6 Ways To Play Fortnite On Mac in 2023 (inc. M1 & M2 Macs)

If you want to play Fortnite on a Mac, here we show you how to get Fortnite for Mac including on the latest Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs.

Fortnite is a free to play multiplayer game that’s still going strong more than 5 years since it was originally released.

Initially it was released for Mac in 2017 but Epic discontinued Fortnite for Mac in September 2020 due to Apple not allowing it to issue patches and updates anymore.

This is due to a long running dispute between Epic vs Apple regarding whether in-app purchases should go directly through Epic or Apple’s own Mac App Store.

However, the good news is you can still play Fortnite on a Mac after the ban using a few different methods and workarounds depending on whether you have an Intel or an Apple Silicon M1/M2 Mac.

These methods allow you to play all versions of Fortnite on Mac including Fortnite: Save The World, Fortnite Battle Royale, Fortnite Creative, Zero Build, Impostors and community-made games.

How To Play Fortnite On Mac

The only ways to play Fortnite on a Mac are:

• We found that by far the easiest way to play Fortnite on both Intel and M1/M2 Macs is by using Xbox Cloud with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which allows you to play Xbox games instantly in a browser on any Mac even if you don’t own an Xbox. Although Fortnite is free, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate does require a subscription starting at $1 per month.
• By using the cloud gaming service GeForce Now which allows you to play Fortnite on all Macs including both Intel and Apple Silicon M1/M2 chip Macs. GeForce Now allows you to play Fortnite on all models of Macs including MacBooks, Mac Minis, iMacs and Mac Studios in 2023.
• By installing Windows on Mac for free using Boot Camp although this only works on Intel Macs as Boot Camp is not available for M1 & M2 Macs. This allows you to download and install the Windows version of Fortnite on your Mac or also play the Xbox Cloud version of Fortnite on your Mac.
• By installing OneCast which allows you to stream Xbox games to a Mac. Note that you can’t use Xbox Cloud to play Fortnite on M1 and M2 Macs because Xbox Cloud is Windows only and won’t work even if you run install Windows on an M1/M2 Mac.
• By connecting an iPhone with Fortnite on it and connecting it via AirPlay to a Mac. This is the most impractical and least recommended way of playing Fortnite on a Mac as you need an iPhone with Fortnite already installed on it since it’s no longer available for download on iOS. It also only allows you to play the mobile version of Fortnite, not the full PC desktop version.
• By downloading Fortnite via the Epic Game Launcher. Although it is no longer being updated, you can of course still simply download and run the Mac version of Fortnite using the Mac Epic Game Launcher. However, we don’t recommend it because Epic no longer updates the Mac version due to the ongoing dispute with Apple and many features are missing. For example, there’s no crossplay support in the Mac version of Fortnite so you won’t be able to join-in battles. Epic has also blocked access to V-Bucks and the Item Shop in the Mac version.

Although there are other ways of playing PC games on a Mac, these are the only ones that work to play Fortnite on a Mac.

Note that you cannot use the virtual machine Parallels to install Windows play Fortnite on a Mac due to anti-cheat software in the game which does not work in virtual environments.

This also means you can’t use Xbox Cloud to play Fortnite on a Mac because the Windows Xbox Cloud app running in Parallels will not launch Fortnite due to the anti-cheat protection software.

Can You Play Fortnite on M1 & M2 Macs?

The only way to play Fortnite on an Apple Silicon M1 or M2 Mac is by using either Xbox Cloud or GeForce Now.

If your Mac was bought from 2020 onwards then it’s likely to be an Apple Silicon M1/M2 chip Mac which both of these methods work with.

The problem is you can’t install Windows on a Mac using Boot Camp on M1/M2 Macs as Boot Camp does not exist for Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs.

Although there are other ways to install Windows on M1 & M2 Macs such as by using the Parallels virtual machine, Fortnite does not work on them due to the Epic EasyAntiCheat system which does not work in virtual machines.

This is similar to the Vanguard anti-cheat software that’s used in games such as Genshin Impact.

Here then are the best ways to play Fortnite on a Mac in more detail.

1. Xbox Cloud (Intel, M1 & M2 Macs)

By far the easiest and best way to play Fortnite on a Mac is with Xbox Cloud. Xbox Cloud allows you to play Fortnite on any Apple device including iPhone, iPad and Macs.

Xbox Cloud (also known as Xbox Cloud Gaming) is Microsoft’s online Cloud gaming service which allows you to play Xbox games on a Mac in a browser with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Xbox Cloud allows you to play the Xbox version of Fortnite on a Mac within minutes of signing-up.

You don’t need an Xbox to use Xbox Cloud but you do need an Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Controller to play Xbox games on a Mac.

