Introduction
WinRun runs Windows 11 natively on your Apple Silicon Mac, as an ordinary app — open it to use Windows, close it and your session is saved. It’s for people who occasionally need Windows but don’t want a full-time PC: tax software that only ships for Windows, a corporate VPN client, a vendor portal, coursework that mandates one specific program, or an old game from a PC you no longer own.
Set up in one step
Download WinRun from the App Store and point it to a Windows 11 ARM ISO from Microsoft. WinRun handles the rest — installation is automatic and takes about 5–10 minutes. After that, Windows is simply there whenever you open the app.
Features
- Efficient — Windows runs on the virtualization built into every Apple Silicon Mac, at near-native speed with no emulation overhead.
- Focused — WinRun does one thing: Windows as an ordinary Mac app. Open it when you need Windows, close it when you’re done — your session is saved, and nothing keeps running behind your back.
- Seamless — the clipboard flows both ways, files drag between Finder and Windows Explorer, your Mac’s webcam and mic appear inside Windows, and the resolution follows your window as you resize — up to full screen.
Pricing
WinRun is pay-as-you-go — $0.99 for 3 hours. The app itself is free to download, with larger top-up packs available in-app.
- Top up anytime via a simple In-App Purchase — pick the pack that fits how much Windows you need
- The timer only runs once Windows is fully installed and you’re actually using it — the installation itself doesn’t consume any of your balance
- Close the lid, sleep your Mac, or close the WinRun window and the timer stops automatically
- Remaining balance is shown in the title bar at all times, down to the second
Every new Mac gets 20 free minutes on first launch. Installation doesn’t draw from this balance, so the clock starts only once Windows is ready.
Your balance is stored locally on this Mac — not in your Apple ID or the cloud. Erasing the Mac, reinstalling macOS, or deleting WinRun clears it, and it can’t be restored — so spend it down before you wipe your Mac.
Privacy
Your data stays on your Mac, always. No accounts, no analytics, no server uploads — and the whole app is confined to the full macOS sandbox for system-level security. Read our Privacy Policy.
Beyond that, WinRun is designed to need zero trust of its own: the virtualization engine is Apple’s, the Windows is Microsoft’s, and WinRun is just the thin layer that launches Windows and displays the window it runs in. Learn more at Trust: Windows on Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Windows license? Can I use it commercially? Yes to both. WinRun automatically installs Windows 11 Pro ARM — the edition is fixed, so there is no Home-vs-Pro choice to make. The license itself is yours to obtain: download the ARM ISO directly from Microsoft and activate with a Windows 11 Pro key. Commercial use is covered on both sides — the standard Mac App Store license permits it, and so does Windows 11 Pro.
Will my Windows software run on ARM? Almost certainly. Windows 11 ARM includes a built-in x86/x64 emulation layer that runs the vast majority of legacy Windows applications transparently. Edge cases are limited to software that ships kernel-level drivers (a small number of anti-cheat games, certain virtual camera plugins).
What happens when my balance runs out? WinRun saves your Windows session to a snapshot, exits cleanly, and prompts you to top up the next time you open it. Nothing is lost — you pick up exactly where you stopped.
Can I share my balance across Macs or Apple IDs? No. Balances are stored locally per Mac, so you only pay for the time you actually use, on the device you use it.
Why pay-as-you-go instead of a subscription? Many people only need Windows a few hours a month. A subscription would charge them for time they don’t use. Pay-as-you-go means even the smallest top-up can last weeks, and you never wonder whether to keep paying.
Is GPU acceleration supported? Not yet — GPU acceleration is under active development. For now, heavy 3D games or GPU-intensive workloads aren’t a fit.
Is USB passthrough supported? No. USB passthrough has known stability issues at the macOS system level, so we deliberately leave it out to keep WinRun stable. Keyboard, mouse, display, webcam, microphone, and audio all work as usual. For the occasional USB device, a USB-over-network tool such as VirtualHere works well.
Support
For questions, bug reports, or feature ideas, email support@lonefondness.com. We read every email and typically respond within 1–2 business days.
You can also join the conversation in the WinRun discussion thread on r/MacOSApps — questions and feedback are welcome there too.