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patrickchan701
Contributor
Contributor
‎07-04-2023 04:43 AM

Want to install windows 11 on Mac M1

I followed the below link to install windows 11 on vm fusion which run on Mac M1 machine .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0ddkjQATnw

I have the below questions

1) have to download Windows 11 ARM64 version , Windows 11 is not work ? what is the problem if use Windows 11 ( not ARM64 ) ?

2) I have downloaded Windows 11 ARM64 version ( from insider preview ) , which is VMDK file , the vm fusion seems can not use this type of file , it seems only can use ISO , right ? I should download ISO file ?

3) I need to follow all steps in the above link includes run the comments on powershell and terminal ?

4) is there simpler to install windows 11 on Mac M1 machine ?

 

Thanks a lot.

 

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scott28tt
VMware Employee
VMware Employee
‎07-04-2023 05:50 AM

Try the instructions in this document: https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Fusion-Documents/The-Unofficial-Fusion-13-for-Apple-Silicon...

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Technogeezer
Immortal
Immortal
‎07-04-2023 08:07 AM

Echoing what @scott28tt says. Ignore what that video says. The instructions are obsolete and more complex than it has to be. The author should do everyone a favor and remove it.

You can’t use a Windows 11 ISO file you download from Microsoft as it’s for machines that have an Intel CPU. M1/M2 Macs do not have Intel CPUs and won’t run the Windows contained in that ISO. You need the ARM version of Windows 11 to run it in a VM on M1/M2 Macs. The problem is  is that Microsoft does not make it directly available for consumers. The instructions in the document tell you how to get around that and create an installation ISO with the released version of Windows 11 ARM  

And don’t use the Insider Preview VHDX files - those are pre-release versions and you will end up with a flaky, beta version of Windows that is not easily updated  

The procedures and tools referenced in the document linked to by @scott28tt will get you the released version of a Windows 11 ARM ISO and tell you how to install it. The VMware video and network drivers still need to be installed via Powershell, but that’s not a hard process if you follow the instructions. 

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides
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