Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is not available as a native Mac app. You cannot download and install it directly on an M-series Mac, and Microsoft’s current supported-platform list does not include macOS.
The good news is that you can still play Microsoft Flight Simulator on a Mac without owning a gaming PC. In 2026, there are two practical cloud-gaming routes:
- GeForce NOW is the best choice if you want a more PC-like experience or use compatible flight controls such as a HOTAS.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is the simplest way to get flying with an Xbox controller in a browser.
Intel Mac owners with the right hardware have one additional option: installing Windows with Boot Camp. It is much less convenient, however, and is only worthwhile on a suitably powerful Intel Mac with a discrete GPU.
Quick answer: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not run natively on macOS, but it works on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs through cloud gaming. Use GeForce NOW for supported flight controls or Xbox Cloud Gaming for the quickest controller-based setup.
For native Mac alternatives, see our guide to the best flight simulators for Mac.
The Best Ways To Play Microsoft Flight Simulator on a Mac
| Method | Apple Silicon Macs | Flight controls | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce NOW | Yes | Selected HOTAS and flight controls supported in the native Mac app | GeForce NOW membership, a supported PC copy of MSFS 2024 or PC Game Pass entitlement, fast internet | Serious simmers, better graphics and compatible joystick/HOTAS setups |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Yes | Xbox controller is the supported route; accessory support is limited | Eligible Game Pass plan or a purchased cloud-playable copy, compatible controller, fast internet | The quickest and easiest way to start flying |
| Boot Camp with Windows | No — Intel Macs only | Potentially, as with a Windows PC | A powerful Intel Mac, Windows and a GPU that meets the game’s requirements | Experienced Intel Mac owners who want a local install |
| Virtual machine or CrossOver | No reliable option | No | — | Not recommended for MSFS 2024 |
1. Play MSFS 2024 on a Mac With GeForce NOW
GeForce NOW is now the best overall option for many Mac flight-sim fans. It streams the PC version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 from NVIDIA’s servers, rather than the console version used by Xbox Cloud Gaming.
That distinction matters. In early 2026, NVIDIA added Mac support for selected flight controls and HOTAS setups in its native GeForce NOW app. That makes GeForce NOW the only cloud route we would recommend to Mac users who want more than an Xbox-style gamepad.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available on GeForce NOW through supported PC storefronts, including Steam and Xbox/PC Game Pass. You still need a GeForce NOW membership and access to the game through one of those supported storefronts; a cloud-gaming membership does not automatically give you ownership of every PC game.
What You Need
- A Mac running macOS Ventura 13 or later if you want to use a compatible HOTAS or flight-control setup.
- The native GeForce NOW Mac app. You can use GeForce NOW in a browser for ordinary controller play, but use the Mac app for flight controls.
- Access to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 through a supported storefront, such as Steam or PC Game Pass.
- A stable broadband connection. NVIDIA recommends at least 25 Mbps for 1080p streaming, preferably over Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi, with low latency to its data centre.
How To Play MSFS 2024 With GeForce NOW on a Mac
- Create a GeForce NOW account and choose the membership that suits the resolution, session length and queueing you want.
- Download and install the GeForce NOW Mac app.
- Link the store account through which you own or access Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. If using the Xbox version, sign in with the Microsoft account that has the required PC entitlement.
- Search GeForce NOW for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, select the correct store version and launch it.
- Connect an Xbox controller, or connect a compatible flight-control setup before launching the game.
NVIDIA currently lists selected Thrustmaster and Logitech products for use with the native macOS app, including the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One and HOTAS 4, T.Flight Rudder Pedals, Warthog HOTAS, and Logitech X52, X52 Pro and X56 HOTAS. Check the current GeForce NOW compatibility list before buying any hardware, and see our guide to flight simulator controls for Mac for Mac-specific buying advice.
GeForce NOW Limitations To Know About
GeForce NOW is a streamed Windows PC, not a local installation. It is excellent for flying, but it is not the same as having a full Windows machine under your desk.
- You cannot use it to manage local community folders or install arbitrary third-party files on your Mac.
- NVIDIA lists some MSFS 2024 options that can end a cloud session because they try to open a local file picker, including choosing a rolling-cache location or loading and saving a flight plan from “This PC”.
- Add-on, file-management and advanced-mod workflows are therefore less flexible than they are on a local Windows PC.
For an overview of the service, see our GeForce NOW review for Mac users.
2. Play Microsoft Flight Simulator on a Mac With Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Cloud Gaming is the easiest option if you are happy using an Xbox controller. There is no large download, no Windows installation and no need for a powerful Mac because the game runs on Microsoft’s cloud hardware and streams to your browser.
It works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Microsoft currently recommends macOS 14.1.2 or later for Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Mac, and supports recent versions of Safari, Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Which Game Pass Plan Do You Need?
This is one area where the old version of this guide needed updating.
Microsoft’s current UK store page lists Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard Edition as included with Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate. It says Game Pass Essential members need to buy the game separately to stream it.
Game Pass prices, cloud-time allowances, included games and regional availability can change, so check the current Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Xbox page before subscribing. Do not choose a plan solely on an old price quoted in an article.
What You Need
- A Mac with a current version of Safari, Chrome or Edge.
- An eligible Xbox Game Pass plan, or a purchased cloud-playable copy of MSFS 2024 where your plan requires one.
- A compatible controller connected by Bluetooth or USB. An Xbox Wireless Controller is the most straightforward choice.
- A reliable connection. Microsoft recommends around 20 Mbps or faster for stable cloud gaming and, where possible, Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
How To Play MSFS 2024 on a Mac With Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Connect your compatible controller to your Mac by Bluetooth or USB.
