How to install 3ds Max on Mac? Is it Possible?

Autodesk 3ds Max On Mac computer: 3D computer graphics program for making 3D objects

What is 3ds Max?

‘3ds Max’ is a professional 3D computer graphics program designed & developed by Autodesk Media and Entertainment – known for making animation and visual effects products. Formerly, this application was known as 3D Studio and 3D studio Max, and now it is called as 3ds Max.

This 3D computer graphics program for making 3D models, games, images and animations is compatible with Microsoft Windows Operating System platform, but also possible to work on Mac. It has modeling capabilities and flexible plugin architecture.

This application is also used for movie effects and movie pre-visualization. On other hand, the latest version of 3ds Max application includes shaders, dynamic simulation, particle Systems, radiosity, normal map creation and rendering, global illumination, new icons, customizable user interface and its own scripting language.

Does 3ds Max work on Mac? Is it possible?

3ds Max is 3D computer graphics software offers you can make 3D animations, models, games, and images with this Autodesk tool. Note that this 3D application designed & developed Autodesk offers this program only for Microsoft Windows OS architecture.

To download this Autodesk tool on Windows PC, you need to visit Autodesk official website and download 3ds Max application for Windows OS depending on your Operating System architecture, and then run the software Installation setup to finish installation. Once installed, you can use this tool in Windows PC.

As mentioned, Autodesk doesn’t offer 3ds Max application for Mac. But it is possible to use this 3D computer graphics program in Mac computer, and here we are providing some possible ways to get this application on Mac for use. Let’s go for easy & recommended steps to get 3ds Max on Mac.

How to install 3ds Max on Mac? [Tips & Tricks]

Method 1: Download Windows 10 and 3ds Max on Mac with ‘BootCamp’

BootCamp is utility software comes with MacOS and offers Mac users switch between MacOS and Microsoft Windows. So, you can choose which of them to boot on startup. Mac’s BootCamp Assistant offers you to install Microsoft Windows OS like Windows 10, partition the Windows startup drive and install necessary drivers.

Note that you can use only one operation System at the same on your Mac computer using BootCamp. So, if you want to use 3ds Max application on your Mac computer, then computer must be rebooted/booted into Windows OS.

System Requirements of 3ds Max on Mac:

Before using 3ds Max application, you must check System requirements because this application is very resource hungry. So, you should check your Mac computer meets 3D Max system requirements. According to developers, you need a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor that is CPU requirements for running 3ds Max on Mac.

To check What CPU My Mac is using, click on ‘Apple LOGO’ at left corner of Mac computer and hit ‘About This Mac’, and then choose ‘Overview > Processor’, and this will show you details about processor. If CPU is 64-bit, this will be perfect for running 3ds Max on Mac.

On other hand, your computer has to have at least 4GB of RAM and 8GB or more recommended, and 6GB minimum hard disk storage requirements for this application to install.

How to download and install Windows 10 on Mac using Bootcamp?

Step 1: At first, you need to install ‘Windows 10 ISO file’ through ‘Microsoft Windows 10 Disk Image Download Page’

Step 2: Select the ‘Windows 10’ from dropdown and click ‘Confirm’

Step 3: Select preferred language from dropdown and click ‘Confirm’

Step 4: You will asked to choose OS architecture from 32-bit and 64-bit. If you want to use 3ds Max on Mac, select ’64-bit’

Step 5: Finally, click on ‘Save’

Step 6: Now, you need to run BootCamp Assistant on Mac. To do so, you need to navigate to ‘Finder > Applications > Utilities’ and choose ‘BooCamp Assistant’

Step 7: Backup your disk like Boot Camp advises you to and click ‘Continue’

Step 8: Now, choose ‘Windows ISO file’ or ‘ISO image’ that you have downloaded

Step 9: Choose the sizes of MacOS and Windows partitions by moving slider and then click on ‘Install’

Step 10: Enter Mac password if asked and restart your computer

Step 11: This reboot offers you install Windows 10, follow on-screen instructions to Windows 10 installation setup. These steps are as similar as you have followed on Windows computer.

Step 12: Now, you have option to boot/reboot your computer into either Windows or MacOS. To switch between System restart your Mac and press & hold ‘ALT’ key on keyboard, you will get to choose which OS to start now. Choose ‘Windows 10’ and boot into computer.

Step 13: After restart/boot into Windows 10 on Mac, you need to visit ‘Autodesk’ website and download 3ds Max Application, and then install in your machine. This way, you can use 3ds Max application on Mac computer.

Method 2: Run 3ds Max application on Mac using ‘Windows 10 Virtual Machine’

Virtual Machines offer you can install and open Windows OS in Windows on your Mac. It means with virtual machines you can run both MacOS and Windows OS at the same time. Any this way, you can run 3ds Max application in Windows 10 on your Mac computer using Virtual machines.

However, running Virtual machines on Mac splits computer’s resources between two Operating Systems so everything may run slower than usual.

Other methods:

Step 1: You can install Windows 10 and 3ds Max on MacOS via ‘VirtualBox’. VirtualBox is designed & developed by Oracle. This application is available for the free and in paid version offers you can install Windows program like 3ds Max on Mac.

Step 2: Download/install Windows 10 and 3ds Max Application on Mac using ‘Parallels Desktop’. This application offers you can open Windows in separate window or you can turn on Coherence mode. In Coherence Mode the virtual machine will run in background while 3ds Max or other Windows program can run alongside your Mac Apps.

Step 3: Get Windows 10 and 3ds Max application MacOS with ‘VMware Fusion’. It is another virtualization software for the Mac offers you can run Windows program like 3ds Max on Mac computer. This application is available in free and paid version.

Conclusion

I am sure this post helped you to know about 3ds Max application, and how to install and use this 3D computer graphics program on Mac computer. You can read & follow our instructions mentioned above to do so. That’s all. For any suggestions or queries, please write on comment box below.