There is no Mac OS version of Paratext, but there are a variety of ways to create a Windows or Linux virtual machine. Paratext for Windows or for Linux can then be installed on that machine.
Please note that a virtual machine is treated just like any physical machine: you will need to purchase a Windows license from Microsoft in order to activate Windows in the virtual machine.
Run Paratext in a Virtual Machine
Newer Mac Computers (with Apple M Silicon Processors)
VMWare (free for non-commercial use) and Parallels Desktop for Mac (for purchase) both provide high-quality integration with Mac OS and Windows 11 Arm.
*VMWare note: Register for a free account and request a download of VMWare Fusion Player (13 or higher).
Important Notes
- Windows 11 Arm is required for the new Apple M chips like M1 or M2 (Windows 10 Arm is no longer supported).
- Windows 11 Arm may have difficulty running other Windows software.
- VirtualBox and Boot Camp do NOT run on Apple M Silicon processors.
Older Mac Computers (with Intel Processors)
- Both Parallels and VMWare can be used on older Mac computers with Intel processors.
Other Free Solutions
- VirtualBox (Intel Macs) is also free and used by many people, but it can be more complicated to setup.
- Apple Bootcamp (Intel Macs) enables you to configure your Mac to boot into either Mac OS or Windows.
- With Bootcamp, you can run Mac OS or Windows, but not both at the same time. You need to reboot to switch between Mac OS and Windows.
- You could possibly install Linux instead of Windows as your second OS but this probably requires some research and technical skill.
Troubleshooting
If you have difficulties with setting up a virtual machine, look for the support options or information on the virtual machine tool you are using. Chances are your issue is a general virtual machine issue rather than an issue specific to Paratext. If needed, you can submit an issue about running Paratext in a virtual machine to the Paratext support site (registration required).
Other Issues
