How to Play Valorant on MacBook Air (M1)? A Step-by-Step Guide
Excited to dive into the world of Valorant on your MacBook Air equipped with the M1 chip? You’ve come to the right place! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps to get Valorant installed and running smoothly on your M1-powered MacBook Air.
Prior Requirements
Before we dive in, make sure your MacBook Air (M1) meets the minimum requirements set by Valorant:
- CPU: Apple M1 Chip
- Ram: 8GB
- Mac OS: Big Sur (and later)
Step 1: Download and Install Valorant (M1-Optimized)
- macOS-only players: You must download the M1-Optimized version of Valorant, specifically designed for M1 Chips.
- Visit the Valorant installation page and click on the "Download (M1)" button.
- When prompted, choose to save the file.
Step 2: Install Valorant (M1-Optimized) without Rosetta
- Highlight: You don’t need Rosetta to install Valorant on the M1 chip.
- Go to Settings | Apps & Notifications | Customize Settings and toggle on "Allow experimental features."
- Important warning: Installing without Rosetta may cause compatibility issues. Proceed at your own risk.
Step 3: Install and Run Valorant Using Terminal
- Open Terminal on your M1 MacBook Air by searching for the app in Spotlight or using Cmd + Space.
- Navigation to the downloaded Valorant .pkg file using command
cd /path/to/validator-pkg(replace with actual path). - Install Valorant with the command
sudo installer -instal lvalidator-pkg /Applications(yes, you need to type it out). - Let the installation complete. You will be prompted to create a new account or upgrade your existing one.
Step 4: Launch Valorant and Start the Quest
- Once installed, the Valorant icon will appear on the dock or applications folder (depending on your setup).
- Go ahead and launch Valorant via the icon.
- You are now ready to dive into the world of agents, maps, and high-stakes Competitive matches!
Additional Tips and Suggestions
- Controller Support: Note Valorant will need additional setup for controller support to work on the M1 hardware. For a detailed guide visit this link.
- Ensure your M1 MacBook Air (and any additional devices) match the minimum requirements set by valve.
- Monitor performance and adjust visuals accordingly for the best gaming experience.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
A. Can I downgrade my Valorant version using Rosetta?
No! Rosetta is no longer mandatory for M1-powered devices after installing the M1-optimized installer.
B. How do I fix no sound issue while playing Valoran on M1?
Check your system volume, ensure valorant is selected for output in Sound Preferences., and try resetting your system audio reset.
C. What if there are graphics issues during gameplay
Restart your M1 MacBook air, try lowering graphics settings, consider upgrading your RAM for improved performance.
- *Will I be matchmade with other M1 Users?** Valorant uses match queues to group players with similar hardware and performance attributes, which should help with M1-to-M1 matchmaking issues.
- Will my replays work correctly on PC/Mac? Yes., Valorant replays playback without any issues across differing hardware.
-
What about updating my M1 Valorant client? You will need to update your agent through the game client for compatibility support.
- Is there future support for cross-play between PC/Mac/Linux. The developer has consistently expressed commitment to expanding cross-platform harmony for the foreseeable future.
Compatibility Matrix: M1 MacBook Air against Valorant Features
| Operating System | Version | Support | Notes (optional) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
M1 MacBookAir |
BigSur ( | ) | M1-Optimized Supported | |
rosetta-enabled |
Bigsur ( | ) | Legacy Support Allowed | Optional: use Rosetta for non-M1 games/installers. |
. |
– | Not Supported at all | macOS < 11(Big Sur) |
MacBook Air M1 Valorant Compatibility Wrap-up
With clear steps and guidelines, you should now possess the skills to play Valorant on your MacBook Air (M1 Chip). Please ensure you familiarize yourself with the game’s overall performance on M1 silicon. Don’t hesitate contact us with any additional questions or concern regarding Valorant installation and other aspects on the M1 ecosystem.
In this article, highlights include:
- Download an M1-optimized Valorant Installation.
- Run Valorant without Rosetta (at our own risk).
- Follow the steps install Valorant and its requirements).
- Configure Terminal for the easy installation process.
- Utilize resources provided to fix common graphical issues.
Feel free to ask as many questions as you’d like our experts, or you can bookmark this guide for easy reference. A well-played game awaits.
Happy gaming on your M1 MacBook Air!