How to Install Windows on Mac with M1 Processor for Free

Learn how to install Windows on a Mac with an M1 processor for free using UTM, a virtual machine app that supports ARM-based Windows 11.

If you have a Mac with an M1 processor and you want to run Windows on it for free, you might be wondering what your options are. Unlike Intel-based Macs, M1 Macs do not support Boot Camp, a utility that allows you to dual-boot Windows and macOS. You also cannot use popular virtual machine software like Oracle VirtualBox or VMware Fusion, as they only work with Intel-based Windows. However, there is a way to install Windows on a Mac with an M1 processor for free using UTM, a virtual machine app that supports ARM-based Windows 11. In this article, we will show you how to do it step by step.

What is UTM?

UTM is an open-source, virtualization software that lets you run any other operating system on top of your Mac. It is based on QEMU, a well-known emulator that can emulate various CPU architectures. UTM supports both Intel and ARM-based operating systems, including Windows 11 for ARM. UTM is free to download and use, but it requires some technical knowledge and manual configuration to set up.

Why Use UTM?

UTM is one of the few options available to run Windows on a Mac with an M1 processor for free. It allows you to create a virtual machine that runs Windows 11 for ARM, which is compatible with the M1 chip. UTM also has some advantages over other virtual machine software, such as:

• It does not require a license key to activate Windows 11 for ARM, as it is provided by Microsoft for testing purposes.
• It supports hardware acceleration, which improves the performance and responsiveness of the virtual machine.
• It allows you to customize the settings of the virtual machine, such as the amount of RAM, disk space, and network options.

How to Install Windows on a Mac with an M1 Processor for Free Using UTM

To install Windows on a Mac with an M1 processor for free using UTM, you will need the following:

• A Mac with an M1 processor running macOS Big Sur or later.
• The UTM app, which you can download from the official website.
• The Windows 11 for ARM ISO file, which you can download from Microsoft’s download page. You will need a Windows Insider login for this, which is free to sign up for if you don’t have one already.
• A USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage space, formatted as FAT32.

Once you have everything ready, follow these steps to install Windows on your Mac with UTM:

Step 1: Create a Virtual Machine in UTM

1. Launch the UTM app and click on the + button at the top left corner to create a new virtual machine.
2. Give your virtual machine a name, such as “Windows 11 for ARM”.
3. Choose “ARM64 (aarch64)” as the Architecture and “Windows” as the System.
4. Click on the “QEMU” tab and check the box next to “Force Multicore”.
5. Click on the “Drives” tab and click on the + button to add a new drive.
6. Choose “CD/DVD” as the Interface and “None” as the Drive.
7. Click on the “Image” tab and click on the “Import Drive” button.
8. Locate the Windows 11 for ARM ISO file that you downloaded and click on “Open”.
9. Click on the “Create” button to create the virtual machine.

Step 2: Install Windows 11 for ARM on the Virtual Machine

1. Select the virtual machine that you created and click on the “Start” button to launch it.
2. Wait for the Windows 11 setup screen to appear and choose your language, keyboard layout, and time zone.
3. Click on “Next” and then on “Install Now”.
4. When prompted for a product key, click on “I don’t have a product key”.
5. Choose “Windows 11 Pro” as the edition and click on “Next”.
6. Accept the license terms and click on “Next”.
7. Choose “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” as the installation type.
8. Select the “Drive 0 Unallocated Space” as the destination and click on “Next”.
9. Wait for the installation to complete and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Windows 11 account and preferences.

Step 3: Install the UTM Tools on Windows 11 for ARM

1. Once you are on the Windows 11 desktop, open the File Explorer and go to “This PC”.
2. Right-click on the CD/DVD drive and choose “Eject”.
3. Go back to the UTM app on your Mac and click on the “Stop” button to stop the virtual machine.
4. Click on the “Edit” button to edit the virtual machine settings.
5. Click on the “Drives” tab and select the CD/DVD drive that you added earlier.
6. Click on the “Image” tab and click on the “Remove Drive” button.
7. Click on the “Import Drive” button and locate the UTM Tools ISO file, which you can find in the UTM app folder under “Contents/Resources/Tools/UTM Tools.iso”.
8. Click on “Open” and then on “Save” to save the changes.
9. Click on the “Start” button to start the virtual machine again.
10. Go to the File Explorer and open the CD/DVD drive.
11. Double-click on the “UTM Tools.exe” file and follow the instructions to install the UTM Tools on Windows 11.
12. Restart the virtual machine when prompted.

Step 4: Configure the Virtual Machine Settings

After the restart, you can configure the virtual machine settings to optimize the performance and usability of Windows 11 on your Mac. For example, you can:

• Adjust the screen resolution and scaling to fit your Mac’s display.
• Enable the clipboard sharing and drag and drop features to transfer files between Windows and macOS.
• Change the network settings to use a bridged or shared connection.
• Increase the RAM and disk space allocation for the virtual machine.
• Install additional drivers and software for Windows 11.

To change the virtual machine settings, you need to stop the virtual machine and edit the settings in the UTM app. You can also access the UTM Tools settings from the Windows 11 system tray.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: Is UTM legal and safe to use?

Answer: UTM is legal and safe to use, as it is an open-source software that does not violate any terms of service or license agreements. However, you should be aware that Windows 11 for ARM is not officially supported by Microsoft or Apple, and it may have some bugs or compatibility issues. You should also use a reputable antivirus software and backup your data regularly.

Question: How fast is Windows 11 on a Mac with UTM?

Answer: The speed of Windows 11 on a Mac with UTM depends on several factors, such as the hardware specifications of your Mac, the settings of the virtual machine, and the applications that you run. Generally speaking, Windows 11 on a Mac with UTM is faster than Windows 10 on an Intel-based Mac with Boot Camp, as it uses the native ARM architecture of the M1 chip. However, it is slower than macOS on the same Mac, as it runs in a virtualized environment.

Question: Can I run Windows 11 games and apps on a Mac with UTM?

Answer: You can run Windows 11 games and apps on a Mac with UTM, as long as they are compatible with the ARM architecture and do not require DirectX 12 or anti-cheat software. However, you should not expect the same performance or graphics quality as on a native Windows PC, as UTM has some limitations and overheads. You should also check the system requirements and compatibility of the games and apps before installing them.

Summary

In this article, we showed you how to install Windows on a Mac with an M1 processor for free using UTM, a virtual machine app that supports ARM-based Windows 11. We explained what UTM is, why you should use it, and how to set it up step by step. We also answered some frequently asked questions and provided some tips to optimize the virtual machine settings. We hope you found this article helpful and informative.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by UTM, Microsoft, or Apple. You should use UTM at your own risk and discretion. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from using UTM or Windows 11 on your Mac.