For years now, one of the aspects where PC users always were ahead of those of us with Macs was gaming. Franchises that many players around the world enjoyed on their gaming consoles were usually available only on PC, with Mac gamers left behind.
Nowadays though, thanks to Steam on OS X, Mac users can enjoy a lot more variety of choice when it comes to game releases. And even while the Mac Steam library is not as big as the one for PC, being able to access Steam on your Mac opens up a ton of possibilities.
So if you have ever wanted to give Steam a try on your Mac, read along.
Nowadays though, thanks to Steam on OS X, Mac users can enjoy a lot more variety of choice when it comes to game releases.And even while the Mac Steam library is not as big as the one for PC. MacOS on Steam Browse the newest, top selling and discounted macOS supported games New and Trending Top Sellers What's Being Played Upcoming Results exclude some products based on your preferences-20%. BOT.vinnik Chess: Opening Traps. Chess, Artificial.
What is Steam?
Long story short: Think of Steam as an independent App Store (requires a free account) but exclusively for games. The application helps users download and install their games on their computers, as well as offering a multiplayer and a social networking platform for players to interact.
Are You Ready?
The very basics you need to start gaming on Steam is to create a free account and download their native app.
There are some basic system requirements for running the Steam app, but you should be ok unless you have a very old Mac model.
Important Note: Note that the system requirements for running the Steam app are completely different than the ones for running games. So make sure to check the requirements for each game before jumping in.Once you have the app on your Mac, open it to browse the different games available.
One of the great things about Steam is that it provides demos of most games for you to try before buying. Additionally, Steam is known for its constant sales, allowing you to get some great releases usually at lower prices than on consoles.
Once you find a game you are interested in on the Mac section of Steam (not all games are available on Mac sadly), make sure to check its minimum system requirements at the bottom of the game’s page of before downloading it.
Cool Tip: If you like to hunt for game sales on Steam, then you can check IsThereAnyDeal and CheapShark, two sites that constantly monitor and showcase the latest Steam sales and deals.Perfect Control
One of the best aspects of using Steam to play on your Mac is that it allows you to use game controllers. And the good news is that if you have a game console, its controller will likely work with Steam.
For example, if you have a PS3 or PS4 controller, you can easily use those to play Steam games, which makes the experience a lot better than merely using your keyboard.
In the case of a PS3 controller, all you need to do is start Steam and then press and hold the PS3 controller’s PS button. After a while Steam will take over and the app will become full screen and take you its controller interface.
There you will be able to use your controller to navigate around all of Steam, including the shop and other media options.
And of course, you will be able to play games with the controller as well.
And there you go. If you never tried Steam and are into gaming, then use this guide and give the platform a try. It is a great way to play games on your Mac.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See#games
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Check display support
You can connect one or more external displays depending on your Mac model. To find out how many external displays your Mac supports, check its technical specifications:
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Click the Support tab.
- Click Specifications.
- On the webpage that appears, the number of displays your Mac supports appears under Video Support or Graphics.
If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, you can connect a single external display to your Mac using one of the Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Docks don't increase the number of displays you can connect as an extended desktop. On Mac mini (M1, 2020), you can connect a second display to the HDMI port.
Connect your display
Connect your display to power, then connect your display to your Mac. Check the ports on your Mac to find out whether you need an adapter.
Change display options
After you connect your display, you can choose to extend your desktop or mirror your displays.
Use extended desktop mode
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays.
- Click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox isn’t selected.
- Arrange your displays to match the setup on your desk. To change the position of a display, drag it to the desired position. A red border appears around the display as it's moved.
- To set a different display as the primary display, drag the menu bar to the other display. The primary display is where your desktop icons and app windows first appear.
Mirror your displays
- Make sure that your external display is turned on and connected to your Mac.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox is selected.
Use AirPlay
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With Apple TV, you can use your TV as a separate display for your Mac. Learn how to use AirPlay to mirror or extend your Mac display.