When Tim Cook added “One More Thing” at the end of WWDC ’20, Apple fans jumped for joy. This was all about the Mac, a line that hasn’t really seen much love, outside of the updated Mac Pro released almost a year ago. It should come as no surprise that Apple has not been exactly thrilled with Intel’s lack of innovation, and stagnation in its processors.
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So instead of waiting for Intel to right the ship, Apple took matters into its own hands with the release of the M1 processor. This new chipset was built on the same architecture as the same A14 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 12 lineup.
Since the inception and introduction of the M1 chip, Apple has released an entire lineup of processors based on the same (similar) architecture. Now, the lineup consists of the Apple M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and following WWDC ’22, the Apple M2. All of these are considered “ARM” processors, which also makes it easier for app developers to create new applications that work across all three major Apple platforms.
How to Use iOS Apps on macOS
Not only does Apple’s M-series of chips appear on the Mac, but they have also made their way into the iPad lineup. This includes the 2021 iPad Pro models, along with the 2022 iPad Air, bringing with it incredible power that wasn’t previously possible on these mobile devices. But what if you wanted to use your favorite iOS apps on macOS? Before, the Apple M1, this wasn’t possible, but that’s all changed. Here’s how you can use iOS apps on macOS:
- Open the Mac App Store application.
- If this is your first time using the Mac App Store, log in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone and/or iPad.
- Once you’ve logged in, click [Your Name] in the bottom left corner of the sidebar.
- Under Account, click iPhone & iPad Apps.
- Locate the app that you wish to download.
- Click the Download icon beneath the app listing. This is the same Cloud icon that appears within the App Store on your iPhone and iPad.
After a few moments (depending on your internet speeds), you’ll have the same great app from your iPhone, right on your Mac. By default, and if possible, many of these apps will default to the iPad layout, which makes sense considering that the Mac uses a wide-angle screen as opposed to a vertical one. However, you may have to adjust the size of the window itself in order to access all of the various controls.
Using iOS Apps on macOS
When it comes to actually using those iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac, there are a couple of caveats. First and foremost, you likely won’t be able to download all of the apps associated with your Apple ID. This functionality requires the app developer to “opt-in” when building an update or a new version for the app. And if the developer opted out of that, then it simply won’t appear in your account’s download history.
Something else to keep in mind is that this is a one-way street. Essentially, if there’s an app that you constantly rely on when using your Mac, it’s highly unlikely that the same app version will be available on your iPhone or even your iPad. This really should come as no surprise, but we’ve seen some users ask the question, so we figured we would make sure to cover it here.
Finally, if you find that you can use iOS apps on macOS, then you have to remember that those apps might not be optimized for a desktop experience. Many of those applications were designed with a touchscreen in mind, and not a keyboard and mouse. So while you may be able to download and launch the app on your Mac, it might not work exactly how you would expect it to.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
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