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Despite using a MacBook as my daily driver, I sometimes need to use Windows now and then. For that, I don’t need to buy a separate laptop. Instead, I use Parallels Desktop to run Windows 11 on my Mac. I’ll teach you how to do it below.
How Does Parallels Desktop Work?
Parallels Desktop is a virtualization app. It’s one of the best virtualization platforms for running a second operating system—like Windows or Linux—inside the current one. To do this, Parallels emulates a complete computer system with a so-called virtual machine (VM).
Thanks to virtualization, you can run Windows 11 in a window alongside macOS (at the expense of speed and battery life). Keep in mind that not many PC apps have native support for Windows on ARM, a version of Windows compiled for ARM64 devices like Snapdragon X Elite laptops and even Apple silicon Macs.
Windows 11 Virtualization With Parallels
Using Parallels Desktop version 18 and later, you can download, install, and configure Windows 11 on your Macs in just a few clicks. Parallels also provide a virtualTPM chipand support for Windows features like BitLocker, Secure Boot, and Windows Hello. Getting these security features is one of thereasons to install Windows on a Mac.
I’ll use a trial version of Parallels and a non-activated copy of Windows 11 to get Microsoft’s operating system up and running on my Mac for free. If you decide the solution works for you, you can always upgrade to the full version of Parallels and purchase a Windows license later.
Grab a free trial of Parallels Desktop for macOS by visiting theParallels Desktop website, then click theTry Freebutton. You can use Parallels features without restriction during your 14-day trial period. With the installer downloaded, open theInstall Parallels Desktopdisk image from your Downloads folder.
If macOS throws a message saying it couldn’t open the installer because it wasn’t downloaded from the App Store,Control-click the file icon and chooseOpenfrom the context menu, then confirm the action by clicking theOpenbutton.
With the disk image mounted, double-click theInstall Parallels Desktopbutton in the installer. If you see a warning that the app was downloaded from the Internet, clickOpento continue. To finish installing Parallels, you must accept the terms to initiate the download process, verify your identity, and permit Parallels to access your Mac.
Step 2: Install Windows 11 in Parallels
Launch Parallels and the Installation Assistant should take over. If it doesn’t show up, click theFilemenu and chooseNewto create a fresh virtual machine.
Parallels allow you to manually install Windows 11 using an ISO. If you want to take that route,download Windows 11 ISO, and then choose theOther Optionsbutton on the setup screen. But, in this guide, we’ll let Parallels download and install Windows, which is more convenient.
Click theInstall Windowsbutton to let Parallels download and install Windows 11. On the next page, select what you wish to use Parallels for, or simply clickContinueto go with the defaultProductivityoption. After that, Parallels will start the download process.
If Parallels requests access to your system storage after downloading Windows, clickAllow. With that done, Parallels will validate and launch the installer.
It may take a while to install Windows 11—be patient as Parallels optimizes Windows 11 on your Mac. You’ll see an “Installation Complete” message at the end of the process. At that point, click on the screen to continue.
Step 3: Complete the Installation
You’ll be prompted to create a free Parallels account or sign in to an existing one. SelectI’m a new userto create a new account orI have a passwordto log in to an existing account.
You canSign in with Appleand avoid sharing your real email address. Parallels Desktop includes a 14-day free trial without limitations. Once it expires, you’ll need to buy a license from theParallels website.
Parallels will now boot your VM to finish installing Windows 11. The Windows License Agreement comes up next, so click theAcceptbutton to continue.
You should now land on the Windows 11 desktop in a macOS window. With everything installed and set up correctly, you may run your favorite Windows apps and games alongside macOS! You can close the VM at any time by clickingActionsin the Windows 11 menu bar and selectingShutdown. You can then quit Windows 11 safely from there.
Step 4. Install the Parallels Toolbox
This step is optional, but the Parallels Toolbox includes a variety of helpful utilities for freeing up storage space, content creation, optimizing computer settings for a presentation, and more. To get them, launch Parallels Desktop, clickParallels Desktopfrom the menu bar, selectInstall Parallels Toolbox for Mac, and then clickInstall Now.
You can now access the various apps in the Parallels Toolbox from the macOS menu bar in the top-right corner.
Parallels Toolbox won’t replace the need for multiple apps, so I recommend installing your favorite Windows apps, too.
you may get third-party Windows apps via the Microsoft Store or the developers' websites, just like on a real PC. Parallels Desktop even allows you to open a downloaded Windows app installer directly from the macOS Finder, and it’ll take over and do the right thing.
For inspiration, check out our list ofmust-have Windows apps for any new PC.
Step 5. Customize Your Windows 11 Virtual Machine
you’re able to adjust various settings by clickingActionsfrom the Windows 11 menu bar and then selectingConfigure(some of the settings cannot be changed until your virtual machine is shut down).
Under theGeneraltab, click theChangebutton next toConfigure forto choose whether you’ll primarily use Windows 11 for productivity, gaming, development, etc. You can give your Windows 11 virtual machine a custom title in theNamefield.
Next, click theHardwaretab to fine-tune your virtual machine by adjusting the amount of virtual RAM, processors, graphics cores, and other features available to Windows 11.
Click additional sections in the sidebar to configure other simulated hardware capabilities and how software features like sharing and picture-in-picture behave. Close the settings window to save the changes to your virtual PC.
Unsupported Features in Windows on ARM
According toMicrosoft’s support document, some features are unsupported in Windows on ARM:
There are some perfectly valid reasons to run Windows 11 on a Mac. Regardless of your reason, virtualization software like Parallels is a very convenient method to run Microsoft’s latest and greatest operating system alongside macOS with minimal effort.