You can try an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for just $1 for the first 30 days to test it out for yourself. If you don’t like it, you can cancel the subscription before the 30 days are up.

Xbox Cloud also only works in the Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Safari browsers – it does not support Firefox.

We recommend using Safari on a Mac to play Fortnite in XBox Cloud for the best performance although we’ve had absolutely no problems playing in Chrome too.

If you don’t have an Xbox controller and use Google Chrome, you can also install the Keyboard & Mouse Controller add-on which allows you to use Xbox Cloud without an Xbox controller although playing Fortnite on a Mac this way is not as good as using a controller.

The reason this is the by far the easiest way to play Fortnite on a Mac is:

• It does not require installing any other software such as a virtual machine to run Windows.
• You can be up and running playing Fortnite on a Mac in minutes
• It works perfectly in a browser on any Mac
• You can connect an Xbox Controller easily via Bluetooth to your Mac to play games in Xbox Cloud
• It works on all Macs including both Intel and Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Macs.

To play Fortnite on a Mac with Xbox Cloud just follow these instructions.

• If you don’t already have one sign-up for an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Note that Xbox Cloud is only available with Game Pass Ultimate so it’s important you don’t select any of the other plans available.

• Go to Xbox.com/play.
• Click on Sign In at the top of the page and login with your Xbox username and password.

• You will then be prompted to connect an Xbox controller to your Mac via Bluetooth. You must have an Xbox controller to use Xbox Cloud – it will not work with a Mac keyboard, trackpad or mouse.

• To use your Xbox Controller with your Mac make sure that Bluetooth is turned on on your Mac. Then press and hold the Xbox button on your controller to turn it on and it will light-up. Press and hold the small Bluetooth pairing button on the front of the Xbox controller to activate pairing mode. When pairing mode has been activated, the Xbox button will start flashing rapidly. On your Mac, click on the Apple logo in the top left of your screen and go to System Preferences and select Bluetooth.

• Select your Xbox controller from the list of Bluetooth devices that appears and click Pair.

• You can now use your Xbox controller to play Fortnite on your Mac in Xbox Cloud. You can disconnect the Xbox controller from your Mac at any time by going back into the Bluetooth settings or turning-off Bluetooth. You can also use the Controlly app if you want to have more control over how your Xbox controller works with your Mac.
• Fortnite that will take a few seconds to launch in your Mac’s browser via Xbox Cloud.

• You can then play Fortnite on a Mac just as if you were using it on an Xbox. The game performs surprisingly well in a browser with virtually no lag or latency although it helps if you have a fast internet connection.

2. GeForce Now (Intel, M1 & M2 Macs)

Another way to play Fortnite on any Mac is by using NVIDIA’S GeForce Now For Mac cloud gaming platform.

GeForce Now hosts Fortnite in the Cloud and streams it to your Mac.

GeForce Now includes all versions of Fortnite including Battle Royale, Zero Build, Impostors, Save the World, and community-made games.

GeForce Now For Mac even allows you to claim the Duelist’s Grace Pickaxe for free in Fortnite.

GeForce Now is surprisingly quick with no latency, 1080p high resolution gameplay and 300fps.

All you need to play the latest version of Fortnite on a Mac is to download GeForce Now for Mac and install it on your desktop.

Alternatively, you can also play Fortnite in the Chrome web browser on a Mac using GeForce Now (note that other browsers such as Firefox and Safari are not supported).

Since everything is streamed over the Cloud, GeForce Now works on any Mac made after 2009 so it even allows you to play Fortnite on older Macs.

This also means you can play Fortnite on both Intel Mac and Apple Silicon M1/M2 chip Macs.

GeForce Now is free for 1 hour of gameplay so you can play Fortnite on your Mac for free first although you may have to wait for a free slot in order to play.

Follow these instructions to play Fortnite on a Mac in GeForce Now.

• Open the NVIDIA Geforce Now website on your Mac in Google Chrome or download the GeForce Now For Mac desktop app.
• Log into your NVIDIA account or create one if you don’t have one.
• Select Fortnite from the list of games in GeForce Now.
• If you’ve already played Fortnite on PC or mobile and want to continue your progress, you have to link GeForce Now to your Epic Games account. You can do this by going to Settings > Connections > Epic Games > Connect. Once linked, your progress will continue in GeForce Now and vice versa.

For more than one hour’s gameplay, GeForce Now costs $9.99 per month for up to 6 hours per session and $19.99 for up to 8 hours gameplay per session.

The $19.99 RTX 3080 subscription also includes faster servers and support for 4K resolution with up to 120 Frames Per Second (FPS).

