Since the MAC version of MS Office does not include MS Access (there is no MAC version of Access and never has been) , we often see questions similar to:
Feb 15, 2017 The only way to use Access on a Mac is to install Windows and the Windows version of Office. I'm using Parallels Desktop on my MBA with Win10 and Office 365. Access runs acceptably fast in this configuration for small databases so for learning purposes that should be acceptable for you.
- Click Install Now. It's at the top-right corner of the page. This downloads the installer to your computer. If you already have Microsoft Office 365 installed on your PC or Mac, you don't have to install it again—just head to the Using a Microsoft Account on Windows or Using a Microsoft Account on a Mac.
- Best Methods to Get Microsoft Access for Mac. This list contains five things you can do to get Microsoft Access for Mac. The methods are not ranked and offer slightly different advantages, so you can choose whatever suits you best. The first 2 methods on this list will be focused on getting the original Microsoft Access for Mac.
- Go to Library PrivillegedHelperTools and make sure that com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool exists. Run Microsoft AutoUpdate. If the file doesn't exist, redownload Microsoft AutoUpdate using the link above.
- Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
How can I run Microsoft Access on a MAC?”
in various forums. While it is true that you can’t get Access (and other programs) for MAC, there are still ways to run them on your MAC. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
Possible Ways to Run MS Access on a MAC
Here are a couple solutions that I am aware of:
Virtualization Software
You can install any number of virtualization software programs, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion or Oracle VirtualBox, to create a virtual machine in which you install Windows and then MS Office/Access and or any other Windows program(s) of your choosing. This does requires buying Parallels, and owing licenses for Windows and any other program you wish to install.
Once it is setup you can run launch your Windows Virtual Machine directly from within your MAC OS.
Bootcamp
Use Apple’s free Bootcamp software which will create a separate Windows formatted partition on the hard drive to install Windows and the appropriate drivers. It will run Windows as fast or faster than a PC of equivalent specification. The only downside (aside from the cost) is that you cannot run the Mac OS and the Windows OS simultaneously. Users who wanted to use Access would have to shut down the Mac OS and reboot into Windows.
So basically you split/partition your MAC hard drive to create a spot to install Windows. So your computer end up having both OSs installed and you pick which one to run at startup.
Remote Access Software
Another interesting option is to use remote access software, programs such as:
- Microsoft’s Remote Desktop
- TeamViewer
- etc…
to connect to a another computer. The remote access software simply transmits the image of the other computer’s screen image directly back to your local PC. So, you are in fact working directly on the other computer.
So, if you already have access to a Windows PC or server, you can use remote access software to connect to it and run your database.
CrossOver
I recently came across a program called CrossOver which states:
Run Microsoft Windows software on your Mac without buying a Windows license, rebooting or using a virtual machine
I don’t know anything more about this product, but it sounds very interesting and may be worth further investigation. Furthermore, they offer a trial version so you can take it for a test drive.
Running Microsoft Access On Mac
Microsoft Query
Installing Microsoft Access On Mac Download
If you simply need to access the data, but not interact with it (Add/Edit/Delete) and you have a copy of MS Office for MAC then you can use Microsoft Query to access the data via ODBC.