You can now install Windows 11 on a Mac although currently only the Pre-Installation Environment version is available. The Best Ways To Install Windows on Mac.Note also that some games such as Valorant won’t work when running Windows in Parallels due to the anti-cheat Vanguard protection software.
If the application you want to run is available in the Microsoft Store, then it probably runs on Windows 10 for ARM.
You may therefore find that some games or software simply don’t work after installing Windows 10 for ARM on an M1 Mac. The problem with Windows 10 for ARM is that many programs and applications don’t work with it.Īlthough Windows 10 for ARM can run some software that the Intel x86 version of Windows can (thanks to something called x86 emulation), it doesn’t always work with all programs or games.
Windows 10 for ARM is not publicly available but you can download it for free as part of the Windows Insider program which anyone can sign-up for. Since the M1 is an ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) chip, Parallels can only run the “Windows 10 for ARM” version of Windows not the standard Intel version that’s installed on most computers.
There are a few catches to be aware of though when installing Windows with Parallels on an M1 Mac. Windows 10 ARM on M1 Macs: Before You Start
Since Boot Camp doesn’t work on M1 Macs, Parallels is therefore the only way to install Windows on an M1 Mac in 2021. Parallels is currently the only virtual machine that is officially compatible with the M1 chip and allows you to run Intel only Windows software on Apple Silicon M1 Macs.Īt the moment, the only major rival to Parallels is VMWare Fusion which is not expected to officially support M1 Macs until Spring 2022 although there is currently an Apple Silicon Preview of VMWare Fusion version that does work with the M1 chip. Parallels is incredibly easy to use even for beginners and once you’ve downloaded everything, will install Windows on an M1 Mac in little more than 10 minutes. Parallels is a virtual machine which runs Windows “virtually” within macOS meaning you can switch between Windows and macOS instantly.
Approved posters can arrange for more daily posts by contacting the moderators.If you’re wondering whether the Apple Silicon M1 Mac can run Windows the good news is it can and here we show you how to install Windows on an M1 Mac for free.Īlthough there are various ways of running Windows on a Mac, the best way to run Windows on an M1 Mac is with Parallels. It is also required to properly format posts. When self-promoting content, please provide as much meaningful information as possible, such as a detailed description, trailers, or screenshots. Read the FAQ, and refer users to it if applicable. The simplest is About This Mac, available by choosing About This Mac from the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. Your Mac provides several tools to help you identify it. If you are asking for advice on games or your system, post the specs of your Mac such as model name, CPU, and GPU. Before asking for help, or installing a game, please visit r/macgaming/wiki/catalina, and check both the compatibility test chart provided by our community and the list of unsupported 32-bit Mac games by Mac Gamer HQ. Please make use of the search and read the FAQ before asking questions, many have been answered already and it will save you time!Ĭan my Mac run it? The MacGameStore App, or Mac Gamer HQ's extensive list of performance results and benchmarks are good ways to check if your Mac will run a certain game.Ĭan macOS Catalina run it? Games that are 32-bit only will no longer run on macOS Catalina. The home for gaming on Mac machines! Here you will find resources, information, and a great community of gamers.