Have you recently bought a VR headset because you wanted to explore the countless worlds of VRChat, but later found out there’s no official release for macOS?
No need to worry since the answer to the question: “Can you play VRChat on Mac?” is yes. The only thing you have to do is run Windows on your Mac device.
Let us tell you how to do it regardless of your Mac model!
What is VRChat?
Released in 2014 as a Windows application for Oculus headsets, VRChat has become the biggest social hub in the VR gaming sphere. After all, the platform allows gamers to create and visit each other’s 3D worlds with user-generated avatars.
As of March 2023, users can explore and make friends in over 25,000 community-created worlds, and they all allow you to be whoever you want to be!
You don’t even need to hook up a VR headset to check out a world since VRChat comes with a ‘Desktop Mode’ that allows you to use your mouse, keyboard, and monitor to control your avatar, just like in any other first-person game.
VRChat Requirements for Mac
Since there’s no VRChat client for macOS, there are no official requirements for Mac computers. That said, if you intend to use specific workarounds to get the game functional on your macOS device, you still have to fulfill these prerequisites:
- You are running a Windows environment on your Mac;
- You need Boot Camp for Intel-based Macs;
- You need Parallels Desktop for Apple chips.
- You have enough GPU processing power on your Mac;
- You have a high-end Mac if running Parallels;
- Two operating systems have to share resources.
- You have a Mac-compatible VR headset;
- You need VRChat Plus if you want to access extra features.
- Currently costs $9.99/month.
Note that while Intel-based Mac computers can easily be upgraded with an external graphics card (eGPU), M-series chips and Parallels are yet to support them.
In any case, VRChat runs better via Boot Camp since you effectively use one operating system per partition. On the other hand, Parallels, as its name implies, runs both macOS and Windows simultaneously, which utilizes more system resources.
That said, M1 and M2 chips are much more powerful than their Intel counterparts, so they may be able to handle the VR workload, albeit at a performance loss.
How to Get VRChat on an Intel-based Mac?
Let’s cover the better option first: running VRChat on an Intel-based Mac, which allows you to not only boot up into Windows but employ an eGPU as well.
However, before proceeding with this process, back up your essential files in case anything goes wrong, install the latest macOS update, ensure you have sufficient free storage (at least 64 GB), and have a keyboard and mouse handy.
Once you do all of the above, follow these steps to install Windows via Boot Camp:
- Get the latest Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft;
- Open Boot Camp (found in /Applications/Utilities);
- Follow the on-screen prompts until you can choose the ISO image;
- Move the divider to apportion enough storage for the Windows partition;
- Wait for the partition to be created and restart on its own;
- You should boot up into the Windows setup wizard;
- Follow the on-screen prompts as you would for a regular Windows setup;
- You have to choose several options and fill out the necessary fields;
- Choose the newly-created partition as the Windows destination.
- Wait for the installation to complete before finishing the setup yourself;
- You’ll be prompted to log in, create a passcode, and set up your network.
- Windows should prompt you to install Boot Camp at this point;
- If it doesn’t, follow these steps.
- Go through with all installation prompts despite any warnings;
- Complete the Boot Camp driver installation and restart your device.
Once you are done getting Windows 10 up and running, it’s time to install VRChat. The best way to get it is via the Steam app, as it includes only a few steps:
- Install and log into Steam;
- Go to the ‘Store’ tab (top-left);
- Type in ‘VRChat’ in the search field;
- Click on the game once you find it;
- Press on ‘Play Game’ to open the installation window;
- Follow the on-screen prompts until the installation starts;
- Wait for the process to complete, then start VRChat.
| 📝Note No need to plug in your VR set for VRChat, as you can test whether everything works by running ‘Desktop Mode’ and playing with your standard peripherals. |
How to Get VRChat on Mac M1?
If you have a Mac with an M-series chip (Apple silicon), you need to use Parallels Desktop for Mac since Boot Camp only works with Intel-based machines. That said, you can get your Windows 11 virtual machine working smoothly in no time at all:
- Download the Parallels 18 free trial and start the installation process;
- Find and run the Parallels installer and start Parallels;
- Once Parallels launches, click on ‘Install Windows’;
- Wait until the program downloads the Windows 11 files;
- The Windows 11 setup process will start soon after that;
- Wait for the traditional Windows setup procedure to complete
- Follow all standard on-screen prompts to set up your Windows account;
- Wait for the ‘Installation Complete’ message with a green check mark;
- Sign in to your Parallels account and activate your trial license;
- Scroll through and accept the ‘Windows License Agreement’.
Congratulations! Now you have Windows 11 running alongside macOS, and you should update it before installing Steam and VRChat, as outlined above.
Bottom Line
Now that you know you can easily play VRChat on macOS, there’s no need to spend more money for a separate Windows device to install it. All you need to do is get Windows 10 or 11 up and running on your Mac via Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop. Then, it’s business as usual—install VRChat, log into a world, and have all the fun you can handle.
FAQs
Do VR headsets work on Mac?
Yes, you can use a VR headset on your Mac, but the number of supported devices is limited.
Can Oculus run on Mac?
Yes, you can, as long as you install Windows on your Mac machine.
Timeline Of The Article
Aditya is an Azure DevOps and Infrastructure Virtualization Architect with experience in automation, infrastructure management, and designing and implementing virtualization solutions. His expertise encompasses both on-premise and cloud-based systems. Aditya's articles on TechJury serve as a reliable resource for individuals and organizations looking to harness the power of cloud computing, embrace automation, and leverage infrastructure-as-code practices.