How to install Windows 11 on a Mac

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With Parallels Desktop 17, you tin tally Windows 11 connected Intel-based and M1-based Macs, though an M1 Mac volition enactment lone the ARM-based mentation of Windows 11.

You privation to cheque out Windows 11 but you'd similar to tally it connected your Mac truthful that you tin easy bounce betwixt Windows and macOS. That process is trickier and much progressive than installing Windows 11 connected a PC, but it is doable with the close software, specifically Parallels Desktop 17.

SEE: Windows 10: Lists of vocal commands for code designation and dictation (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Using the latest mentation of the fashionable Parallels Desktop application, you tin instal the x86 mentation of Windows 11 connected an Intel-based Mac without overmuch fuss. The caller Macs powered by Apple's M1 spot are much finicky arsenic they tin grip lone ARM-based versions of Windows. But you tin marque this enactment by utilizing Microsoft's Insider Preview of Windows 11 for ARM.

Windows 11 runs arsenic a virtual instrumentality wrong Parallels Desktop, akin to the mode it would tally nether a Windows VM application, specified arsenic VMware Workstation oregon Oracle VM VirtualBox. You volition request a merchandise cardinal for Windows to activate it wrong Parallels Desktop.

Parallels Desktop 17 costs $80 for the modular edition, $100 a twelvemonth for the Pro Edition and $100 a twelvemonth for the Business Edition. People upgrading from a erstwhile mentation tin snag the Standard Edition for $50 and the Pro Edition for $50 a year. But anyone tin cheque retired Parallels Desktop for escaped done a full-featured 14-day trial.

How to instal Windows 11 connected an Intel-based Mac

First, you'll request to download the ISO record for Windows 11 connected your Intel-based Mac. Go to Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page and prime the 3rd enactment for Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO). Click the dropdown paper for Select Download and take Windows 11. Click the Download button. Select the merchandise connection and click Confirm. Click the fastener for 64-bit Download, and the ISO record is saved to the Downloads folder connected your Mac (Figure A).

Figure A

Next, download and instal the proceedings mentation oregon 1 of the paid editions of Parallels Desktop 17.1. Follow the installation steps. At the extremity of the installation, the bundle asks if you privation to instal Windows 10 (Figure B).

Figure B

At this point, you person 2 options. You tin let Parallels Desktop to instal Windows 10 automatically and past upgrade to Windows 11. Alternatively, you tin skip the automated process to instal Windows 10 and alternatively instal Windows 11 directly. Since you already downloaded the Windows 11 ISO, we'll spell with the 2nd option.

SEE: How to instal Windows 11 from Microsoft's ISO file (TechRepublic)

At the model for Download and Install Windows 10, click Skip. At the Create New window, prime the 2nd enactment for Install Windows oregon different OS from a DVD oregon representation file. Click Continue (Figure C).

Figure C

At the adjacent screen, click the nexus for Select a File. Browse to the Downloads folder and prime the Windows 11 ISO record that you antecedently downloaded (Figure D).

Figure D

Click Continue to commencement the installation. At the adjacent screen, participate the licence cardinal for Windows 11. Uncheck the container for Enter Windows License Key for faster installation if you privation to bypass this for now. Click Continue. At the adjacent screen, prime the variation of Windows 11 that you privation to install, specified arsenic Windows 11 Home oregon Windows 11 Pro. Click Done (Figure E).

Figure E

Choose however you'll chiefly usage Windows 11—Productivity oregon Games only. Click Continue. At the adjacent screen, corroborate the sanction and determination for Windows 11. Check the enactment for Customize settings earlier installation. Click Create (Figure F).

Figure F

At the Windows 11 configuration window, prime the conception for Hardware. Click the introduction for CPU & Memory and alteration it to Manual. Make definite the fig of CPUs is astatine slightest 2 and that representation is astatine slightest 4GB (Figure G).

Figure G

Close the configuration model and click Continue. Windows 11 past installs. After the installation, click the Windows 11 surface to continue. Sign successful with a Parallels account. Windows 11 opens arsenic a virtual instrumentality wrong Parallels Desktop.

How to instal Windows 11 connected an M1-based Mac

On an M1-based Mac, you archetypal request to download the ARM-based mentation of Windows 11, which presently is disposable lone arsenic an Insider Preview. For that, spell to the Windows 11 connected ARM Insider Preview webpage and motion successful with an relationship registered with the Windows Insider program. Click the fastener for Windows Client ARM64 Insider Preview and let the Windows VHDX record to spell into your Mac's Downloads folder (Figure H).

Figure H

Next, download and instal Parallels Desktop if you don't already person it. At the extremity of the installation, the programme tells you that you request an installation representation with an ARM-based operating system. Click the nexus for "How to download Windows 10 connected ARM Insider Preview" for documentation and a video that explicate the process. Return to the installation and click Continue. At the Create New screen, click the fastener for "Install Windows oregon different OS from a DVD oregon representation file." Click Continue (Figure I).

Figure I

At the surface for Select Installation Image, click the fastener for Find Automatically. Parallels Desktop should find the downloaded Windows 11 VHDX. If not, click the fastener for Choose Manually to browse to the record and prime it. After the VHDX record appears, click Continue (Figure J).

Figure J

Choose Productivity astatine the surface for "I volition chiefly usage Windows for." Click Continue. At the adjacent screen, support Windows 11 arsenic the name. Leave the destination way arsenic the default. But cheque the container for Customize settings earlier installation. Click Create (Figure K).

Figure K

Parallels starts to make the virtual instrumentality for Windows 11. The Windows configuration surface past appears. Click the class for Hardware and prime CPU and memory. Click the fastener for Manual. Make definite that astatine slightest 2 CPUs are selected and past alteration the representation to astatine slightest 4GB (Figure L).

Figure L

Click the Add fastener successful effect to the connection asking if you're definite you privation to adhd TPM to Windows 11. An introduction for the TPM spot past shows up astatine the bottom. Close the configuration model and click Continue.

After the installation finishes, click the Installation Complete window. Sign into your Parallels relationship oregon make 1 if you don't person it. Windows 11 is present acceptable for you to use.

How to usage Windows 11 successful Parallels Desktop

By moving oregon shrinking the Windows 11 VM window, you tin entree your Mac desktop and applications. You tin besides tally your Windows 11 VM successful antithetic modes and sizes. In Parallels Desktop, click the View paper to spot the disposable options. Full surface uses the full surface for Windows 11. Picture successful Picture reduces it to a tiny thumbnail image. Coherence mode puts a Windows 11 icon connected the Dock wherever you tin entree the Start paper and tally Windows apps alongside Mac apps (Figure M).

Figure M