Note that for this subscription GeForce Now recommends running at least macOS 10.13.2 or later on a newer Mac such as the MacBook Pro 2016 and later, MacBook 2016 and later, MacBook Air 2018 and later, iMac 2017 and later, iMac 27″ Late 2015 or later, Mac Mini 2018 and later, Mac Pro 2019 and later, or iMac Pro.

You can find more information about GeForce Now subscriptions here.

You can find a full FAQ about playing Fortnite on GeForce Now here.

You can also read out full review of GeForce Now For Mac here.

You can watch GeForce Now in action playing Fortnite on a Mac below.

3. Boot Camp (Intel Macs Only)

Boot Camp is a free tool in macOS which allows you to install Windows on a separate partition of the your Mac hard drive.

This then allows you to play the Windows version of Fortnite on your Mac or even play the Xbox Game Pass version of Fortnite on a Mac.

However, it only works on Intel Macs – Boot Camp is not available in the latest Apple Silicon M1 & M2 Macs.

Boot Camp enables you to boot your Intel Mac in either Windows or macOS whenever you want.

It also allows your Mac to dedicate all of its resources to running highly demanding games like Fortnite for smoother gameplay than other ways of running Windows on a Mac.

To play Fortnite on your Mac using Boot Camp, follow these instructions to install Windows for free with Boot Camp on a Mac.

When you’ve installed Windows on your Mac, you then simply download the Windows Fortnite launcher to start the game.

To play Fortnite on a Mac by installing Windows with Boot Camp, we recommend having one of the following Macs:

• MacBook 2015 or later
• MacBook Air/Pro 2012 or later
• Mac mini 2012 or later
• iMac 2012 or later
• iMac Pro (all models)
• Mac Pro 2013 or later

When installing Fortnote on a Mac using Boot Camp, bear in mind that the Fortnite PC requirements are as follows:

Recommended System Requirements:

• Video Card: Nvidia GTX 960, AMD R9 280, or equivalent DX11 GPU
• Video Memory: 2 GB VRAM
• Processor: Core i5-7300U 3.5 GHz, AMD Ryzen 3 3300U, or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM or higher
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit

Minimum System Requirements:

• Video Card: Intel HD 4000 on PC; AMD Radeon Vega 8
• Processor: Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• OS: Windows 7/8/10/11 64-bit or Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6

Epic Quality Presets Specifications:

• Video Card: Nvidia RTX 3070, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, or equivalent GPU
• Video Memory: 8 GB VRAM or higher
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8700, AMD Ryzen 7 3700x or equivalent
• Memory: 16 GB RAM or higher
• Hard Drive: NVMe Solid State Drive
• OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit

We also recommend at least 85GB of hard drive space so you’ll need at least this plus at least another 64GB to install Windows on your Mac.

We’d therefore recommend at least 200GB of spare hard drive space on your Mac to install both Windows and Fortnite to be safe.

To play Fortnite on your Mac using Boot Camp, you then need to follow these instructions to install Windows 11 or these instructions to install Windows 10.

When you’ve installed Windows on your Mac, you then simply boot your Mac in Windows and purchase Fortnite to install it as if you were installing it on a Windows PC.

Once you’ve installed Fortnite on your Mac, you may need to lower some of the game settings such as the frame rate and graphics preferences if you experience lag.

4. OneCast

If you’ve got an Xbox then you can stream the Xbox version of Fortnite to a Mac.

Normally the easiest way to do this is by installing Windows on a Mac with Parallels and then using an Xbox app from the Microsoft Windows store to play Xbox games.

However this doesn’t work on Mac due to the anti-cheat software used in Fortnite which will not launch in virtual machines.

You can however still play Fortnite for Xbox on a Mac by using OneCast which streams Xbox games to a Mac.

OneCast works on both Intel and Apple Silicon M1/M2 chip Macs so it allows you to play Fortnite on all types of Mac.

OneCast even allows you to connect an Xbox controller to your Mac with support for vibration too.

You can stream your Xbox games on your Mac using OneCast in either windowed mode or full screen mode.

You can even connect your Mac to your Xbox away from home too although this requires a few simple manual network configuration changes which are explained in the OneCast user manual.

Here’s how to play Forntnite on Mac using OneCast.

• Firstly, make sure that your Mac and Xbox are connected to the same WiFi router at home. OneCast uses your router to stream games from the Xbox to a Mac.
• Download the trial version of OneCast for free and open the DMG file downloaded. You can try OneCast for free although after 14 days it costs $14.99 to buy a license key for the full version.

• Drag the OneCast app to your Applications folder.

• Click on the OneCast icon in your dock to launch it.

