Microsoft officially brings Windows 11 to Macs via Parallels

Microsoft has announced that users running Macs equipped with M1 and M2 Apple silicon chips will now be able to install Windows 11 on apple hardware via Parallels Desktop version 18.

Windows 11 will be limited to the Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise, delivered through a virtualised instance of the operating system (OS).

Parallels has been used by Mac owners for years to get virtualised instances of previous Windows OSs working on Apple hardware.

The virtualisation software has been supported on Apple silicon Macs since 2021, but Windows installs have always required unofficial workarounds. Microsoft officially authorised Windows 11 arm installs on Thursday.

Before Apple’s M1 chip was released, its Macs were powered by Intel CPUs and supported Apple’s Boot Camp Assistant - software that allowed users to partition their hard drives to install Windows 10 on the computer natively.

With this method, users could choose which OS to launch when booting. Apple has never suggested it will be bringing Boot Camp Assistant to Macs powered by its own chips.

Parallels was still a viable and popular option for those who wanted to run Windows on Macs, but didn’t want to dedicate substantial space on their hard drive for a disk-partitioned setup.

Windows 11 Arm on Mac: Limitations

One of the main drawbacks for users wanting to run Windows 11 on Mac is that the Arm version occasionally encounters issues where applications built for windows don’t run correctly.

This is because drivers for software need to be developed specifically for Windows 11 for Arm-based PCs, not just for Windows 11 generally.

This could potentially impact the smooth running of antivirus and antimalware products, printing software, other virtualisation software, and various peripherals.

Some software that ‘modifies the Windows experience’ may also encounter issues on Windows 11 Arm.

Microsoft said applications like input method editors (IMEs), assistive technologies, and cloud storage apps may fall under this category.

Applications that require an additional layer of virtualisation aren’t supported either. Windows Subsystem for Android and Windows Subsystem for Linux - software that allows Windows users to run Android and Linux apps from inside Windows respectively, will not work on the Parallels Windows experience.

For cyber security professionals, Windows Sandbox also won’t work, nor will Virtualisation-based Security (VBS).

Windows Fax and Scan won’t be available, and Microsoft also warned that some third-party antivirus software may not work, but assured Windows Security will protect the system from cyber security threats.

Users will still be able to run software that’s built for Windows machines but isn’t available on the Microsoft Store.

Windows 11 Arm on Mac: Licensing

Parallels said that “users can purchase Windows 11 through their normal Windows procurement process”.

A Windows 11 Pro key costs £219.99 directly from Microsoft and Windows 11 Enterprise licenses are purchased through Microsoft 365 Enterprise. It isn’t immediately clear how these licenses will work with Parallels.

“Licensing the Windows 11 operating system that runs on the Mac device is straightforward,” said Parallels in a blog post.

“The same volume licensing system that addresses enterprise licensing, such as Key Management Services, can be used to provide Pro or Enterprise licenses to the Windows 11 guest operating system.”

Windows 11 Arm on Mac: The Windows 365 Cloud PC alternative

Microsoft also highlighted how Mac users can access Windows 11 through their browser on any device with its Windows 365 Cloud PC service.

Business users can access a Windows 11 instance for as little as $31 (approximately £26) per user per month (with a maximum of 300 users).

The Basic plan offers access to a cloud-driven Windows instance with access to two virtual CPUs, 4GB RAM, and 128GB storage. Prices rise in the Standard and Premium tiers, which offer 8GB RAM and 16GB RAM respectively. The Premium tier also doubles the number of virtual CPUs to four.