NinjaTrader for Mac: A Detailed Guide [2023 Version]

While NinjaTrader stands out as a highly regarded futures and forex trading platform, it does come with some drawbacks. The lack of format availability for macOS is a notable example.

But worry not! Users can download NinjaTrader for Mac system through some virtualization software or trade directly with the web version today.

Curious? Keep scrolling down to find out the answer with ninZa.co.

Why is NinjaTrader not available on Mac?

NinjaTrader 7 and NinjaTrader 8 are Windows applications and require the .NET framework to function.

As the .NET framework is only available on Windows operating systems, NT7 and NT8 trading software are not compatible with Mac operating systems.

Therefore, the development team needs to create separate software that runs on macOS which would be more complex and costly.

After considering these factors, it is understandable why the NinjaTrader for Mac version won’t be released anytime soon.

However, Mac users can rest assured since you have many options to trade on your Mac hardware without any delay.

How to download NinjaTrader for Mac users?

USING PARALLELS

Parallels offers one of the best ways to run NinjaTrader on Mac. This software is compatible with both Intel and M1/M2 Macs, providing unlimited support.

Even better, Parallels allows users to switch between macOS and Windows in seconds, seamlessly optimizing your workflow.

Before installing and running NinjaTrader on your Mac using Parallels, ensure that you have completed the following steps:

Open Parallels and choose your virtual machine
Find and click on the “Configure” button at the top side
Within the “Options” section, select “Sharing”
Under the “Share Mac User Folders with Windows”, uncheck “Share Mac”
Press “OK” to save the changes and start the virtual machine

When utilizing Parallels, it’s essential to allocate sufficient RAM for Windows. You can read instructions on how to allocate RAM in Parallels here.

NinjaTrader 8 requires a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. For better performance, 8 GB of RAM is recommended.

THROUGH VMWARE FUSION

Besides Parallels, you can also use VMWare Fusion to run NinjaTrader on your Mac device.

What sets it apart is the ability to handle graphics with significantly lower overhead compared to the former.

NinjaTrader relies on directX graphic components to create visually appealing charts and VMWare can enhance them for better visualization.

To operate NinjaTrader on a Mac through VMWare, you need to take the following steps:

Launch VMWare and choose your virtual machine
Click on the “Settings” button located at the bottom of the window
Navigate to “Sharing” within the “System Setting” section
From the “Mirrored Folders” list, uncheck the “Documents”
Close “Settings” and start the virtual machine

TRADE ON THE WEB VERSION

Fortunately, Mac users can now trade directly on the web version of NinjaTrader.

To access this feature, simply log in or register for a NinjaTrader account. We have prepared a comprehensive NinjaTrader login guide that you can refer to for assistance.