How to install Windows 11 on Mac M1/M2 Processors for Free (UTM)

Summary

In this video tutorial, Daniel from Tips to Fix demonstrates how to install Windows 11 on an iMac with an M1 processor. Since Bootcamp doesn't support M1 and M2 processors, he introduces UTM, a free virtual machine software. Daniel walks through the steps to download Windows 11 ARM64 from the Microsoft Insider program, create a virtual machine, and install Windows 11, including necessary drivers. This method provides a functional Windows environment on an Apple Silicon Mac, though it remains in beta. The tutorial aims to help users achieve this setup without cost.

Takeaways

• 💻 The video tutorial is about installing Windows 11 on an iMac with an M1 processor.
• 🔍 Bootcamp does not support M1 and M2 processors for installing Windows.
• 👍 Alternative methods are available to install Windows 11 on M1 processors using a virtual machine.
• 🆓 The tutorial provides a free method to install Windows 11 using UTM instead of Parallels Desktop.
• 🌐 UTM can be downloaded for free from the official website, while the App Store version costs $10.
• 📥 Windows 11 for ARM processors must be downloaded from the Windows Insider Program.
• 🔧 After downloading the ISO file, create a new virtual machine in UTM and configure it.
• 💾 Install necessary drivers using Spice Guest Tools for optimal Windows experience.
• 🆕 The tutorial covers steps to set up the virtual machine and configure settings for Windows 11 installation.
• 📢 The method is not perfect as Windows 11 on ARM processors is still in beta, and Bootcamp support is not yet available.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video tutorial?

The main topic of the video tutorial is how to install Windows 11 on an iMac with an M1 processor using UTM, a virtual machine software.

Why can't Bootcamp be used to install Windows on M1 or M2 processors?

Bootcamp is not supported on M1 or M2 processors because it only works on Intel-based Macs.

What are the alternatives to Bootcamp for installing Windows on M1 processors?

The alternatives to Bootcamp for installing Windows on M1 processors include using virtual machine software such as Parallels Desktop for Mac and UTM.

Why does the video tutorial recommend using UTM instead of Parallels Desktop?

The video tutorial recommends using UTM instead of Parallels Desktop because UTM is free to use, whereas Parallels Desktop requires a paid subscription after a trial period.

What is the first step to take when installing Windows 11 on an M1 processor using UTM?

The first step is to download the UTM software from its official website and install it on the Mac.

How can you obtain the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO file for installation?

You can obtain the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO file by joining the Windows Insider Program and downloading the ISO from the Microsoft website. Alternatively, the tutorial mentions that the ISO file may be made available on the creator's website.

What are the key steps to create a new virtual machine in UTM?

Key steps include opening UTM, creating a new virtual machine, selecting Windows as the operating system, importing the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO file, and configuring the virtual machine settings such as CPU cores and shared directories.

What should be done if you encounter network problems during the Windows 11 setup in the virtual machine?

If network problems occur during the setup, you should use the command 'oobeypassnro' in the Command Prompt to bypass the network requirements.

Why is it important to install the Spice Guest Tools in the virtual machine?

It is important to install the Spice Guest Tools because they include necessary drivers for the virtual machine, which improve performance and compatibility.

What limitations should be expected when using Windows 11 on an M1 processor through a virtual machine?

Users should not expect full performance and stability, as Windows 11 ARM64 is still in beta and not officially supported by Apple on M1 processors.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Installing Windows 11 on an M1 iMac

In this tutorial, Daniel from Tips to Fix explains how to install Windows 11 on an iMac with an M1 processor. He notes that Bootcamp does not support M1 and M2 processors, but there are alternative methods using virtualization software like UTM. Daniel provides a detailed walkthrough of the initial steps, including the limitations and options for installing Windows on Apple silicon.

05:04

🖥️ Using UTM for Free Virtualization

Daniel introduces UTM, a free virtualization software that can be used to install Windows 11 on M1 processors. He explains how to download and set up UTM without purchasing it from the Mac App Store. He also describes the process of downloading the Windows 11 ARM 64 ISO file from the Windows Insider Program and the benefits of using the beta channel for more stability.

