Visio for Mac: run Microsoft Visio for Windows on your Mac

Visio, the desktop app for flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams and floor plans, exists only for Windows. CrossDriver App runs it on your Mac.

Every Pro feature is free during the preview, until December 31, 2026

The CrossDriver App Home page

Microsoft Visio on a Mac today

Microsoft has never released the Visio desktop app for Mac. On a Mac you could only view diagrams or use Visio in a browser, which lacks much of the desktop app.

What you get with the Windows version

  • Open and edit .vsd and .vsdx diagrams
  • Flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams and floor plans with Visio's stencils
  • Copy diagrams into Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Print and export to PDF and images

Versions with a ready-made setup

Pick one in the Setup Center of CrossDriver App. It creates its own environment, installs the components the app needs and runs the official installer; you bring the installer and your license.

Microsoft Visio 2016 Experimental

2016 Professional / Standard (volume or retail MSI)

Install Visio 2016 with your own media and product key.

What you need Bring your own license

Good to know
  • The setup wizard runs in its own window. Enter your product key there; CrossDriver never activates for you.
  • Office 2010–2016 activates through Office's own licensing service (OSPP), which runs on Windows 7; that is why this container reports Windows 7. Enter your product key in the setup wizard or later under File > Account.
  • Only Microsoft's own setup program is run. Don't use third-party activation tools that come with downloaded packages: CrossDriver supports only Microsoft's own activation.

Microsoft Office 2016 (MSI media, 32-bit) Experimental

2016 Professional Plus / Standard / Visio / Project, MSI media (32-bit)

Install Office 2016, Visio 2016 or Project 2016 from your own MSI media (volume or retail) with Microsoft's setup wizard, and activate with your own key.

What you need Bring your own license. You enter the key in Microsoft's setup or in Office; Office activates with Microsoft or your KMS. CrossDriver never activates or bypasses activation.

Good to know
  • Office 2010–2016 activates through Office's own licensing service (OSPP), which runs on Windows 7; that is why this container reports Windows 7. Enter your product key in the setup wizard or later under File > Account.
  • Only Microsoft's own setup program is run. Don't use third-party activation tools that come with downloaded packages: CrossDriver supports only Microsoft's own activation.

Microsoft Visio Plan 2 Experimental

Visio Professional for Visio Plan 2, Current Channel (Click-to-Run, x64, zh-CN)

Install the Visio desktop app for Visio Plan 2 subscribers (Current Channel) offline from files you downloaded with the Office Deployment Tool.

Needs a Microsoft 365 subscription; sign-in support is limited

Microsoft 365 apps are licensed by signing in, not by product key. On CrossDriver, work or school accounts can sign in; personal Microsoft accounts cannot sign in yet. Whether Office then shows as licensed has not been verified yet.

Alternatives

  • Have a Visio 2016 license: the "Microsoft Visio 2016" plan (there is no Visio for Mac)

What you need Needs your own Visio Plan 2 subscription: sign in inside Visio to activate. CrossDriver never activates Visio for you.

Good to know
  • Signing in to your Microsoft account inside Visio has not been verified under CrossDriver yet. Until you sign in, it runs unlicensed with editing limited.
  • Opens and saves both .vsdx and legacy .vsd drawings.
  • Right after setup, Current Channel Office may start installing extra Microsoft apps (such as Teams or the new Outlook). They are not needed for Visio; you can close those windows.
  • Automatic updates are off; to update, download newer files with the Office Deployment Tool and run this setup again.
  • On first launch Office shows Microsoft's privacy notice; click Next once.
  • If the app failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No.

Microsoft Visio LTSC Professional 2024 Experimental

Visio LTSC Professional 2024 (Click-to-Run, volume, x64, zh-CN)

Install Visio LTSC 2024 offline from files you downloaded with the Office Deployment Tool.

Installs, but cannot be activated: read-only use

Office 2019, 2021 and 2024 can only be activated through Windows' own licensing service (SPP), which CrossDriver cannot provide. After installing, Office keeps showing "Unlicensed Product" and runs in reduced functionality mode: you can open, view and print documents, but not create or edit them. CrossDriver does not provide or support any third-party activation tool.

Alternatives

  • Have a Visio 2016 license: the "Microsoft Visio 2016" plan (there is no Visio for Mac)

What you need Needs your own volume license. CrossDriver never activates Visio for you.

Good to know
  • Visio stays unlicensed (title bar says so, and editing is limited) until you activate it with your own volume license.
  • Opens and saves both .vsdx and legacy .vsd drawings.
  • On first launch Office shows Microsoft's privacy notice; click Next once.
  • If the app failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No.

The labels are the ones the App shows. Experimental: works in our tests but not yet verified end to end on every Mac. Known issues: works, with the limits listed.

How to run Microsoft Visio on your Mac

  1. Download CrossDriver AppDrag it into Applications like any other Mac app. The preview includes every Pro feature for free, and the free edition needs no account.
  2. Drag in the installerOr pick an app in the Setup Center. CrossDriver App gets the runtimes, fonts and settings it needs ready for you.
  3. Open it like a Mac appDouble-click and go. Add it to Applications, and from then on open it from Launchpad or Spotlight.

Questions about Microsoft Visio on a Mac

Is there Visio for Mac?

There is no Visio desktop app for Mac. CrossDriver App runs Visio for Windows on your Mac.

How do I open a .vsdx file on a Mac?

Install Visio in CrossDriver App and double-click the .vsdx file; it opens in Visio, ready to edit.

Which Visio versions can I use?

Visio 2016 (Standard or Professional) activates with your own key. Visio Plan 2 subscribers can sign in with a work or school account. Visio 2021 and 2024 install but can't be activated on CrossDriver.

Can I open Visio files someone sent me?

Yes, as long as you have a Visio license: install Visio once and open the .vsdx file from Finder.

Try Microsoft Visio on your Mac

Every Pro feature is free during the preview, until December 31, 2026

Download the CrossDriver App preview

Other Windows apps that run on your Mac