I’ve always thought that Windows on ARM folks like ourselves running it in Parallels we’re just Microsoft’s Guinea Pigs.
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Why doesn't Apple Silicon support Windows on Arm if it supports Linux on Arm?
- Thread starter izzy0242mr
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Apologies all: I did in fact get my wires crossed. 32-bit ARM code won't run. Not sure where my sleep-deprived over-caffeinated brain crossed the wires there, but you all are right and I apologize to you all for getting those wires crossed.
Except for you; your response was akin to that of a child and it's responses like that one that make this world worse.
You're right; got my wires crossed with ARM32 for some reason.
KB Parallels: Install Windows 11 on a Mac with Apple silicon
To install a new virtual machine on a Mac with Apple silicon, you need to use an with a .
I'm totally dependent on being able to run Windows VMs on my Macs, so I have been holding off buying M1/M2 Macs. Is running Windows 10/11 VMs on M1/M2 Macs now officially working and supported? Does it work as well as it does on Intel or are there still some quirks to iron out before Windows M1/M2 is ready for prime time? Also, am I correct to assume that I won't be able to open any of my current Windows VMs (created Intel Mac) on an M1/M2 Mac?
There are a few caveats. Some software, like Visual Studio 2022 isn’t fully supported.
Correct. You'll need to make new VMs with the Windows ARM Insider.
Depends on what you mean. Parallels officially supports Windows on ARM for as long as Microsoft chooses not to add code that blocks it.
As to how well your specific apps run on it, that's a YMMV situation.
It's still not supported by Microsoft unfortunately, and the licensing is still iffy without that support. It runs fairly well, speed is decent and while it's not perfectly compatible, most things run.
Here's a thought, maybe if enough people give Microsoft feedback on the desire to run WoA in a VM on other than qualcomm processors (the only supported ARM CPU type), maybe we'll get somewhere. I know I'd be happy if it happened!
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I’m sure once it gets Microsoft’s blessing we’ll see a big enough splash in official channels that you’re unlikely to miss it. Until then, keep running Intel Macs or, if they get too long in the tooth, get a Windows computer until further notice.
Just as a quick notice, I don't believe Microsoft ever officially supported running Windows on any Mac, be it in a VM or Bootcamp.
And now VMWare is in on the action. My guess is that Microsoft has indicated they won’t crack down on individual users. That said, enterprises will likely wait until there is official support.
It's not that Microsoft is "not cracking down," but rather that everyone is complying with Microsoft. Microsoft offers Windows 11 Arm VHDX for free as a preview. Apple silicon is unsupported, but that's only a blocker to having some confidence from Microsoft that it will work. It's not a compliance issue with Microsoft's licensing terms for the software.
Preview builds are probably not suitable for enterprise use in most cases because Microsoft is explicitly indicating that the software is experimental. They aren't making any support guarantees, and reliability and security efforts could be low compared to commercial general releases. Microsoft could even make low level changes to Windows ARM that breaks on apple silicon, as part of the normal course of development.
Preview builds are probably not suitable for enterprise use in most cases because Microsoft is explicitly indicating that the software is experimental. They aren't making any support guarantees, and reliability and security efforts could be low compared to commercial general releases. Microsoft could even make low level changes to Windows ARM that breaks on apple silicon, as part of the normal course of development.
I believe this is the unofficial Microsoft policy. They will probably avoid breaking stuff for Apple VM users, maybe even improving support here and there (as you say), but we are unlikely to ever get an “official” stamp on any of this simply for legal reasons. Supporting a product also means to offer troubleshooting and some level of service/user protection and third-party uncertified hardware is just way too risky.
I echo that question -- I would love to be able to buy it, but I haven't seen it for sale unless you count the devices it comes on.
Its tied to a machine. That is you can buy an arm based windows machine today and it comes with ARM based windows
The Lenovo Thinkpad X13S is one such machine
Truth be told, I thought ARM windows was still in preview/pre-release but I recalled seeing Ars Technica cover the X13s
At the moment while "retail" you cannot buy Windows on ARM (or is it Arm on windows???)
Lol, non-preview builds, licensed with a Retail Key. I’ve done it multiple times
Ah, sure, you can use the retail key for an insider build. MS themselves say it’s ok. But I dint believe they sell a retail version of ARM Windows as such.
At any rate, that’s just legal stuff. The point is that Windows on ARM is available and runs decently enough, if not without limitations. It’s not like Bootcamp was ever officially supported by MS either…