- Home
- Windows Compatibility Layers
- Decanter
Decanter
What it is
Decanter is open-source macOS software for managing Wine environments that run Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs. It examines a game’s engine, architecture, and Direct3D requirements, then recommends a runtime and graphics layer while showing its reasoning. Each game receives a separate APFS copy-on-write Windows environment, and the project says cloning takes about half a second. Games can access their own folder and a shared games directory, with access checked before launch. Saves can remain outside the environment and link back in; snapshots protect against destructive actions. Decanter detects and configures BepInEx mods, reports failed plugins, and creates diagnostic reports. Setups can be exported or packaged as Mac apps. Users supply Wine and Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit. Requirements include macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon and Rosetta 2. Releases are not notarised.
For and against
For
- Per-game APFS copy-on-write environments
- Explains runtime and graphics recommendations
- Supports external saves and protective snapshots
- Detects and diagnoses BepInEx plugins
- Exports setups or standalone Mac apps
Against
- Requires macOS 14 or later and Rosetta 2
- Users must supply Wine and Game Porting Toolkit
- Kernel-level anti-cheat games do not work
- Releases are not notarised
The verdict
Decanter organizes Wine-based game setups with per-game environments, save protection, mod handling, and export options. Its Apple Silicon requirements, user-supplied runtimes, and compatibility limits should be checked before installation.
Who it suits
Decanter suits Apple Silicon Mac users running Windows games through Wine who can provide their own runtimes. It is also useful for players managing separate game environments, saves, mods, and diagnostics.
On the record
- Compatibility limits
- The maker says games with kernel-level anti-cheat do not work, and Unity 6 requires Metal graphics (DXMT) and a compatible Wine build.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Distribution caveat
- The project says its releases are not notarised, so macOS users must allow the app to open in Privacy & Security once.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Exports
- Users can export a setup file or bundle a game as a Mac app that can run without Decanter.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- File access
- Each game is limited to its own folder and a shared games directory, and Decanter checks this scope before launch.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Game setup
- It analyzes a game's engine, architecture, and Direct3D requirements, recommends a runtime and graphics layer, and shows its reasoning.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies Decanter's license as GPL-3.0.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Mods
- Decanter detects and configures BepInEx mods and reports which plugin failed and why.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Mods and diagnostics
- Decanter detects and configures BepInEx mods, reports plugin failures, and can generate a diagnostic report for a game.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Per-game environments
- Each game gets its own APFS copy-on-write Windows environment, isolated from other games.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Decanter makes no network requests; its Windows Components feature can fetch a runtime or codec from its publisher when the user invokes it.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Decanter runs Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs by choosing a Windows environment and graphics translation for each game.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Decanter requires macOS 14 or later on Apple Silicon and Rosetta 2; its setup installs Rosetta 2.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Runtimes
- Users supply Wine and Apple's Game Porting Toolkit; Decanter does not download runtimes and keeps its own copies of those supplied.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Runtime setup
- Users supply Wine and the Game Porting Toolkit themselves; Decanter copies runtimes into its own store and does not download them.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Saved games
- Saves can be moved outside a game's Windows environment and linked back in, and Decanter snapshots before destructive actions.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Save protection
- Protected saves are stored outside a game's environment and linked back in, and Decanter snapshots before destructive actions.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security caveat
- Releases are not notarised, so macOS requires users to allow the app to open once in Privacy & Security.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report vulnerabilities privately through GitHub's security advisory form.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
