Does Steam work on Mac and Macbook? Play any Steam game on macOS

If you are wondering if steam works on Mac and Macbooks, you can find the answer here.

Steam has been available for some time through iOS, but for some reason, compatibility with Mac and MacBook computers was lacking. While Apple has never really pursued gaming as an angle for their computers with any great zeal, it still seems strange that this was the situation. Recently, even Chromebooks appear to be getting Steam access…

With the arrival in recent months of even more powerful M1 processor Macs and MacBooks, they certainly have the capacity to play compatible Steam games. But has it been made possible yet? We have the answers, right here.

Does Steam work on Mac and MacBook?

Steam has been available on Mac and Macbook for quite some time now. That being said, it was not without its limitations. A MacBook Air is certainly not capable of competing with a high-end gaming PC in terms of processing power, for example. There is also a smaller selection of games available for Mac, in comparison to Windows. But, despite this, the platform is most definitely available on Mac and MacBooks.

The client is no longer the only way to play Steam on your Apple device though. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, it may now be possible to play an even wider assortment of games. This is down to something called Steam Link.

Read More: Is Steam on PS4: Can you play Steam games on PlayStation?

What is Steam Link?

Previously only available on iPhone and iPad, Steam Link allows you to play your Steam games across all your computers on your network. So if you have a PC sitting at home, for example, you could connect to your MacBook Air, and use the PC to play games that might not be able to run natively on the MacBook.

Because you are using the host device to run the game, you don’t need to worry about your Apple device being underpowered for the demands of the game. Even better, Link doesn’t require a separate Steam account login. As long as the host device is logged in, enter the PIN provided, and others can join your gaming session, with or without their own account.

The advantages are numerous, but primarily it allows you to play a wider assortment of games, and play games that might have greater system requirements than your Mac can support. Steam Link is now available on the Mac app store. Let’s look at how you use it.

Read More: Steam Controller Not Working: How To Fix Steam Not Detecting Controller Issue

How to use Link on MacOS

There are a few recommendations on how you set things up. You’ll need to be running macOS 10.13 or higher. Valve strongly advises that your devices are connected to your router via Ethernet, for the strongest possible connection. You also need to be mindful that to use Link, you may need a compatible Steam controller. The app will tell you if a game is compatible or not. Assuming you have the equipment you need, this is what you do:

• Download Steam Link from the macOS App Store.
• Open Steam on your PC.
• Make sure your PC and Mac are connected to the same local network.
• Open Link on your Mac and click Get Started.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your controller, or click Skip if you’re using a different input device. It’s worth noting that some games will work with a keyboard and mouse.
• Link will search your network for your PC. Click the device’s name from the list once it appears.
• A PIN will appear on the host PC’s screen. Enter that number on your Mac device when prompted, to link your devices.
• Wait for them to connect. Steam will then test your connection (hence the recommendation for a wired connection). If your signal strength is sufficient, click Start Playing to open your PC’s game Library on your Mac.
• Select a game from the list to start playing. You must have the game already installed on your PC, otherwise, it won’t work.

This is a great way of having more flexibility in your gaming. For instance, you may want to lie in bed and work your way through your game library, rather than be sat at your PC. This enables you to do that.