When Apple introduced new Macs in autumn 2020, the advertising message was clear: You can also use iPhone and iPad apps on it, and they should run on the machines without restrictions.If you can download them - because the reality is a little bit more complicated.But there are ways to the goal that we introduce to you here in detail:
Macs with Apple M-chips: How to load iPad apps from the Mac app store
Experimental: Sideload of any iPad apps with imazing
Macs with Intel processors: some iPad apps available
First of all: only on the newer Macs with Apple's own chip, iPhone and iPad apps are technically running.For Macs with Intel processors there is only a small selection with adapted apps via Apple Catalyst.
To find out which chip is in your Mac, go to the apple symbol at the top left of the screen and click on "About this Mac".Then a window with some data over your Mac appears, including which processor is installed.
With a Mac with Apple Silicon, it looks something like on this screenshot.Pay attention to a name with "Apple" in the name:
With Macs with Intel processors, it looks like in the following screenshot.Pay attention to a name with "Intel" in the name:
You can also see that: The version of the MAC operating system is secondary.Just because you have updated on Big Sur does not mean that you will also find iPad apps in the shop.This is only possible on Macs with Apple chip.However, you need at least the predecessor version of MacOS Catalina if you want to run iPad apps adapted to Intel-Macs via Project Catalyst.
Macs with Apple Silicon: How to load iPad apps from the Mac app store
At the end of 2020, Apple presented the first Macs with a self -developed chip, the M1.The M chip is related to the A-processors in iPhone and iPad and technically able to run iPhone and iPad apps.
Besucht ihr mit einem solchen Mac den Mac-AppStore, findet ihr darin bei einer Suche die Unterscheidung in „Mac-Apps“ oder „iPhone- & iPad-Apps“:
So you can look for your favorite apps practically in two app stores, for the Mac and the iOS/iPados.There is still no separate category for iPad apps in the Mac app store at the time of the start of the new M1-MAC in November 2020.
A few iOS and iPados apps available at the start
And you discover another problem if you look at our screenshot above.We searched for "Netflix".The video service apps do not appear in the results, although there is an iPhone and an iPad app for it.How can that be?
Apple lets the developers decide whether they want to release their iPad or iPhone apps for the Mac.The apps would work automatically, but it is not mandatory for developers that they will appear in the Mac app store in the future.
Many important app providers such as Facebook, Google, Adobe or Microsoft first wave off.Ipad apps such as messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Maps, Gmail, Microsoft 365, Photoshop and many video streaming services did not find former users of an M1 Mac in the Mac app store in November 2020.
The reasons for this are complex: some developers shy away from the effort to adapt their iPad app for the Mac.They are sometimes afraid that their apps optimized for touch on a Mac without a touch will not offer the same use experience and then do bad reviews in the app store.And then it's also about money: paid Mac apps are usually more expensive than iPad apps.Some users could come up with the idea of saving money if they use an iPad app of the same provider instead of the Mac app.
Our information can be out of date again if you read these lines.Because little by little the selection of apps should increase.Small app providers in particular take the opportunity to be available on another platform at the beginning without being any interview and thus increase your own range.Your offers are very numerous there.We found about the start:
Charcoal
Office Suite
Pics
Insof
Kinemaster
Quik
itranslate
Kik
Doodle
ICQ
ARD Mediathek
Plex
Radio.de
Footpath
Among many of these apps, just playing, you will find the note: "Developed for iPad, not checked for MacOS".This means that you are testing at your own risk whether the app also works for the Mac or not.In another post, we give you tips on how to best play on the Mac.
The list should grow in the next few months.There is a trick for iPad apps that you cannot find in the Mac app store on an M1-Mac.See the next chapter!
And there is one more option: You can install iPad apps that you cannot find here via Project Catalyst;Twitter about.Look into the chapter after next.
Experimental: Any iPad apps load on the Mac
The following step is a little more complicated, but more promising.He comes from the Reddit user Problyamy.You need an iPad or iPhone with access to an Appstore, the third-party software Imazing-and a Mac with Apple's own M1 chip.It doesn't work with Intel chips.
This type of Sideload is not officially and neither supported by Apple nor Imazing.In the test, not all of the apps downloaded in this way were also working, but most of them.This path is experimental, not officially.
Download imazing from the official website and install the software;The free version is sufficient.
Connects your iPhone or (better!) IPad with your Mac while imazing runs and unlocks the device.
You may now have to register with your Apple ID and add the iPhone or iPad as a trustworthy.Do that when it is your devices.
Click on your iPhone or iPad in the side column on the left, then below on apps and then on the bottom of the main window on "Manage apps":
5. An app selection window opens.For the apps you want to download, just click on the download symbol and download them.Then click on the app with the right mouse button and select "Export".
6. Imazing should thus move the app into your download folder:
7. If you click on it, install the system and place it in the program folder.
8. With a double click you can start it like any other app:
This worked in our test with Duolingo, Pixelmator Photo, Joyn and NBA Jam, but not with Netflix.The app simply didn't want to open.
Pixelmator Photo and Joy were very user -friendly, let their window size change and access the file system or play sound.Duolingo also recorded sound after the micros was released.As with NBA JAM, the window could not be changed in size.So not everything works smoothly, but the quota is high.
Ipad apps on Macs with Intel chip
That should be confusing for many users.Apple's current MacOS Big Sur operating system is necessary to find iPhone and iPad apps and run on a Mac.But that alone is not enough.Macs with an Apple-owned M-chip (Apple Silicon) must be.You simply cannot find the distinction between Mac or iPad apps in the Mac app store on Macs that run with an Intel chip.The store only shows you Mac apps:
You still don't have to look in the tube entirely in terms of iPad apps with an Intel-Mac.The Catalyst Project has been running since Macos Catalina.Apple's wish was that many developers also provide their iPhone or iPad apps for the Mac.At least 50 apps could be found at Project Catalyst at the time of going to the editor.The most prominent of them: Twitter and the racing game asphalt 9: Legends.
You will not find this via an offential Catalyst page, nor by looking for "Catalyst" in the Mac app store.At the start of MacOS Catalina ANNO 2019, however, Apple released a Catalyst story in the AppStore and summarized the available apps there.You can also download them from there.Catalyst continues under the successor Macos Big Sur:
The number of almost 50 apps after over a year and the offer of mainly small providers indicate that Catalyst has not yet been a resounding success.
After all: You can run some iPad apps on a Mac.On one with an intel and by the way on a with Apple M1 chip.Because Catalyst also runs on the new architecture.For example, you can get the Twitter IPAD app to the Mac, which is not available at the start of the M1-MACs via the Mac app store.
Conclusion
At the end of November 2020, at the time of our test, there are hardly any well-known iPad apps for the Mac on the official path.The chance is that iPad apps that run natively on Macs with Apple chip are a greater success than Project Catalyst.A promising start looks different.To take off, the project still has a few years.
Please leave this field empty
Subscribe to new posts!
Fresh every day at 5 p.m. in the mailbox
Section selection
All topics
Mobile & Web
Changes possible at any time via subscription management-further topics available
Letter of acceptance *
I agree that the Euronics Deutschland eG, Ditzingen, will inform me about emails selected above via email.I can revoke my consent at any time by email to info@euronics.de.
Further information on the use of your data for advertising purposes can be found in our data protection declaration.
Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.
Comment now!
