Permit Parallels Desktop to access the Mac’s Desktop, Documents, and Download folders during the installation process, for it to function correctly. Download and install Parallels 17 or on your M1 Mac.Follow the steps one after the other, and before you realize it, you will be able to install Windows 11 on Mac M1 chips. Now that we know all that is required and what they mean let’s get right to the steps to run Windows on M1 Macs. Make sure you download it from the official Parallels website. They provide a free trial for a specific period so that you can check them out. The home version of Parallels 17 costs around $80, or else if you already have an older version, you can pay $50 to upgrade it. This version supports Windows 11 on macOS Catalina, Monterey, and Big Sur. Prerequisites for Running Windows on M1 Macįirst and foremost, of course, you will require Parallels 17. Parallels, unlike Boot Camp, make transitioning between Windows and Mac OS more flexible and fluid. With Boot Camp, you can only use one OS at a time, and switching between two operating systems will require a reboot.

This is an alternative to Boot Camp, which demands the installation of Windows on a separate partition on the M1 Mac’s SSD or HDD. Using Parallels, you can run Windows apps alongside Mac apps through a mode termed as Coherence. It runs a separate OS within a simulated computer, termed as a virtual machine, on your M1 Mac. Parallels is essentially a virtual machine program.

Windows 11 m1 mac