method.

Use Boot Camp

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Make sure you have the Windows installation files. MacOS Boot Camp program supports Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.

You can also download the Windows version ISO file from the Microsoft site.

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Open your Mac's Utilities folder. You can do this by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of your Mac screen, typing "Utilities" and clicking the Utilities folder.

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Double-click Boot Camp Assistant with the gray hard drive icon.

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Follow the instructions on the screen. These steps include selecting the Windows installation file, selecting the drive where you want to install Windows, and restarting the Mac.

If you want to install Windows from USB, you will be asked to attach the USB during the process.

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Wait for the Mac to restart. After completing the Boot Camp setup installation, you will be asked to restart your Mac. Once your Mac has restarted, you will be taken to the Windows settings screen.

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Select the "BOOTCAMP" partition if necessary. If you install Windows from USB, you will have to select this option to continue the installation.

If you want to install Windows directly from the ISO file, Boot Camp will partition the drive for you.

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Follow the on-screen Windows installation instructions. This process will vary depending on the version of Windows you're using, but you'll have to restart your Mac after finishing the process, just like you did when installing Boot Camp Assistant.

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Hold down the key ⌥ Optionwhile restarting the Mac. This is the operation to load the Startup Manager window.

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Release the key ⌥ Optionwhen the Startup Manager window appears. This window will display many different drives so you can restart your Mac.

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