• OneCast will then automatically detect your Xbox on your home network as long as your Xbox and Mac are connected to the same WiFi router. OneCast will prompt you to login into your Xbox with your Microsoft account details. Just use the same username and password that you use to log onto your Xbox.
• Finally you simply need to connect your Xbox controller to your Mac which you can do by activating Bluetooth. To connect an Xbox controller to your Mac to use with OneCast, go to the Apple logo in the top left of your screen and go to System Preferences and select Bluetooth.

Select your Xbox controller from the list of Bluetooth devices that appears and click Pair.

You can now use your Xbox controller to play Fortnite on your Mac. You can disconnect the Xbox controller from your Mac at any time by going back into the Bluetooth settings or turning-off Bluetooth.

If you want more customization over how to map the Xbox controller to your Mac then we suggest using the Controlly app. You can read more about how to connect an Xbox controller to a Mac here.

You can read more about how to play Xbox games on Mac here.

5. Via AirPlay From An iPhone

Finally, you could technically play the iOS version of Fortnite on a Mac by using AirPlay from an iPhone to your Mac.

This is the least recommended way of playing Fortnite on a Mac as you need an iPhone with Fortnite already installed on it since it’s no longer available for download on iOS.

It also only allows you to play the mobile version of Fortnite, not the full PC desktop version.

Unless you’ve got access to an iPhone with Fortnite on, we really don’t recommend trying to play Fortnite on a Mac this way unless all of the above methods are not available to you.

6. Play Fortnite With The Epic Game Launcher

Although it’s no longer being developed by Epic, you can still download and install Fortnite on a Mac via the Epic Game Launcher.

However, we don’t recommend this for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Mac version hasn’t been updated since September 2020 due to the ongoing dispute between Epic and Apple.

This means that there’s no crossplay support in the Mac version of Fortnite so you won’t be able to join-in battles. Epic has also blocked access to V-Bucks and the Item Shop in the Mac version.

However, if this doesn’t bother you, you can still play Fortnite on a Mac for free by following these instructions.

• Go to the Epic Game Launcher and download the Mac desktop client.
• Open the launcher and search for “Fortnite”.
• Click Download and wait for it to install. You will need 95GB of hard drive space so you may need to check the storage space on your Mac first.
• Once it has downloaded, go to Quick Launch to play the game.

Can You Play Fortnite On Mac in Boosteroid?

Boosteroid is a Cloud gaming service that works on all platforms.

At the moment, Fortnite is available on the Boosteroid gaming platform but due to the demand for poplar games such as Hogwarts Legacy, the servers have struggled to deliver a service that is playable.

Boosteroid is aware of this “Sorry, no resource available” issue and has issued an apology to users of the service.

At the moment, the maximum resolution of game streaming on Boosteroid is 1080p although the company is planning to deploy 4K servers soon.

Can You Play Fortnite On A Mac Using Parallels?

Usually we recommend the best way to play PC games on Mac is using the Parallels virtual machine, but Fortnite does not work in virtual software such as Parallels due to anti-cheat software used in the game.

Epic uses three different anti-cheat software in Fortnite – EasyAntiCheat, Battle Eye and Hyperion which do not work in virtual environments or indeed any other way of running Windows on a Mac.

This is similar to the Vanguard anti-cheat software that’s used in games such as Genshin Impact and Hogwarts Legacy which is deigned to stop people cheating in games but a side-effect is that it won’t work in virtual environments.

Is Fortnite Available On Mac On Other Gaming Platforms?

Other gaming platforms that Fortnite is available on are Playstation Now, Airgpu, Xbox Cloud and Shadow.

However Fortnite is not available on Playstation Now, Amazon Luna or Google Stadia.

Can You Use An eGPU To Play Fortnite On Mac?

Normally, it’s possible to improve gaming performance by using an eGPU with a Mac but unfortunately, connecting an eGPU to a Mac running Windows is a real headache.

It is technically possible but it’s tedious, difficult to setup and doesn’t always work well so we can’t recommend it for playing Save The World via Windows on macOS.

eGPUs also do not work with M1/M2 Macs.

Why Has Epic Discontinued Fortnite For Mac?

Epic announced that Fortnite would no longer be available on Mac from September 23rd 2020 due to Apple’s strict policies on signing and applying patches to games.

Epic did announce that it will issue refunds to Mac users that have already purchased Save The World for Mac:

We are issuing a refund for all players who purchased any Save the World Founder’s or Starter Packs (including Upgrades) and played Save the World on macOS between September 17, 2019 and September 17, 2020. Additionally, any purchased V-Bucks spent on Llamas on macOS in this period will also be refunded. As of today, September 17, 2020, Save the World Starter Packs will no longer be available for purchase on macOS.

The refunds will be issued automatically to Mac users including any V-Bucks that have been purchased.

Epic also also started the hashtag #FreeFortnite to encourage Apple to stop blocking Fortnite updates and installs.