CrossOver (software) facts for kids
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| Developer(s) | CodeWeavers |
|---|---|
| Stable release |
25.0.1 / 23 April 2025
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| Operating system | Linux, macOS, ChromeOS |
| Type | Compatibility layer |
| License | Proprietary, GPL, LGPL |
CrossOver is a special computer program that helps you run Windows applications on other operating systems. Imagine you have a game or a program made for Windows, but your computer uses Linux, macOS, or ChromeOS. CrossOver acts like a bridge, letting those Windows programs work on your computer without needing to install Windows itself.
This program is made by a company called CodeWeavers. CrossOver is built using a free, open-source program called Wine. CodeWeavers takes Wine's code, makes improvements, adds helpful tools, and provides customer support. All the changes they make to Wine's code are shared publicly, so everyone can see them. CodeWeavers also keeps an online list showing how well different Windows programs work with CrossOver.
Contents
Discovering CrossOver: How It Works
CrossOver helps your computer understand and run Windows programs. It's like having a translator for your computer. Instead of needing a full Windows system, CrossOver creates an environment where Windows programs feel at home. This means you can use many of your favorite Windows apps and games on a different type of computer.
CrossOver's Journey: Different Versions Over Time
CrossOver has changed and grown over the years to support different computers. It started with Linux, then came to Mac, and now even works on ChromeOS.
CrossOver for Linux Computers
CrossOver Linux was the first version. It was designed to work smoothly with popular Linux desktop environments like GNOME and KDE. This made Windows programs feel like they were part of the Linux system.
Before 2012, CrossOver Linux had different versions: Standard and Professional. The Standard version was for one person using a computer. The Professional version had extra features for businesses or many users on one computer. In 2012, with CrossOver Linux 11, these versions were combined into one product.
CrossOver for Mac Computers
In 2005, Apple announced that their computers would start using Intel processors. This was exciting for CodeWeavers because it meant they could create a version of CrossOver for Mac OS X.
CrossOver Mac was released on January 10, 2007. Like the Linux version, it also had Standard and Pro editions for a while. The Standard version included six months of support, while the Pro version offered a year of support and sometimes came with CrossOver Games. By 2012, CrossOver Mac 11 also combined these editions into a single product.
Running Older Programs on Newer Macs
In 2019, macOS Catalina changed how programs worked, only supporting 64-bit programs. This meant older 32-bit Windows programs wouldn't run directly. In December 2019, CodeWeavers released CrossOver 19. This version found a clever way to let 32-bit Windows programs run on macOS, even without 32-bit support built into the Mac.
Gaming on Mac with CrossOver
In June 2023, CodeWeavers announced that CrossOver 23 would start supporting DirectX 12 on macOS. DirectX is important for many modern games. Around the same time, Apple also released its own Game Porting Toolkit, which helps bring Windows games to macOS. This toolkit is based on CrossOver's technology. In September 2023, CrossOver 23.5 was released, adding support for Apple's D3DMetal and the GStreamer media framework, which helps with playing videos and audio.
CrossOver's Core Components: What's Inside
CrossOver is made up of many different parts, including different versions of Wine and other tools. Here are some examples of what was included in recent versions:
- CrossOver v19.0.0 (2019): Used Wine v4.12
- CrossOver v20.0.0 (2020): Used Wine v5.0
- CrossOver v21.0.0 (2021): Used Wine v6.0
- CrossOver v22.0.0 (2022): Used Wine v7.0
- CrossOver v23.0.0 (2023): Used Wine v8.0.1
- CrossOver v24.0.0 (2024): Used Wine v9.0
- CrossOver v25.0.0 (March 11, 2025): Used Wine v10.0
Past CrossOver Products: What's Changed
Over time, CodeWeavers has simplified its product line. Now, a single copy of CrossOver includes all the features that used to be in separate products like CrossOver Games, CrossOver Standard, and CrossOver Professional. These older, individual versions are no longer sold separately.
CrossOver Games: A Look Back
CrossOver Games was a special product launched in 2008. It was designed to help users play many different computer games by using the latest updates from the Wine project. The idea was to release updates very often, sometimes even weekly. This was different from the main CrossOver product, which focused more on stability for office programs and had slower updates. However, CrossOver Games couldn't update fast enough to keep up with new games, so it was stopped in 2012 and its features were added back into the main CrossOver product.
CrossOver Server was a special version of CrossOver Linux. It allowed Windows applications to run on thin-client systems. These are computers that rely on a central server for most of their work. CrossOver Server was stopped in 2007 because many of its features were already available in the CrossOver Linux Pro edition.
Special Giveaways: Sharing CrossOver with Everyone
CodeWeavers has had a few special events where they gave away their software for free.
The "Lame Duck Challenge" Giveaway
On October 28, 2008, CodeWeavers held a big giveaway called the "Lame Duck Challenge." They gave away all their products for free. So many people tried to get the software that CodeWeavers' website had trouble handling all the visitors. CodeWeavers reported that at least 750,000 product registrations were given away that day.
The "Flock the Vote" Giveaway
On October 31, 2012, CodeWeavers had another software giveaway called "Flock the Vote." They promised to give away their software if 100,000 American voters promised to vote on election day. This was a way to encourage people to participate in elections, no matter who they voted for. More than 100,000 people made the pledge. Because of this, CodeWeavers allowed anyone in the world to download and register a free copy of CrossOver Linux or CrossOver Mac.
See also
- Wine
- WINE@Etersoft
- PlayOnMac
- PlayOnLinux
- Wine-Doors
- Darwine
