Learn how to install Steam on a Mac, check Apple silicon and game compatibility, find installed games and fix common macOS launch problems.
Yes. Steam has a macOS client and can be installed on compatible Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Download the Mac installer from Steam’s official website, open the .dmg, drag Steam into Applications, then launch it and sign in. Steam itself may work even when a particular Windows-only game does not.
How do you install Steam on a Mac?
Installing Steam on macOS takes only a few steps, but the application must be copied out of its disk image before you use it.
- Check your Mac and macOS version. Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac. Steam’s minimum macOS requirement can change as its browser and security components are updated, so compare your system with the requirement displayed on Steam’s download page.
- Download the Mac installer. Visit Steam’s official website, select Install Steam and choose the macOS download if it is not selected automatically. The browser should save
steam.dmgin Downloads. - Open the disk image. Double-click
steam.dmg, then drag the Steam application onto the Applications folder shown in the installer window. A mistake we see regularly is launching Steam from the mounted disk image instead of copying it first. - Launch Steam from Applications. Open Finder, select Applications and double-click Steam. Confirm the macOS security prompt if one appears. If macOS offers to install Rosetta 2 for an Intel-based component, follow the system prompt.
- Let Steam update. The client normally downloads its required files on first launch. Sign in with your existing Steam account or create one, then enter a Steam Guard code if account protection requests it.
- Eject the installer. Once Steam opens from Applications, eject the mounted Steam disk image and delete the downloaded
.dmg.
Your Steam account and purchases are shared between supported platforms. You do not need a separate account for macOS, although each game still needs its own Mac-compatible version.
Can every Steam game run on macOS?
No. Installing the Steam client does not make Windows-only games compatible with a Mac.
Check the platform badges and macOS system requirements on the game’s Steam listing before buying or downloading it. Your Library may display every game you own, including titles whose Install button is unavailable on macOS.
| Game version | What happens on a Mac |
|---|---|
| Apple silicon or universal Mac build | Installs natively if the Mac and macOS version meet the developer’s requirements. |
| 64-bit Intel Mac build | May run on Apple silicon through Rosetta 2, provided the game supports the installed macOS release. |
| Old 32-bit Mac build | Cannot run on macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, even if Steam still labels the title as a Mac game. |
| Windows-only build | Cannot be installed and run natively through Steam for Mac. Proton support for Linux and Steam Deck does not provide a macOS version. |
The same rule applies to add-ons: a Mac-compatible simulator does not guarantee that its aircraft installers, plug-ins, launchers or copy-protection components support macOS. Our comparison of flight simulators with genuine Mac support helps separate native choices from titles requiring another platform.
Does Steam work on Apple silicon Macs?
Steam can be used on Apple silicon Macs, but game compatibility must be checked separately for each title.
Rosetta 2 can translate many 64-bit Intel Mac applications, but it cannot turn a Windows game into a Mac game or restore support for old 32-bit software. Apple silicon Macs also cannot use Boot Camp to install Windows. Streaming a supported game from a capable Windows computer may be an alternative; our explanation of the practical Mac options for Train Sim World shows how that distinction affects a Windows-only simulator.
Where does Steam install games on macOS?
Steam normally stores downloaded Mac games inside your user Library folder at ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common.
The user Library is hidden by default. In Finder, open Go > Go to Folder, paste that path and press Return. Steam itself is normally at /Applications/Steam.app.
If you selected another library or an external drive, check Steam’s Storage settings instead of assuming the default path. Move installed games through those settings rather than dragging their folders manually, which can leave Steam unable to recognise them. Simulator-specific layouts can add another layer; for example, we explain how to locate a Steam-installed X-Plane 11 folder and its important subfolders.
Why will Steam not open on a Mac?
Most Steam launch failures on macOS come from an incomplete download, running the app from the disk image, an unsupported macOS version or a blocked update.
- The disk image will not open: delete the partial
.dmg, confirm that the Mac has free storage and download a fresh copy from Steam’s official page. - macOS blocks the application: confirm that it came from the official installer, then use the specific approval offered under Privacy & Security. Do not disable Gatekeeper system-wide.
- Steam repeatedly asks to install: drag Steam into Applications, eject the disk image and launch the copy in Applications rather than the installer window.
- The Steam icon bounces but no window appears: quit remaining Steam processes in Activity Monitor, restart the Mac and try again with a working internet connection.
- A game has no Install button: check its supported operating systems. Reinstalling Steam will not add a missing macOS build.
- A game installs but crashes: check whether it is 32-bit or Intel-only, confirm its macOS requirements and use the game’s Properties menu in Steam to verify the installed files.
The Steam application and downloaded library are stored separately. Replacing Steam.app will not usually remove installed games, but back up steamapps and any local save files before deleting Steam support folders during deeper troubleshooting.