Help

How Malbec’s settings and screens work, then every message Malbec can show, what it means, and the one thing to do about it. In the app, the ? next to a message opens its page.

Playing

The check before you playWhen you press Play, Malbec can point out what on your Mac may slow the game down.
A game is still closingSome games keep running for a while after their window closes. Malbec shows “Still closing…” until they end.
Shaders prepared after you playMalbec prepares a game’s shaders after it closes, in the background, instead of when you press Play.
Voice chat and Bluetooth headphonesGame Settings › Input shows which microphone a game records from, and can keep Bluetooth headphones in their usual sound.
Left Option acts as AltIn games, the left Option key works as the Alt key. Store windows keep Option for typing.
Faster clicksAn option that takes mouse clicks from the same input as mouse movement, so they stay in order with it. Off unless you turn it on.

Network and support

Network proxy detectionWindows programs in Malbec don’t look for a network proxy on their own, unless your Mac does.
Logging for supportIf we ask for detailed logs, turn on the preset we name. It turns itself off after three game sessions.

Your Mac and the engine

Rosetta is neededWindows games run through Apple’s Rosetta. macOS installs it in about a minute.
Malbec needs macOS 26.5 or laterUpdate macOS in System Settings › General › Software Update, then open Malbec again.
Malbec can’t write to its folderIts folder needs a Mac disk that isn’t read-only or case-sensitive. Check the disk in Disk Utility, then try again.
Malbec is already openAnother copy of Malbec is running on this Mac. Use that one, or quit it and try again.
This copy of Malbec is incompleteIts engine is missing. Download Malbec again; your games and settings stay.
The engine needs a repairSome engine files are damaged. Malbec can unpack a fresh copy. Your games, settings and sign-ins stay.
The new engine didn’t installMalbec is still using the previous engine, so your games keep working.
Not enough space for the engineMalbec needs about 2 GB free to unpack its engine.
Your Mac is almost fullThe game needs more space than is free.
Quit your games firstRepairing the engine needs your games, Battle.net and Steam closed.

Stores and their installers

Couldn’t prepare the storeMalbec couldn’t finish the store’s Windows space. Trying again usually works.
A step took too longMalbec stopped it so nothing is left half-done.
The store is still runningQuit the store from its window, then try again.
Couldn’t download the storeCheck your internet connection.
The download wasn’t the store’s installerSomething changed it on the way, often a Wi-Fi sign-in page. Try again, or on another network.
The store’s installer couldn’t be verifiedSo Malbec didn’t run it. Try again later; if it keeps happening, send us diagnostics from the Help menu.
Battle.net (China) can’t be set up yetMalbec checks who signed every installer before it runs one, and the signer of the store’s installer isn’t confirmed yet. Nothing was installed. An update to Malbec will add it.
Steam didn’t finish installingTry again. If it happens twice, send us diagnostics from the Help menu.
Battle.net wasn’t installedThe installer didn’t finish in 30 minutes. Start it again and click Continue in its window.
Battle.net wasn’t installedThe installer closed before it finished. Try again.
Battle.net keeps asking for an updateIt couldn’t check the game’s files (error 2123). Restart it once; if it happens again, send us diagnostics from the Help menu.
Set up the store firstThen the game can start from it.
Quit the store firstShaders can only be cleared while the store and its games are closed.

Games

The game hasn’t startedThe store may be showing an update or a sign-in. Finish it there. If the game doesn’t start by itself, press Play.
The game closed right after startingThis can happen after a game update. Try again; if it repeats, send us diagnostics from the Help menu.
Malbec can’t find the game’s programIt may have moved, or an update renamed it.
The drive with the game isn’t connectedConnect the drive and Malbec picks up where it left off.

Bringing games over from CrossOver or Recall

Set up the store firstThen bring the game over from CrossOver.
The game is already in MalbecMalbec already has a copy. Play it from there.
Steam’s record doesn’t matchMalbec left CrossOver’s copy untouched. Install the game in Malbec’s Steam instead.
Couldn’t copy the gameUsually a full disk. Nothing changed in CrossOver.

The app

Couldn’t save the diagnostics fileTry saving it in another folder.
Move Malbec to ApplicationsMalbec updates itself only when it runs from Applications.
Your trial has endedYour games and settings are kept.
This beta has endedThanks for testing. Download the latest Malbec to keep playing; your games and settings stay.
Something went wrongTry again. If it happens twice, send us diagnostics from the Help menu.
Malbec restored your data from a backupA saved file was damaged, so Malbec used its backup from an earlier session. Your latest changes may be missing.