Join the Discord! →

Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.


Does Iracing Run on Mac

Answers ‘does iracing run on mac’ for iRacing drivers: clear compatibility steps and fast fixes to run iRacing on macOS or via a Windows VM—get racing fast.

If you’re asking does iracing run on mac, short answer: not natively. You can run iRacing on a Mac, but only by running Windows—how well it works depends on your Mac model and the method you choose. You’re in the right place to pick the fastest, most reliable fix.

Quick Answer: does iracing run on mac

iRacing is Windows-only (DirectX 11). On Intel Macs you can run it with Boot Camp (native Windows). On Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Macs, Boot Camp is not available, so options are limited: virtualization (Parallels) may work poorly, or you’ll need a Windows PC / cloud gaming solution.

What’s really going on

iRacing depends on Windows graphics APIs and drivers. macOS does not provide those. Boot Camp installs full Windows on the Mac’s hardware, giving near-native performance on Intel Macs. Apple Silicon Macs use an ARM chip and cannot run standard Windows drivers natively, so virtualization or remote options are the only practical routes — and they usually limit frame rates and input performance, which matter for sim racing.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Check your Mac model: Apple menu → About This Mac. If it says an Intel processor, Boot Camp is possible. If it says M1/M2 (Apple Silicon), Boot Camp isn’t available.
  2. Intel Mac — Boot Camp route: create a Windows 10/11 USB installer, install Windows via Boot Camp, install Apple Boot Camp drivers, update GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel), then install iRacing. Reboot into Windows to race.
  3. Apple Silicon — Parallels route (workaround, limited): install Parallels Desktop, install Windows 11 ARM, install iRacing and wheel drivers. Expect lower FPS and possible driver incompatibilities; test before buying a subscription.
  4. Apple Silicon — Remote/Cloud route: use a Windows gaming PC or cloud GPU service (Shadow, Paperspace). Install iRacing on that machine and stream video to your Mac. This preserves performance and wheel compatibility if the host supports USB passthrough.
  5. After Windows install: install your wheel’s official drivers, calibrate in iRacing, set graphics to a reasonable preset, and test at a low resolution first. Use wired Ethernet for the best online stability.

Extra tips / checklist

  • Windows license and disk space: you need a valid Windows key and at least 50–100 GB free for Windows + iRacing + replays.
  • Wheels and USB: ensure your wheel has Windows drivers and that USB passthrough works in any VM/cloud setup.
  • Performance: Boot Camp on a fast Intel Mac ≈ best experience. Parallels on M1/M2 ≈ unpredictable FPS. Cloud/remote = most reliable if you have good upload/download speeds.
  • VR: VR is only realistic on Boot Camp or a dedicated Windows PC. Virtualized or streamed VR is not recommended.
  • Backup: snapshot your macOS before major partitioning (Boot Camp) and back up important files.

FAQs

Q: Can I buy iRacing on Mac App Store?
A: No. iRacing isn’t sold on the Mac App Store and has no native macOS client.

Q: Will Parallels give me good frame rates for wheel and multi-monitor setups?
A: Not usually. Parallels may run iRacing but often lacks GPU performance for high FPS, VR, or complex multi-monitor sims.

Q: Is Boot Camp safe for my Mac?
A: Yes for Intel Macs if you follow Apple’s Boot Camp instructions and back up first. It installs Windows on a separate partition.

Q: Can I use an eGPU to boost performance on macOS?
A: macOS supports some eGPUs on Intel Macs, but iRacing still needs Windows drivers—Boot Camp + eGPU is possible, but Apple Silicon currently does not support eGPUs.

Wrap-up

iRacing doesn’t run natively on macOS. Best option: install Windows via Boot Camp on an Intel Mac or use a Windows PC/cloud host for Apple Silicon. Pick the path that matches your Mac model and tolerance for setup time; if you want a fast, reliable result, a dedicated Windows machine or cloud host is the least painful.