10:13

⚙️ Setting Up and Configuring Windows 11 on UTM

Daniel continues with the detailed setup process for installing Windows 11 on UTM. He explains how to create a new virtual machine, import the VHDX image, and configure settings such as CPU cores and shared directories. He emphasizes the importance of installing the latest Spice tools for optimal performance and the necessary steps to ensure a seamless installation experience.

15:17

📄 Finalizing Windows 11 Installation and Installing Drivers

Daniel concludes the tutorial by guiding users through the final steps of the Windows 11 installation on an M1 Mac. He covers the keyboard setup, network bypass, and installation of necessary drivers using Spice Guest Tools. Daniel also advises on the current limitations and future improvements expected with the stable release of Windows 11 for ARM processors, emphasizing the usefulness of this method despite being in beta.

Keywords

💡Windows 11

Windows 11 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, mentioned throughout the script as the software being installed on an iMac with an M1 processor. It is the central focus of the tutorial, highlighting how users can install it on their Apple devices using alternative methods like virtual machines.

💡iMac with M1 processor

An iMac with M1 processor refers to Apple's desktop computer equipped with the M1 chip, which is a powerful, ARM-based processor. The video tutorial demonstrates how to install Windows 11 on this specific hardware, emphasizing the challenges and solutions unique to M1-based Macs.

💡Bootcamp

Bootcamp is Apple's utility for installing Windows on Intel-based Macs. The script explains that Bootcamp is not supported on M1 and M2 processors, thus requiring alternative methods like using a virtual machine to run Windows on newer Apple Silicon Macs.

💡Virtual Machine

A virtual machine (VM) is a software application that emulates a computer system, allowing users to run different operating systems on their existing hardware. In the script, the speaker uses a VM to install Windows 11 on an M1 iMac, specifically through the UTM software.

💡UTM

UTM is a virtual machine application for Mac, used to run different operating systems on Apple hardware. The tutorial showcases UTM as a free alternative to Parallels for installing Windows 11 on M1 processors, providing step-by-step instructions for its setup.

💡Windows Insider Program

The Windows Insider Program is a Microsoft initiative that allows users to test pre-release versions of Windows. In the script, the speaker registers for this program to download the Windows 11 ARM64 preview needed for installation on the M1 iMac.

💡ARM64

ARM64 refers to the 64-bit architecture used by ARM processors, like Apple's M1. The script mentions downloading the Windows 11 ARM64 preview because this version is compatible with the M1 processor, unlike traditional x86 versions.

💡Spice Guest Tools

Spice Guest Tools are a set of drivers and utilities that enhance the performance of virtual machines. The script includes instructions to download and install these tools to ensure optimal functionality and integration of Windows 11 on the virtual machine.

💡Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is a commercial software for running Windows on Mac. The tutorial mentions it as an option for users but focuses on UTM as a free alternative, explaining the benefits and process of using UTM instead of Parallels.

💡Beta Channel

The Beta Channel is a release track within the Windows Insider Program that provides relatively stable preview builds. The script highlights choosing the Beta Channel to download the Windows 11 ARM64 version, indicating its balance between new features and stability.

Highlights

Introduction to installing Windows 11 on an iMac with M1 processor.

Bootcamp is not supported on M1 and M2 processors.

Alternative methods to install Windows 11 on M1 processors using virtual machines.

Introduction of UTM as a free virtualization software.

Steps to download and install UTM for free.

Guide to create a new virtual machine using UTM.

Instructions on downloading Windows 11 ARM64 from the Windows Insider program.

Details on registering for the Windows Insider program.

Steps to download the Windows 11 ARM64 ISO file.

Configuring the virtual machine settings in UTM for Windows 11.

Instructions to bypass the network problem during Windows 11 setup.

Setting up Windows 11 without internet connection.

Installing Spice Guest Tools for Windows drivers.

Final setup steps and installation of necessary drivers.

Conclusion and reminder that this method is for a beta version of Windows 11 on ARM processors.

