When Apple switched from its proprietary PowerPC hardware to Intel-based Macs in 2005, one of the biggest advantages was that Macs could run Windows natively, either as a primary operating system or dual-booting via BootCamp. When Apple once again switched to its own ARM-based M chips a few years ago, that option disappeared. While you can still virtualize Windows on the newest Macs, it’s more of a headache. Today, Microsoft has posted a guide to make it slightly easier.
“Guide” might be a little generous. As Digital Trends noticed, it’s a short support page outlining your options for running Windows 11 on a newer Mac laptop or desktop with Apple Silicon guts. Microsoft lays out its two options: Virtualizing the ARM version of Windows 11 via the third-party program Parallels Desktop or using a Windows 365 Cloud PC, an add-on service only available to corporate Windows 365 customers.
Microsoft is pretty clear that either way isn’t ideal. The ARM-based Windows 11 build doesn’t get access to DirectX 12, Android or Linux app support, the new Windows Sandbox, or older 32-bit Windows applications. But this is still the first time that Microsoft has indicated that it will at least grudgingly support customers who want to run Windows on any of the newer Mac hardware.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.