How to download games bought on PC profile to Steam on Mac?

[indywiggle]

Hi, generally new to Steam. Previously downloaded onto PC but now have Crossover so installed Steam on Mac. Anyone know how I can download games I have in my library that I have bought on PC? Obvs can see them in my library but install not working...

[Beetroot Bertie]

Are you referring to installing them with the Mac version of the Steam client or using the Windows Steam client with Crossover?

If you have a Steam bottle in crossover then you should be able to download windows-only version of games through Steam running via that - successfully running them well might be a bit hit and miss though.

Here's a video guide to setting up Steam in Crossover (the installing Steam bit starts at 2:09):
https://youtu.be/HBnJmp58hn8

[Jabrwock]

applegamingwiki has some info, as well as what settings are needed for each game.

[indywiggle]

Originally posted by Beetroot Bertie:

Are you referring to installing them with the Mac version of the Steam client or using the Windows Steam client with Crossover?

If you have a Steam bottle in crossover then you should be able to download windows-only version of games through Steam running via that - successfully running them well might be a bit hit and miss though.

Here's a video guide to setting up Steam in Crossover (the installing Steam bit starts at 2:09):
https://youtu.be/HBnJmp58hn8

Thanks so much for responding - as mentioned I'm a bit new and a bit clueless to Crossover and so even your no doubt simple question has left me wondering... On the mac, if I open Steam it appears within a Crossover window, alongside "Steam Support centre" and "Run command" both of which have icons. You know what, I'm gonna leave this. It's running okayish on my son's windows laptop, I just thought it'd be so much better on this laptop - he can make do! As you eluded to, it may not run very smoothly anyway! Thanks again for your help

[indywiggle]

Originally posted by Jabrwock:

applegamingwiki has some info, as well as what settings are needed for each game.

As mentioned above, I think I will bow out of this Crossover mac conundrum - my laptop offers a lot more than my son's but he'll get by with what he has! Again, your input much appreciated, I thought I was tech savvy but even this relatively simple task has left me wanting...!

[Jabrwock]

yeah, it's kind of hit or miss right now. I've gotten a few games to work in Crossover, a few running in Paralllels under Windows 11 ARM, but a lot are an exercise in frustration. Hopefully things improve.

[Beetroot Bertie]

@Jabrwock - fingers crossed eh? The issues with controllers doesn't help much either, and not just on Steam. I have similar controller issues with titles on Apple Arcade with the Carbon Black Wireless Xbox Controller working fine in some games, not at all in others or with mappings being mismatched in what's left. If Apple can't even facilitate any kind of controller parity across their own offerings in Apple Arcade, I find it hard to imagine them putting any serious effort in fixing things anytime soon. I do hope they have something in the works, but that's just me being optimistic Anyway, that's one potential subscriber they've lost, and some money saved for me so not all's bad. :)

@indywiggle - I forgot to add before but if your Mac is an Intel-based model then installing Windows 10 with bootcamp is going to be the best way to run Windows Steam and games on your Mac.

If you've got one with newer Apple Silicon (the M1 range of chips), then that won't work unfortunately due the the differences in the architecture of the chips - that's where using things like Parallels or Crossover or Wine come in (with their own issues of course).

[indywiggle]

@Beetroot Bertie - I'm on a mac book pro 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 - so windows 10 install you suggest is better. As this is my 'portable' work computer, I'm reticent to install another OS... and as mentioned, I think it's all a bit much for my primitive brain, so my youngest will have to make do with BeamNG Drive on his current laptop! Once again, really appreciate both of your input - restores my faith in humanity, especially those reached by keyboard!