WIE
WIE runs Windows PE64 user-mode binaries on macOS Apple Silicon without Windows, Wine, or a virtual machine.
What WIE is
WIE runs Windows PE64 user-mode binaries on macOS Apple Silicon without Windows, Wine, or a virtual machine. Guest x86-64 code executes through a Cranelift block JIT, while Windows API calls are handled on the Mac host in Rust. Windows GUI programs can open native Mac windows, controls, menus, dialogs, and printing, and guest files are accessible from macOS. The default guest C: drive maps to a per-user app-data bottle; native Open and Save panels can reach other Mac files. Reported working examples include Windows Notepad, 7-Zip console operations, console programs, and the 2048 and Snake terminal games. WIE is experimental, with intentionally incomplete WinAPI coverage and many stub handlers. Its D3D9 software renderer supports selected features, with 51 of 119 IDirect3DDevice9 methods implemented. Networking through WS2_32, OpenGL, child-process creation, audio output, and D3D11 are missing or unsupported. Thirty-two-bit binaries and full Windows compatibility are out of scope. The project is free under GNU LGPL v3.0.
Good
- Runs Windows PE64 binaries on Apple Silicon
- Native Mac windows and dialogs
- Guest files accessible from macOS
- Homebrew and source installation options
- Free under GNU LGPL v3.0
Watch out
- Experimental with incomplete WinAPI coverage
- 32-bit binaries are out of scope
- Networking, OpenGL, audio, and D3D11 unsupported
- No graphics acceleration
Who it suits
WIE suits Apple Silicon Mac users who need to run selected Windows PE64 programs without Windows, Wine, or virtualization. It is aimed at experimental use where limited compatibility is acceptable.
Verdict
WIE provides a direct way to run selected Windows programs on Apple Silicon Macs, including native-looking GUI windows. Its experimental status and substantial API gaps make compatibility limited to supported applications.
The facts
Each one read from WIE's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Compatibility
- The project describes itself as experimental and says 32-bit binaries and full Windows compatibility are out of scope.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Compatibility gaps
- The status page lists networking handlers, OpenGL, child process creation, audio output, and several other Windows APIs as missing or incomplete.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Execution
- Guest x86-64 code executes through a Cranelift block JIT, while Windows API calls are handled on the host in Rust.checked 7 Oct 2026
- File access
- Guest C: maps by default to a per-user app-data bottle, while native Open and Save panels can access files elsewhere on the Mac.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Graphics
- Its D3D9 software renderer supports selected features including VS 2.0 and PS 2.0, with 51 of 119 IDirect3DDevice9 methods implemented according to the status page.checked 7 Oct 2026
- GUI
- GUI apps open real macOS windows and use native dialogs, and guest files are accessible as files on the Mac.checked 7 Oct 2026
- GUI support
- Windows GUI apps can open real macOS windows, and WIE supports controls, menus, native dialogs, and printing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Install
- The README documents building from source with Cargo or installing a prebuilt binary with Homebrew; release binaries are published as GitHub release assets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README gives source build instructions and a Homebrew installation command, and says release binaries are published as GitHub release assets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies the project license as GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The WinAPI surface is intentionally incomplete, and the project says 32-bit binaries and full Windows compatibility are out of scope.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Notable gaps
- The status page lists networking through WS2_32, OpenGL, child-process creation, audio output, and D3D11 as missing or unsupported capabilities.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- WIE runs Windows PE64 user-mode binaries on macOS Apple Silicon without Windows, Wine, or a virtual machine.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Release
- The GitHub releases page lists v0.1.0 as the latest release.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The repository links contributors to CONTRIBUTING.md and names ./scripts/check.sh as the pre-PR gate.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Working examples
- The project reports support for Windows Notepad, 7-Zip console operations, console apps, and the 2048 and Snake terminal games.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The GitHub organization describes itself as an open source research and engineering organization focused on emulation, systems programming, and cross OS runtime environments.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Team
- The project profile names Vladislav-Kalinkin as founder and DevYatsu as WIE co-developer.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Windows APIs
- The WinAPI surface is intentionally incomplete, and many handlers are stubs intended to support the micro-suite and engine bring-up.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Working apps
- The status page lists Windows Notepad, the 7-Zip console, console apps, and terminal games including 2048 and Snake as working examples.checked 7 Oct 2026
