How to Install Windows 11 on Mac

If you want to run Windows on your MacBook, you can use Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop to get the job done. But many macOS users aren’t sure if their devices support Windows 11. As a quick reminder, Windows 11 has strict hardware and security requirements. If your machine doesn’t meet them, you won’t be able to install the OS.

Windows 11 requires a physical TPM 2.0 chip. Unfortunately, that’s a bit tricky for MacBook users. The M1 Mac equivalent is Apple’s T2 chip. M1 Macs can handle only the Windows 11 ARM-based version. Irrespective of the hardware you’re using, you need Parallels Desktop to run Windows 11 as a virtual machine on macOS. The program emulates the TPM module on your Mac.

Steps to Install Windows 11 on macOS

Follow the steps below to install Windows 11 on your macOS device.

Go to Windows 11’s download page.
Scroll down and select Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO).
Select Windows 11 and hit the Download button.
Then select your product language.
Hit Confirm to download the ISO file on your Mac.
Download and install the latest Parallels Desktop version.
Parallels will then ask you if you want to install Windows.
Skip the Download and Install Windows 10 step.
Instead, select Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file.
Hit Continue.
Go to Select a file and select the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded from Microsoft.
Enter your Windows 11 license key and follow the on-screen instructions to install the OS.

When customizing your settings, make sure to select at least two CPUs and 4GB of memory. You can then launch Parallels Desktop and open Windows 11 as a virtual machine.

If you own an M1-based Mac, you need to download the Windows 11 ARM version. Enroll in the Windows Insider Program, and then download the Windows ARM64 Insider Preview build. For more information, go to Parallels Desktop’s support page.

Conclusion

To run Windows 11 on Mac, first, download the Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO file). Then launch Parallels Desktop and install Windows 11 from the ISO file. If you’re using an M1-based Mac, you need to download the latest Windows ARM64 Insider Preview build.

What do you think about Windows 11? Do you like the new UI? Share your thoughts in the comments below.