How to Play Honkai Star Rail on Mac (2025)

Honkai: Star Rail is a free-to-play, turn-based RPG developed by HoYoverse. Released on April 26, 2023, for Windows, iOS, and Android, and later on October 11, 2023, for PlayStation 5, the game has gained popularity among RPG enthusiasts worldwide.

Mac users have been left out of the official release lineup, which is unfortunately common for many games. However, there are several effective workarounds that allow Mac owners to jump into this space fantasy adventure without switching devices.

In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to playing Honkai Star Rail on Mac using alternative methods. By following these instructions, you'll be able to explore the cosmic realms and engage in strategic turn-based combat regardless of the lack of native support.

Also Read: Is Honkai Star Rail on Steam? All You Need to Know

1. BlueStacks

BlueStacks offers Mac users a solid solution for playing Honkai Star Rail. This Android emulator creates a virtual mobile environment on your computer, giving you access to games from the Google Play Store.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Download & Install BlueStacks from the official website

2. Launch BlueStacks after installation completes

3. Navigate to the Store section

4. Click the search bar at the top right and type "Honkai Star Rail"

5. Log in to the Google Play Store if prompted

6. Install Honkai Star Rail

7. Once installation finishes, log in to your HoYoverse account

HSR Top Up

The emulator runs the mobile version of the game, so you'll need to adjust settings for the best experience. Open the in-game settings menu to customize graphics and controls based on your Mac's capabilities. Lower graphic settings may improve performance on older Mac models, while newer machines can handle higher quality settings.

BlueStacks also allows you to customize keyboard mapping, giving you PC-style controls rather than touchscreen inputs. This makes combat and navigation significantly more comfortable during extended gaming sessions.

Also Read: How to Uninstall Honkai Star Rail: Step-by-Step Guide

2. PlayCover

PlayCover lets you run iOS apps directly on your Mac with Apple Silicon. This method provides better performance than emulation since it runs the iOS version natively.

Follow these steps:

1. Download PlayCover from the official website

2. Get the Honkai Star Rail IPA file through the decrypt IPA store

3. Download the Honkai Star Rail key map file for keyboard and mouse controls

4. Open PlayCover and select the "Import IPA" option

5. Locate and import the com.Hoyoverse.honkai_star_rail.ipa file

6. Launch Honkai Star Rail through PlayCover

7. Log in to your HoYoverse account

8. Download all required game resources

This method works on Macs with M1/M2/M3 chips and costs nothing to set up. You get smoother gameplay than with emulators since the app runs natively through Apple's own frameworks.

The key map feature transforms the touch controls into familiar keyboard and mouse inputs, making combat and exploration feel natural. You can customize these controls further to match your preferences.

Also Read: Honkai Star Rail: Size, System Requirements, & More!

Final Words

While Honkai Star Rail doesn't have an official Mac version, both BlueStacks and PlayCover offer reliable solutions for Mac users. BlueStacks works on all Mac computers but runs the Android version through emulation. PlayCover provides better performance on Apple Silicon Macs by running the iOS version natively.

Honkai: Star Rail Accounts