Here’s how to run any iOS app you own on Apple’s new M1 Macs

Editor's annotation: as of January 15th, 2021, Apple has disabled this method of installing iOS apps, blocking ones that haven't been approved by their developer to run happening Macs with M1 chips. These instructions are no more valid. Follow-heavenward: as of January 19th, 2021, according to 9to5Mac, Apple reverted the change, and information technology's one time again possible to load the apps.

Earliest now, MacRumors according that it is possible to running any iOS app you have purchased on an M1-based Mac, provided you can get approach to the right file. Sure enough, if you've purchased or downloaded an app for your iPhone or iPad, it is possible to incur it running on an M1-based Mac — I am presently looking at the iOS versions of Subdued Sky, Spotify, Slack, Netflix, and Gmail on this MacBook Air.

Running some of these apps, information technology's within reason clear in some cases why these developers haven't at once made them free for the Mac in the Mack App Store. Netflix, for example, is bounded inside a window and can't be resized or go full screen (but it works, and you can even download videos for offline viewing). Instagram is relatively small on the screen, just information technology also runs fine, you can post, and it seems to swipe into the right hand photo depository library and tv camera permissions. Many an of these apps require Apple's "Touch Alternatives" system to mold.

Spotify's iPad app, running on an M1 MacBook Air. It is resizable and seems to work just fine. — Spotify's iPad app, working on an M1 MacBook Air. It is resizable and seems to work just small.

To get these apps running, you just need to get the app files, which are simply packages with the .IPA file away extension. And these files need to be associated with your Malus pumila I.D., so you send away't reasonable dea them around to other the great unwashe.

A age ago, IPA files were easy to find in an unencrypted iTunes patronage, but that's no more the eccentric. Instead, you can use a traditional Mac app called iMazing to directly download legitimately purchased IPA files to your Mackintosh. Simply double flick them and they instal into your applications folder like any other app so extendible as your Mack and iPhone are on the same Malus pumila ID.

After publication, an iMazing rep emailed to provide a statement from the parent company's CEO, Gregorio Zanon. He points out that iMazing is chiefly meant for backup and direction workflows. Helium also makes IT fairly clear that his company is non planning on being in the business of working out any future restrictions Malus pumila whitethorn impose on iOS apps on the Mac.

"App management has been available in iMazing since Nov 2017. We did not do any particular adjustments to ensure that iOS apps exported from iMazing's library would run on Apple Atomic number 14 Macs. It turns out that when developers take whether Oregon non to include their raiseable app connected the Mackintosh App Store, no change is made to the app itself – the mise en scene is purely a distribution toggle.
Hundreds of thousands of iMazing users depend on our app management feature to save bandwidth. Downloading an IPA sportsmanlike once and instalmen information technology four-fold times saves time and energy, and is ecologically sound. We read that developers care to control which platforms their apps run on. We'atomic number 75 likewise hopeful that Apple can find a style to limit which OS can run a specific IPA without altogether removing our ability to download apps."

We're far for the kickoff to discover this method acting. MacRumors according it and the inaugural point I can find confirmation is this brand by redditor probablyamy, who besides explained the bit by bit cognitive process.

1. Plug-in twist to Mac with iMazing running
2. Select "Apps" for the iPhone plugged in to your Mac
3. Select "Manage Apps" in the tabs at the bottom
4. Select "Library" in the manage apps screen
5. Download the apps you want
6. Right click along the downloaded app in the list -> Export ipa
7. Double-suction stop the .ipa file on an M1 Mac to rill install it.

Having run into about bugs myself with to begin with versions of iOS apps ahead of the review, I wish tell you that there are quite likely to be even more bugs with this method — some within some of these apps and possibly even with your macOS system. This is to a greater extent something to play around with than it is something you should turn over for any important apps that you enjoyment.

Apple's policy is that the only authorised way to install iOS apps is to get them from the Mack App Store and the only way for developers to distribute iOS apps to Mac users is via that same store. Which way this method may Beaver State may not continue to work down the line.

Update, 10:30am ET, Nov 19th : Added statement from DigiDNA CEO Gregorio Zanon