In our latest “Do You Use It?” survey, we asked how often you use iPhone or iPad apps on your Mac with Apple silicon. If you're like the 19% of respondents who didn't know about this feature, you might have some good news for you. For years, Apple has been developing its own chips for iPhone and iPad, known as the A-series. When they moved Macs to Apple silicon with the M-series chips, one of the benefits was that apps written for iPhone and iPad could run unmodified on M-series Macs.
34% of respondents know about this feature but have not yet used it. I fall into this category because I always have my iPhone in my pocket or on hand, so it's easier for me to use this feature than to install iPhone apps on my M1 MacBook Air. Plus, I spend more time on my Intel-based 27-inch iMac, which can't run iPhone apps, so I can't install an app on one Mac and not the other. Other respondents said they didn't think iPhone or iPad apps would be useful on a Mac.
However, nearly half of respondents (47%) said they use the feature occasionally or regularly. These people listed a wide range of iPhone or iPad apps that they find useful on their Mac, the most common being the popular podcast client Overcast. Also common were two-factor authentication apps like Authy, security camera management apps from companies like Wyze and Eufy, and apps related to smart home devices like generators, heat pumps, thermometers, thermostats, sensors, ventilators, water heaters, and blinds. Several respondents said they use Apple's iPhone Weather app on their Mac, though they're not sure why they would, given that a native Mac version of Weather has been available since macOS 13 Ventura.
Not all iPhone and iPad apps work on the Mac. Developers can block their iPhone and iPad apps from working on the Mac. Some do so to avoid additional testing and support, while others prefer that Mac users rely on either native Mac apps (which may be purchased separately) or web apps. In the category of apps that don't work on the Mac, complaints have been received about Apple's Health and Logic Pro apps, HBO Max and Netflix, the iRobot Roomba app, Minecraft, and Substack.
It remains to be seen whether the upcoming iPhone Mirroring feature in macOS 15 Sequoia and iOS 18 will reduce the desire to run iPhone apps on a Mac. It certainly will for me, as iPhone Mirroring also works on Intel-based Macs with the T2 chip. I'll have to check back next year to see how popular iPhone Mirroring has become.
Install and use iPhone or iPad apps on your M Series Mac
To download iPhone or iPad apps to your Apple Silicon Mac, start by opening the App Store app on your Mac. Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then click iPhone & iPad Apps under Account to see the apps you've already purchased. Apps are sorted in reverse chronological order with the most recent downloads at the top, so it can be hard to find a specific app.
You might find it easier to search for the app in the App Store at the top of the sidebar, then click iPhone & iPad Apps again if necessary to see the results. In either case, click the Cloud Download, Get, or Price button to get the app.
Once downloaded, you launch the iPhone and iPad apps just like you would the Mac apps. Usage is slightly different, as you're usually limited to a single window. Some iPad apps offer multiple windows (such as CARROT Weather's map window), but things like settings panels may remain fixed in the interface, which can be hard to use. When using iPad apps, you can usually resize the window, as iPad apps need to adjust to different screen sizes.
The iPhone app is a different story. The two apps I tested let you choose from four sizes, but you can't resize it by dragging the edges. Instead, App Name Go to > Settings > General and choose whether you want to make windows smaller or larger (you'll need to restart the app).
For both “Small” and “Large,” you can Option-click the app's green zoom button to make it even larger, offering four resolutions. (Simply clicking the green zoom button will expand the app to full screen height and surround it with a giant black bar.) The best size will depend on the app and your available screen space.
- Small, not zoomed: 492×930
- Magnification, no zoom: 576×1082
- Zoom in small: 640×1192
- Zoom in and out: 750×1390
For the most part, using iPhone and iPad apps is self-explanatory: you use a pointer, just like your finger, to interact with controls. However, many apps have a multi-touch interface that requires additional modes of interaction. Apple supports this with options, described in the Touch Alternative settings panel. As you can see, you can simulate tilting the device using the W, A, S, and D keys, press the Option key to use the trackpad as a virtual touch screen, press the Spacebar to tap the center of the screen, swipe using the arrow keys, and tap and drag on the trackpad. Touch alternatives take a little getting used to.
The System Settings panel shows you what system-level permissions the app has requested. There's nothing you can do here; these permissions are managed in System Settings.
Finally, if you want to know what apps you've downloaded on your iPhone or iPad, you can see the list on the Applications screen of the System Information app. Sort by Type and scroll down to iOS. We can't explain why non-iOS apps like 1Password, Google Chat, Google Drive, and python appear in this list.
Remember, being able to run iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac is a bonus, so don't get upset if it doesn't work perfectly. And don't take my vote or the criticism above as a low rating for the feature. It's a welcome addition that lets you run millions of iPhone and iPad apps on your Mac. If there's a particular app you want to use on your Mac, give it a try.