Transcripts

foreign welcome on this video tutorial Daniel is  here from tips to fix today I will show you how to  

install Windows 11 on this beautiful iMac that I  have here is iMac with M1 processor it will work  

on MacBook Pro it will work on iMac and every iOS  computers okay okay as I told you I will install  

today Windows 11 on this iMac that I have here the  very first thing that I have to talk to you guys  

for the moment if you just search on Google and  say that does this m-processor support Windows and  

then you will see a lot of answers here bootcamp  it's not supported on M1 and M2 processors on a  

Mac computers okay with apple silicon bootcamp  Works only on Intel based Max so let me say that  

if you have a Mac on 2019 it will work you will  install Windows 10 or 11 with bootcamp okay but  

in Intel based processors with M1 or M2  processors there is no bootcamp let me  

show you here on settings if you go here on set  in a search for bootcam then it's missing okay  

you see that bootcamp is missing this means that  bootcamp it's not supported on M1 processors but  

the good news is that we have some more options  to install and use Windows in M1 processors  

but unfortunately there is no way for the moment  to install Windows 11 on M1 processors on boot  

mode okay to reboot the mac and boot on Windows  but we can install Windows 11 on Virtual virtual  

machine and it works well two methods for the  moment okay if we go here on official website  

and then you will see around Windows on a Mac  using parallel desktop for Mac but you see the  

option here by now I know that you don't want  to expend money or something and you want it for  

free I'm here to show you how to install and use  it for free okay but let me explain a little bit  

you can download as a free trial and try but you  have to pay let me see my my Mac here and mine is  

eight gigabyte RAM so 100 bucks is good for me  and I'm running the latest version of Monterey  

okay so what I gotta do I don't have to install  parallels today I have something better for you  

guys so let's use this amazing software it's for  free and it calls UTM okay virtualizer if we try  

to get this on a Mac app store then it will be  not free you have to pay 10 okay the good thing  

of this is that you pay 10 and you can update  automatically without trying to reinstall and  

install manually okay this is the the good thing  for this no worries you can use it for free let's  

go back here and you can download it here and  then here it is UTM and we can install it and use  

it for free and just download and install I will  show you right now with this software we are able  

to install Windows 11 on AMP processors  okay so let me show you how right now just  

oh well open up I will double click here  I wanted to install this udm software  

and let's see how it will work we have this  welcome to UTM well okay so what we got to  

do we have to create a new machine create a new  virtual machine browse UTM gallery and we will go  

there real quick user guide and support okay and  this is the reason why I did this video tutorial  

just to help you do it real quick and maybe you  don't have time to read all that guide then I'm  

here to help you okay uh here on the gallery  we are able to download Windows 11 arm 64. okay  

and this Windows 11 for arm 64 uh processors is  still in production and we have to download this  

from Windows Insider uh program okay it's not the  public okay this guide is designed to work with  

apple silicon Max let's click here windows for  arm and then we will be here redirected directly  

on Microsoft Insider program to download  this is the page you need to be a member  

okay and then let's be a member now okay  go here on Meet the windows Insider program  

click register we have here register for  the windows Insider sign in right now  

and then what I gotta do I have to create one and  I will use here tips to fix tips to fix a Gmail  

I will verify the email address register for the  windows Insider program my accept and I just click  

register here flight now so now we are registering  on Windows Insider program I will go back here on  

the gallery click here again and windows for arm  processors and then here it is I'm redirected  

directly on this page I will put this link on the  description or in my website if you don't want to  

create an account on Windows Insider program  then I will put this uh ISO file on my website  

then you will um download it directly without  creating any account so let's continue right now  

I have to download better Channel Dev Channel  okay but I wanted to have this better Channel  

it's cool it's more stable okay Windows 11 client  arm Insider preview beta Channel okay and then I  

will click confirm here I will choose the language  I just confirmed this better Channel and then  

click the language confirmation you will be able  to download now the ISO file okay I will download  

it right now and this is Windows 11 client for  arm processors mn1 or M2 we are waiting for the  

stable version for arm processors to be ready and  this one is 9.6 gigabyte okay I'm downloading here  

with a full speed and it needs just five minutes  for me to download so we download the iso so we  

are here and ready to create a machine create new  virtual machine then just click here virtualize  

choose Windows here vhdx image make sure to check  this not uncheck but keep it as it is check import  

vhd X image and you can download it directly  here if you wanted to click and then you will  

be able to download it like I did before but you  have to register on Insider program if you don't  

want to register and you want to download the  file directly just go in my website and download  

uh this ISO file I will I will upload it on the  website okay another thing that we have to do is  

click here browse you see that Bros go on desktop  and choose this setup choose this our vhd X image  

file that we downloaded from Microsoft for the  best Windows Experience make sure to download and  

install the latest spice tools for Windows drivers  okay here it is just make sure to download it  

and let's have it here yeah look at this I just  download spice guest tools that we need to install  

