Thanks to years of updates and novel additions, Genshin Impact enjoys widespread popularity across platforms. This includes PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, letting millions of players explore the rich world of Teyvat with a cast of diverse characters, but what about Genshin Impact Mac support?
While Windows laptops and computers can run the game easily, figuring out how to play Genshin Impact on Mac isn’t as simple as heading to the website and hitting download.
Key Takeaways
- Genshin Impact is not available on the Apple Store or to download for Mac natively.
- You can stream Genshin Impact through cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now.
- Through Boot Camp Assistant, you can install Windows-based programs like Genshin Impact.
- Genshin Impact can be emulated through BlueStacks, an Android emulator for Mac.
- There is no word on when or if Genshin Impact will come to MacOS at this time.
Can You Play Genshin Impact on Mac?
Yes, you can play Genshin Impact on Mac. While it isn’t supported directly, multiple methods let you access the game at near-native levels of performance.
Some of the ways to access Genshin on Mac include streaming services like GeForce Now, multi-boot utilities like Parallels Desktop, and emulation tools like BlueStacks.
There has been no mention of an official port of Genshin Impact for Mac from the developers so you’ll need to use one of these methods to play the game. Read on for a comprehensive guide to gain access to the hit Gacha title.
How to Play Genshin Impact on Mac
While you may want to know how to download Genshin Impact on Mac, there’s no direct way to download the game and get it to work. Use one of the following methods to play the game on Apple’s devices.
Nvidia GeForce Now
If you want to play Genshin Impact on Mac without worrying about emulation, GeForce Now is a pretty accessible cloud gaming option. It’s the easiest method on this list and works well with most hardware, as the game itself is run on the cloud.
Here’s how you can play Genshin Impact on Mac via GeForce Now:
- Ensure that your PC meets the requirements to run GeForce Now. This includes having MacOS 10.11 or higher and having an internet connection of at least 15 Mbps for 720p or 25 Mbps for 1080p gaming.
- Download the Nvidia GeForce Now client for Mac from the website. Drag and drop the application into the Applications folder to install it.
- Sign up for an account on the Nvidia website and pick a membership plan that suits your budget. And don’t worry; there’s a free tier that puts you in a queue before accessing the game.
- Add Genshin Impact to your game library via the GeForce Now client. It can be found in the Free-to-Play category.
Boot Camp Assistant
This multi-boot utility tool is a great option to run Windows on macOS. While it grants access to most games and applications, use this method only if you want to get Genshin Impact for an Intel Mac. So if your device has the latest Apple Silicon M1, M2, or M3 processors, try GeForce Now instead.
If your Mac does support Boot Camp Assistant, here’s what you need to do:
- Download a Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft.
- Launch Boot Camp Assistant on your Mac device from the Utilities folder.
- Start the installation and follow the on-screen steps to complete the process. Apple Support has a handy set of instructions to install Windows on your Boot Camp partition.
- Install any necessary drivers to ensure that Windows games work properly.
- Proceed with the Genshin Impact download from the main site like you would on a Windows PC.
Virtualization
You can use virtualization tools like Parallels Desktop to access Genshin Impact. Note that this will run the game in a virtual environment, severely hampering performance. On the bright side, you can switch between macOS and Windows without a restart. We don’t recommend using this method as Nvidia GeForce Now, and Boot Camp Assistant are more reliable.
Here’s how you can use Parallels Desktop to play the game:
- Download Parallels Desktop and install it. There’s a free trial if you want to check how the game performs on a virtual machine.
- Install Windows with the Installation Assistant, available by pressing “+” inside the Parallels Desktop Control Center. You can use an old Microsoft Windows license key or purchase a new license.
- Once that is done, head to the Genshin Impact site and download the game.
- After the download is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
- Remember to create a new HoYoverse account if you’re just starting out.
Emulators like BlueStacks
Another alternative is using Android emulators like BlueStacks to run the game. There are two variants available for Macs. BlueStacks 10 is what new Apple Silicon users should use, and BlueStacks 4 works on legacy Intel Macs. You can use this software to run Android games via a browser. Once again, expect stuttering and poor performance as it doesn’t utilize the full power of your device.
Here’s how to play Genshin Impact on Mac via BlueStacks:
- Download the right version of BlueStacks from their site.
- Once you install the emulator, launch it and open the Instance Manager from the side toolbar.
- Here, pick “New instance” and choose a fresh instance of Pie 64-bit. To run it effectively, allocate RAM and CPU cores based on your Mac’s hardware.
- Press “Start” in the Instance Manager to start this emulated device.
- Complete the Google sign-in and download Genshin Impact via the Play Store.
The Bottom Line
While Genshin Impact isn’t natively available to play on Mac, the methods we’ve mentioned above all work well and are easy enough to get working for Apple’s hardware. Streaming via GeForce Now is the best official way to play, provided you’ve got a strong enough internet connection, but running Boot Camp should provide a solid near-native experience on the hardware. These are the best methods for now until miHoYo ports the game over.
FAQs
Can I play Genshin Impact on Mac with Epic Games?
Is there a way to download Genshin Impact on Mac in 2024?
Is Genshin Impact only for iOS?
Can I play Genshin Impact on Mac natively?
Does the iOS version of Genshin Impact work on Mac?
References
- Download GeForce NOW | NVIDIA (Nvidia)
- Download Windows 10 (Microsoft)
- Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant – Apple Support (PH) (Support.apple)
- Genshin Impact – Step Into a Vast Magical World of Adventure (Genshin.hoyoverse)
- Run Windows on Mac.Easy. Powerful. Seamless. (Parallels)
- BlueStacks: Play Games on PC & Mac, Android Emulator and Cloud Gaming Platform (Bluestacks)