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Mac compatibility

Can you play VALORANT on a Mac?

Won't runUpdated

Short answer: No. VALORANT requires Riot Vanguard, a kernel-mode anti-cheat driver for Windows, which Wine-based tools like Grapple can't run.

What we know

Riot describes Vanguard as a client that runs while its games are active, together with a kernel mode driver. Wine — the technology Grapple is built on — runs entirely in user space and has no way to load a Windows kernel driver.

Riot's official system requirements list only Windows 10 (build 19041 or newer) and Windows 11, and on Windows 11 also require TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot.

AreWeAntiCheatYet, which tracks anti-cheat support on Linux/Proton (Proton is built on Wine), lists VALORANT as denied.

No local method runs VALORANT on an Apple Silicon Mac. Be wary of tools that promise to get around Vanguard: tampering with anti-cheat is exactly what it is designed to detect.

Riot's official requirements list Windows 10 (build 19041+) and Windows 11 only. There is no Mac version.

What to do instead

There are no Grapple settings that get around a kernel-level anti-cheat block, and we won't suggest workarounds that could get your account banned. If the publisher offers cloud streaming, that runs on a Mac; otherwise it needs a Windows PC.

Learn more in our guide to anti-cheat games on a Mac.

Test record

Not tested by us: the block is documented by the publisher or anti-cheat maker (see sources), and we don't try to bypass anti-cheat.

FAQ

Can I play VALORANT on a Mac?

No. VALORANT requires Riot Vanguard, a kernel-mode anti-cheat driver for Windows, which Wine-based tools like Grapple can't run.

Why doesn't VALORANT work with Grapple?

VALORANT relies on Riot Vanguard, which uses a kernel-mode driver on Windows. Grapple is built on Wine, which runs Windows programs in user space without a Windows kernel, so that driver can't load — and the publisher doesn't allow Wine-based layers. The same applies to CrossOver and other Wine-based tools. Only the game's developer can change that.

Will a future Grapple update make VALORANT work?

Not by itself. Anti-cheat blocks like this are decided by the publisher, not by compatibility tools. If the publisher changes its policy, we'll re-test and update this page.

Is there a Mac version of VALORANT?

Riot's official requirements list Windows 10 (build 19041+) and Windows 11 only. There is no Mac version.

Sources

Every factual claim on this page comes from these. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.

  1. Riot Games Support — What is Vanguard? (checked 21 September 2026)
  2. VALORANT — official system requirements (checked 21 September 2026)
  3. Wikipedia — Riot Vanguard (checked 21 September 2026)
  4. AreWeAntiCheatYet — Valorant (tracks anti-cheat on Linux/Proton) (checked 21 September 2026)
  5. CodeWeavers — Why do most games with anti-cheat not work with CrossOver Mac? (Aug 31, 2026) (checked 21 September 2026)
  6. Wikipedia — Valorant (checked 21 September 2026)

Got other Windows games?

Plenty of Windows games have no anti-cheat problem at all. Check the list, request a test, or run one of your own games on Grapple's Free plan — it's free forever, and you can swap which game it is once every 30 days.

Request a game test Try it yourself — free

VALORANT is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to identify the game. Grapple isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Riot Games.