Microsoft recommends using Windows 11 with Mac computers with Apple M1 and M2 chips via Parallels Desktop
Since Apple Mac computers have been equipped with their own Apple Silicon SoC. There are not a few people who buy MacBook Air/Pro to install Windows systems. Because the new generation of Mac computers no longer have the native Bootcamp dual-system installation support. This still has a great impact on users. But now Microsoft officially guides you on how to use Windows 11 on Mac computers equipped with M1 and M2 chips.
In fact, users who just need to use Windows have known for a long time that they can install Windows on the new generation Mac through Parallels Desktop as a virtual machine. Microsoft officially recommends this method. At present, the latest version of Parallels Desktop 18 has officially supported the installation of the ARM version of Windows 11 on Mac computers equipped with M1 and M2 chips, but this software is charged.
However, although it can be installed and used, some system-level functions, such as Windows Subsystem for Android and Windows Sandbox, cannot be realized by using virtual machines. In addition, in terms of software compatibility, 32-bit ARM architecture apps cannot run. At present, only 64-bit ARM architecture apps are supported, and some x86 and x64 programs can be run through emulation. Other games that require DirectX 12 and OpenGL 3.3 cannot be supported.
In fact, there is still a big gap between the ARM version of Windows 11 and the X86 version that everyone uses every day. However, Microsoft is also thinking about this situation and recommends that you can use their Windows 365 Cloud PC service to provide you with a streaming Windows 11 system in the cloud, and you only need to pay to subscribe.
