Microsoft has recently announced that in collaboration with Parallels it is possible to support Windows 11 on M1 and M2 Macs provides through the virtual environment. In this regard, version 18 of Parallels Desktop software is considered as an official solution for running Windows 11 for ARM architecture.
Hassle-free access to Windows 11 on M1 and M2 Macs
According to Microsoft’s support article, owners of Apple computers with M1 and M2 chips will now be able to run Windows 11 on their device. Of course, this operating system still runs in the form of a virtual environment, and you probably can’t expect the optimal performance of a native version from it. On the other hand, it seems that Apple has no intention of supporting boot camp on its new products that use the company’s proprietary chip, and users must be content with using a virtual machine to access Windows.
It is worth noting that Microsoft’s announcement of cooperation with Parallels to run Windows 11 on M1 and M2 Macs is unprecedented; Because this company used to license the ARM version of its operating system only to computer manufacturers. This issue caused Mac users to face serious challenges in running Windows through a virtual machine on new Apple devices.
It goes without saying that Parallels software started supporting Windows on Mac M1 from version 16.5; But the new version has made it possible to directly download and install Windows 11 with just one click. Also, the technical complexities associated with Microsoft’s security prerequisites such as TPM and Secure Boot have been resolved by synchronizing a virtual TPM with Apple chips. Detailed details about the Windows license purchase process by organizations have not yet been announced; But it has been said that real people can by paying the amount $199buy the license of Windows 11 Pro ARM version directly from Microsoft.
Microsoft has considered another option for those interested in using Windows 11 on M1 and M2 Macs, and that service Windows 365 Cloud Is. In this case, cloud-hosted virtual machines will be responsible for running the operating system and performing the necessary processes, and will provide better support for Windows programs. Such a feature seems more suitable for professional users; Because accessing Windows 11 through Parallels Desktop 18 still entails hardware and software limitations for running some apps and games.
For example, hardware drivers will only work properly if they are designed specifically for Windows 11 ARM. It will also not be possible to run some games, which include titles that use OpenGL 3.3 or later versions, along with those based on anti-cheat drivers. Programs that need to interact with Windows Shell are not available, the most important of which are assistive technologies and cloud storage services. It is not possible to install most of the external antivirus programs.
Windows 11 on Mac M1 and M2 uses the x68 emulator to run other programs, and users will not experience any weakness in this regard. However, it is recommended that users go to Microsoft’s default programs such as the Edge browser; Because some apps like Google Chrome do not have good performance in the emulator format.
