Mac compatibility
Can you play Valheim on a Mac?
Short answer: There's a native Mac version on Steam — that's the easy route. The Windows version lists DirectX 11, which Grapple's DXMT layer covers, but we haven't tested it.
What we know
Steam ships a macOS build of Valheim; the store lists macOS 11 or later as its minimum. Buying it on Steam gets you the Mac version, so there is no need to run the Windows one.
Steam lists Valheim for Windows and macOS. Its Windows requirements call for DirectX 11.
Grapple translates DirectX 10 and 11 to Metal — through Apple's D3DMetal or the open-source DXMT — so on paper this is a reasonable candidate. That's an expectation, not a result — we haven't tested it yet.
Grapple settings
Nothing verified yet. Where to start, based on its DirectX version (in the app, the same options are in the game's settings):
- DirectX 10/11: a new install is set to Automatic, which picks D3DMetal or DXMT for you. If the game won't start or renders wrongly, naming a layer is the usual next try:
grapple set Steam graphics dxmt - To see frame rates, turn on the Metal HUD:
grapple set Steam hud on
Test record
None yet.
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FAQ
Can I play Valheim on a Mac?
Steam ships a macOS build of Valheim; the store lists macOS 11 or later as its minimum. Buying it on Steam gets you the Mac version, so there is no need to run the Windows one. Likely to work — not tested yet, but nobody has tested it with Grapple yet. That's what the game's published facts suggest, not a result. The page changes to Works once players report it working.
What might stop Valheim from working?
There's a native Mac version too — this expectation is about the Windows version run through Grapple.
Which DirectX does Valheim use?
Valheim's requirements list DirectX 11. Grapple starts it on D3DMetal, Apple's DirectX 11 and 12 translator, which Grapple includes and uses by default.
Is there a Mac version of Valheim?
Steam ships a macOS build of Valheim; the store lists macOS 11 or later as its minimum. Buying it on Steam gets you the Mac version, so there is no need to run the Windows one.
Sources
Every factual claim on this page comes from these. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
- Steam store page — system requirements and supported platforms (checked 22 September 2026)
Try Valheim yourself
Grapple's Free plan runs one game, forever, so you can find out on your own Mac without paying. Then tell us how it went with the buttons above, so the next player knows.
Valheim is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Iron Gate.