Windows drivers are really important it's not  that much gigabyte okay I will keep it here on  

a desktop and now let's continue then we'll  click continue here I have to choose default  

here on the CPU cores on this visual machine I  will click continue and then what I have to do  

I will create here share directory because we  can share files between Windows and Mac and I  

will keep it here on desktop because I like to  paste and open I like to create files on Windows  

and then I will I need those files to access  here on Mac okay then I will click continue here  

and then Windows call just  put the name here windows 11.

and everything else is by default if you want  to change this um Ram or if you want to change  

storage here then click here open and click save  here for this image and then now we are ready here  

and then as you see we are ready here to use it  and install Windows 11 and all of this is for  

free guys okay we are ready so what we have to do  now if you want to change the settings here are  

the settings and if you would like to change the  system or you wanted to put some CPU cores more or  

leave it as it is default or you can change it  and we can change it later if you want but you  

can try I will leave it as it is display full  graphic inputs you can change the settings here  

yes I like to use this USB 3.0 Network it will  use the same network and we have here nvmi drive  

leave it as it is new drive if you want to  create new drive you can create it and then  

I will click cancel here just click run here and  then you will see this pop-up start put options

we see that this virtual machine is already  started now in just a moment oh okay cool

here it is Windows 11. then click yes here if you  want to get mouse back on on Apple now you have  

to click Ctrl and option in the same time and  then you will see Mouse here okay control and  

option in the same time so what we have to do to  get the keyboard working on during the setup of  

Windows 11 and just go back here and stay on this  window and now you can click next here but now it  

will ask you to set up the keyboard right okay  before we go in that step you have to click FN  

and shift hold it together on your keyboard right  now here it is you have to click here here FN and  

shift both together and then I will click here F10  look at this you will see this pop-up right now  

and click yes because I need to have this window  it's really important for me okay and before  

we continue we have to disable and bypass the  network problem let me see the command here it is  

we have to type here now this command and we'll  copy and paste and I will just type it here on CMD

maybe copy and paste is not working here  but I just have to type o o b a slash bypass

and then click enter and then  it bypass automatically it will  

restart the virtual machine and then  we will continue to set up the windows  

11 okay we don't have a lot of time to  wait so guys what do we got to do next  

we have to install drivers it's very  important but step by step here it is

just a moment

okay here we are click next

and click yes here I will skip this

I don't have internet okay here it is  and I'll continue with limited setup

I don't need to use internet for the moment

accept

put the name here and click next  I don't have to use password

I don't have to share my location

we'll turn all of this off

okay

and then the third the next thing that we have  to do is we have to install all the drivers that  

we have here on the spice guest okay we'll  show you right now how to do it you will see  

here this small icon here at the top this disk  go here on that DVD I will click eject if you  

want I will click here CD change then we'll go  on desktop choose this ISO file and click open

okay here we are we are here  almost there on Windows 11.

install new build Windows now not for the  moment here it is so let's install the drivers  

right now because we need to see different  view here we don't have the full quality  

so go here on the city Drive I have  to double click and spice guest tools  

let's install all the drivers we need to  install the drivers click next and gray

and let's see if this method will work

foreign

we have these two updates  

but this is working well and its evaluation copy  let's see here on the system I will go here on the  

way down so okay guys thank you for watching this  video tutorial this is how you can install Windows  

11 on M1 processor yeah sure is a virtual machine  you can use it here for your needs do not expect a  

lot for the moment because we still are on the  beta version we are not on the stable relays  

from Windows 11 on arm processors we don't have  bootcamp yet from Apple so it's not officially  

so this method is free and it works so you can  use it and let me know what you think okay so  

thank you guys for watching this video tutorial  God bless you see you on the next video tutorial

foreign