- Open Safari, Chrome or Microsoft Edge and go to Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account that has your Game Pass subscription or game purchase.
- Search for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and choose Play.
- Use the controller to continue through the start screens, then launch a Free Flight, Activity or Career mission.
If you need help connecting a controller or setting up the web app, see our full Xbox Cloud Gaming on a Mac guide.
We did notice that depending on the mission or mode you choose, there can be some lag in the way the graphics scroll.
For instance on the Cessna flight we did (see below), there was a lot of blurry lag when moving around the screen .
However, when we did a Pyrenees Challenge in a fighter jet, the graphics scrolling was much smoother as you can see below.
The Main Limitation of Xbox Cloud Gaming: Controls
Xbox Cloud Gaming is a genuinely good way to try MSFS or play casually on a Mac. However, it is a controller-first experience.
Microsoft’s current MSFS guide lists Xbox controllers and touch/gyro input for the cloud version, while its Xbox Cloud Gaming documentation warns that streamed games can have limited accessory and peripheral support. In practice, do not buy a yoke, rudder pedals or a HOTAS for this route expecting the full PC experience.
If flight controls matter to you, use GeForce NOW with the native Mac app and a specifically supported device, or use a local Windows PC. If you simply want to fly with a gamepad, Xbox Cloud Gaming remains the quickest route.
3. Install Windows With Boot Camp on an Intel Mac
Boot Camp is the only way to install and run the Windows version locally on a Mac, but it is only available on Intel Macs. It does not work on M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6 Macs.
It can give you the closest thing to a normal PC MSFS setup, including the flexibility of a local Windows installation and Windows-compatible controls. The catch is that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a demanding DirectX 12 game.
Microsoft lists these as the minimum PC requirements for MSFS 2024:
- Windows 10 with current updates
- DirectX 12
- 16 GB RAM
- A GPU comparable to a Radeon RX 5700 or GeForce GTX 970 with 4 GB VRAM
- 50 GB of storage
That means Boot Camp is not a sensible recommendation for most Intel MacBooks or older iMacs. It is only worth considering if your Intel Mac has a strong discrete Radeon GPU, enough memory and enough free SSD space. Even then, check real-world reports for your exact model before buying the game.
Our step-by-step guide to installing Windows 11 with Boot Camp on a Mac explains the Windows side of the process.
Can You Use a Virtual Machine or CrossOver Instead?
No — neither is a reliable way to play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on a Mac.
MSFS 2024 requires DirectX 12. Current versions of Parallels Desktop support DirectX graphics only up to DirectX 11.1, so a Windows virtual machine is not a viable solution for this game, even on a powerful Apple Silicon Mac.
CrossOver is not a solution either. CodeWeavers currently rates Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Mac as “Installs, Will Not Run.” Do not buy Parallels or CrossOver specifically for MSFS 2024.
What About Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and the 40th Anniversary Edition?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the current game this guide focuses on. The older Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 / 40th Anniversary Edition remains a separate title and can still appear as a cloud-playable game on Xbox.
If you already own the older edition, the Xbox Cloud Gaming setup is broadly the same: sign in at Xbox Cloud Gaming, choose the edition you own or that is included with your plan, and play with a compatible controller.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a standalone follow-up rather than a free update to the 2020 edition. For new buyers who want the current career mode, aircraft and ongoing updates, it is the version to choose.
Is There a Native Mac Alternative to Microsoft Flight Simulator?
If your main goal is a flight simulator that runs locally on macOS and works properly with dedicated Mac-compatible flight controls, X-Plane 12 is the stronger long-term choice.
X-Plane is built for macOS, has native Apple Silicon support and is generally the better fit for Mac users building a joystick, yoke, throttle and rudder-pedal setup. It does not replace MSFS’s streamed world or career features, but it avoids the cloud-gaming compromises entirely.
FAQ
Can you play Microsoft Flight Simulator on an M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 Mac?
Yes, through cloud gaming. Both GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming work on Apple Silicon Macs, but neither installs Microsoft Flight Simulator as a native macOS app.
Do you need a powerful Mac to play Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Not for GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming. The important factors are a current supported browser or app, a compatible controller and a stable, low-latency internet connection. You only need powerful local hardware if you plan to run the Windows version through Boot Camp on an Intel Mac.
Can you use a joystick, yoke or HOTAS with Microsoft Flight Simulator on a Mac?
For Xbox Cloud Gaming, use a compatible gamepad such as an Xbox controller; other peripherals are not a dependable cloud-gaming route. For a dedicated joystick or HOTAS setup, GeForce NOW is the better option because its native macOS app supports selected flight controls on macOS Ventura or later. A local Windows installation on an eligible Intel Mac offers the greatest peripheral flexibility, but requires much stronger hardware.
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 available on Steam for Mac?
Steam sells the Windows PC version. Buying it on Steam does not provide a native Mac download, but a supported Steam copy can be used with GeForce NOW.
Will Microsoft Flight Simulator ever be released for Mac?
Microsoft has not announced a macOS version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Its current platform guide lists PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5/PS5 Pro, not macOS. If that changes, we will update this guide.
Bottom Line
For a quick controller-based flight on any reasonably current Mac, use Xbox Cloud Gaming. For a more serious setup — especially if you own a compatible HOTAS or want the streamed PC version — use GeForce NOW instead.
If you want a fully native Mac flight simulator with broad controller support and no streaming dependency, choose X-Plane 12 or another Mac-native flight simulator.