Updated: July 16, 2020 (January 23, 2017)

Licensing Windows for Use with Apple Macs

Wes Miller analyzes and writes about Microsoft’s security, identity management, and systems management technologies. Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Wes... more

(This report updates “Licensing Windows to Run on the Apple Mac,” which appeared on page 27 of the Dec. 2014 Update.)

People working with Apple Mac computers often need to run the Windows desktop OS (Windows) locally or to access the Windows desktop OS running within server-based virtual desktops (an architecture known as a virtual desktop infrastructure [VDI]). Various Per-Device and Per-User licensing options are available for this scenario, most as subscriptions rather than perpetual licenses. The specific set of options and associated rules depends on whether Windows will be used for production or software development and whether the Windows licenses are part of a commitment made under an Enterprise Agreement (EA) or bought individually through another volume licensing (VL) program.

Macs and Windows

Many organizations have users who prefer a Mac if the organization permits choosing a business device or using a personally owned computer for work (“bring your own device”), or because of job roles where the Mac is common, such as graphic design and Web development. Such users may need to license or run Windows directly on a Mac for scenarios like the following:

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