How to Run Windows 11 on Apple Silicon Mac (M1 to M5)

If you have a newer Mac with Apple Silicon, you might think running Windows is complicated or expensive. It’s actually not! In this guide, I will show you how to install the official Windows 11 ARM64 Desktop Edition on any Apple Silicon Mac—including the M1, M2, M3, M4, and the latest M5 chips.

We will be using UTM, which is a fantastic free tool that allows you to run Windows with GPU acceleration. This is an updated guide for 2026 using the latest version of UTM.

Note: For this guide, I’m using a MacBook Air with an M4 chip, but the steps are exactly the same for any Apple Silicon Mac.

How Does It Work?

It’s important to know that Windows 11 will run inside a Virtual Machine (VM). This means it runs just like a regular app (similar to Google Chrome). It won’t mess with your macOS files or change your system settings; it stays completely independent.

Fact: Windows 11 Cannot Be Installed Natively On Apple Silicon.

Requirements

Before we start, make sure you have:

• Storage Space: At least 50GB to 64GB of free space on your Mac.
• An Apple Silicon Mac: (M1 through M5 series).

Download the Files

You will need two main things to get started:

1. Windows 11 ARM64 ISO: Since Apple Silicon uses ARM architecture, you must get the ARM-specific version. ^{Download it here from Microsoft}.
2. UTM App: This is the software that runs the virtual machine. ^{Download UTM here}.

Once you have both files, move them to a folder that is easy to find, like your Desktop or Downloads.

Installing UTM

Installing the app is very straightforward:

1. Double-click the UTM.dmg file you just downloaded.
2. Drag the UTM icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open UTM from your Launchpad or Applications folder.

Creating Your Windows 11 Virtual Machine

When you open UTM, you’ll see a simple interface. Here is how to set up the VM:

1. Start New VM: Click the “+” (Plus) button.
2. Virtualize vs. Emulate: Choose Virtualize. Since your Mac is ARM-based, this option gives you much faster, “near-native” performance.
3. Select OS: Click Windows. Make sure the box for “Install Windows 10 or higher” is checked.
4. Import ISO: Click Browse and select the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO you downloaded earlier.
5. Drivers: Check the box that says “Install Windows guest tools”. This downloads the “Spice” drivers, which are necessary for things like internet and smooth graphics.

Hardware Configuration

• RAM: Allocate at least 4GB. If your Mac has 16GB or more, giving it 8GB will make it run even smoother.
• CPU: Assign 4 Cores (or leave it at default).
• Storage: Set this to at least 64GB.
• Shared Directory: You can skip this for now.
• Summary: Give your VM a name (like “Windows 11”) and click Save.

Important Configuration Step

Before we hit play, we need to change one setting to avoid errors during the installation:

1. Select your new VM and click the Settings icon (top right).
2. Go to the Display tab on the left.
3. By default, it might be set to a card that supports GPU acceleration, but this can cause a black screen during setup. Change the Emulated Display Card to virtio-ramfb temporarily.
4. Check the box for “Resize display to window size” and click Save.

Installing Windows 11

Now, let’s get Windows running!

1. Click the Play button on your VM.
2. Booting: Immediately click inside the black window. When you see “Press any key to boot from CD/DVD,” hit Enter on your keyboard.
   • Tip: Clicking inside the VM captures your mouse. To get your mouse back to macOS, press Ctrl + Option.
3. Setup: Follow the Windows prompts. Select your language and version (Home or Pro).
4. Partition: Select the empty space, click “New,” and then click “Next” to start the installation.
5. Restart: Once it finishes, the VM will reboot. Do not press any keys this time; let it boot from the virtual hard drive.

The “No Internet” Fix (Local Account)

During setup, Windows might demand an internet connection. If you get stuck:

1. Turn off the Wi-Fi on your Mac.
2. In the VM, press Shift + F10 (or Fn + Shift + F10).
3. In the black box that appears, type: start ms-cxh:localonly and hit Enter.
4. The VM will reboot, and you can now click “I don’t have internet” to create a local user account.

Installing Spice Guest Tools (Drivers)

Once you reach the Windows desktop, you’ll notice the resolution looks bad and the internet isn’t working. We need to install the drivers.

1. In the UTM toolbar (top of the window), click the CD icon and ensure the Spice Guest Tools ISO is mounted.
2. Open File Explorer in Windows, go to “This PC,” and open the CD Drive.
3. Run the spice-guest-tools installer.
4. Reboot the VM once it finishes.

Now, your internet should work, and the screen will automatically resize when you drag the window!

Enabling GPU Acceleration

To make Windows feel super smooth, let’s turn the graphics power back on:

1. Shut down Windows completely.
2. Open VM Settings > Display.
3. Change the display card to virtio-gpu-pci.
4. Enable Retina Mode for a crisp look and click Save.
5. Start the VM. (If you see an error, just restart the VM once more).
6. Inside Windows, go to Settings > System > Display and set the scaling to 200%.

Now, animations will be smooth, and apps will open instantly!

Bonus: How to Delete Windows 11

If you decide you don’t need Windows anymore, removing it is easy:

1. Shut down the VM.
2. In the UTM library, Right-click on the Windows 11 VM.
3. Select Delete. This will wipe the VM and free up all that storage space on your Mac.

Summary

That’s it! You are now running Windows 11 on Apple Silicon for free. It’s perfect for coding, web development, or using Windows-only apps like PowerBI or certain Office tools.