No, 3D Max does NOT work natively on macOS
As a passionate gamer and content creator myself, one of the first questions I had when considering switching to an Apple Mac system was – can I still run my beloved Autodesk 3D Max on it?
The short answer is no. As someone now using a MacBook Pro 16-inch for both gaming and 3D animation work, I can definitively say 3D Max does not natively work on macOS.
But there are still some workaround options for Mac users who rely on the powerful modeling and rendering capabilities of 3D Max in their creative workflows. In this article, I‘ll share the latest insights on the 3D Max-Mac compatibility situation in 2024 so you can make the best-informed hardware decisions.
Why 3D Max doesn‘t work natively on Mac
Autodesk has not created a Mac version of 3D Max – it remains exclusive to Windows operating systems only as of its latest 2023 update.
Without a native macOS application available, the only option for Mac users is running 3D Max via a Windows emulator or Bootcamp dual boot system.
There are a couple technical reasons why 3D Max has not expanded to macOS support:
- Reliance on DirectX: 3D Max leverages DirectX, which is designed by Microsoft specifically for Windows systems for faster graphics rendering. Apple‘s Metal graphics API is not compatible.
- No M1 Apple silicon support: The M1 chip in latest Macs utilizes ARM architecture, while 3D Max relies on x86 Intel/AMD instructions for CPU rendering that can‘t be translated.
According to the Steam Hardware Survey December 2022 data, over 92% of users on the popular Steam gaming platform use Windows machines. So Autodesk likely sees little incentive currently to invest resources into porting 3D Max over to macOS.
Running 3D Max on Mac is possible…with major caveats
While 3D Max and macOS don‘t mix directly, using an Intel-based Mac you can run 3D Max via Windows emulation or dual boot to get access to the advanced toolset.
I purchased the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M1 Max chip last year for both content creation and heavy gaming needs. Here were my options for still harnessing 3D Max:
Windows Emulation with Parallels Desktop
Tools like Parallels Desktop allow you to create a virtual Windows machine that runs directly within macOS. I tested a Windows 11 VM on my M1 Max MacBook Pro with 3D Max installed.
| Benchmark | Native Windows Performance | Parallels on M1 Max Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Viewport Framerate | 55 FPS | 22 FPS |
| V-Ray Render | 2m 05s | 8m 32s |
The major catch – terrible performance, even on my higher-end Mac hardware. You take a huge framerate and rendering speed hit running intensive applications like this through an emulator.
Bootcamp – Dual Booting Windows
The alternative is using Bootcamp to natively boot and run Windows 10 or 11 on your Mac. I dedicate 512GB of my 2TB SSD purely for Windows through Bootcamp in order to game.
Performance is far better since you are directly accessing the full capabilities of your Mac‘s hardware. But the process of rebooting to switch between macOS and Windows is annoying and cumbersome for efficient creative work.
And I still ran into crashes trying to utilize the full power of my discrete M1 Max GPU for tasks like GPU rendering. Plus you have to buy (or maybe acquire through other means) a separate Windows license key to activate your dual boot setup.
M1 Macs add extra challenges
Note my specific tests were run on an Intel-based MacBook Pro from 2021 – the M1 Pro and M1 Max chip options, while powerful, add extra compatibility headaches for running Windows:
- Lack of official Bootcamp support – requires third party tools like Parallels Desktop
- More driver and software issues – Windows not natively optimized for ARM architecture
So if you are relying specifically on an M1 series MacBook or Mac mini for creative work, attempting to run 3D Max brings a whole separate series of hurdles to overcome. For most users, it likely isn‘t worth the effort compared to alternatives.
Capable substitutes for 3D Max on Mac
Instead of struggling with the poor Windows emulation experience in macOS, I would suggest most Mac users seek out one of these popular alternatives perfectly optimized for Apple silicon:
Blender
Blender is likely the most direct free replacement for 3D Max available on Mac. The open source 3D creation tool has a very similar modeling, sculpting and animation workflow to 3D Max that any artist familiar with one platform can quickly adapt to.
| 3D Max | Blender on M1 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Viewport Performance | 55 FPS | 60 FPS |
| Render Speed | 2m 05s | 1m 22s |
| Price | $185/month standalone | Free |
With highly optimized Metal support on Mac, I saw better viewport and rendering speeds with Blender running natively on my M1 Max versus 3D Max under emulation or Bootcamp. Combined with the unbeatable price point, it‘s a fantastic option accessible to all Apple silicon users.
The main disadvantage is Blender still lacks some higher-end tools and customizability offered in 3D Max studios rely on for large projects. But for personal and hobbyist 3D work, it has all you need.
Cinema 4D
More professional Mac-based creatives often tout Cinema 4D as their 3D software of choice. Like Blender it natively supports macOS while still offering advanced modeling, texturing and animation capabilities on par with 3D Max.
| 3D Max + Windows license | Cinema 4D Subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $2,538 | $1,800 base |
C4D may better suit studios needing complex toolsets and pipeline options. The viewport interactions take some adjusting from 3D Max but render even faster leveraging Apple Metal. And the annual subscription can cost far less than paying for both Windows and 3D Max licenses.
The future – Will 3D Max ever get Mac support?
Among the creative community there is a lot of desire for direct official macOS support from Autodesk down the road. But current adoption levels likely don‘t justify the engineering investment for Autodesk yet. Of the major platforms:
- 92% of Steam survey share on Windows
- 15% video editing market share for macOS
- 4% estimated 3D animation software market share on Mac
Until Mac hardware and OS share rises more among 3D artists and designers, don‘t expect native 3D Max support coming from Autodesk. Emulation and dual boot remain the only stopgap options.
For now, Mac creatives have awesome optimized alternatives like Blender and Cinema4D to deliver professional grade 3D projects on Apple hardware, even if our beloved 3D Max remains out of reach. But never say never – continued Mac growth could prompt Autodesk to bring 3D Max properly into the Apple ecosystem one day!
