How to Run Windows 11 on a Mac in 2026 Using Parallels Desktop

Want to run Windows 11 on your Mac without giving up macOS? In 2026, the process is easier than ever thanks to Parallels Desktop.

Whether you have an Intel Mac or a newer Apple silicon Mac with an M-series chip, you can create a Windows 11 virtual machine and run Windows applications alongside your Mac apps without restarting your computer.

The installation process is also much simpler than it was when Windows 11 first launched. You no longer need to install Windows 10 first, join the Windows Insider Program, or modify the Windows Registry just to get Windows 11 running in Parallels.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Can you run Windows 11 on a Mac in 2026?

Yes. You can run Windows 11 on both Intel-based Macs and Apple silicon Macs using Parallels Desktop.

The installation method depends on your Mac’s processor:

• Apple silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4 and newer): You need the ARM version of Windows 11.
• Intel Mac: You use the standard x86 version of Windows 11.
• Parallels Desktop 27: Designed exclusively for Apple silicon Macs.
• Parallels Desktop 26: Continues to support Intel-based Macs.

Parallels Desktop 27 was released in August 2026 and is optimized for Apple silicon and newer versions of macOS. Intel Mac users should remain on Parallels Desktop 26, which Parallels says will continue receiving security and maintenance updates.

Parallels Desktop is also a Microsoft-authorized solution for running Windows 11 ARM in a virtual machine on supported Apple silicon Macs.

What is Parallels Desktop?

Parallels Desktop is virtualization software for macOS that lets you create a virtual machine and run another operating system inside a window on your Mac.

Unlike Boot Camp, you don’t need to restart your Mac every time you want to switch between macOS and Windows.

You can, for example:

• Run Windows applications next to Mac applications
• Copy and paste between macOS and Windows
• Drag files between the two operating systems
• Share folders between macOS and Windows
• Open Windows applications from the Mac Dock
• Use Windows in Coherence mode alongside your Mac apps
• Run Microsoft Office and other Windows-only software

Parallels currently supports Windows virtualization on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs, although the available Windows architecture differs between them.

Download Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop 27 vs. Parallels Desktop 26

Before installing Windows, check which Mac you have.

Parallels Desktop 27 is Apple-silicon-only. Parallels Desktop 26 remains available for Intel Macs.

Parallels Desktop 27 also introduces a new Metal-based graphics driver with OpenGL 4.3 support, improving compatibility for some professional Windows applications running on Apple silicon.

What you need before installing Windows 11

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A compatible Mac
• A reasonably recent version of macOS
• Enough free storage for Windows and your applications
• An internet connection
• A Microsoft account if required during Windows setup
• A Windows license if you need to activate Windows

Parallels Desktop 26 requires at least 4 GB of RAM, although Parallels recommends 16 GB or more for demanding workloads. Windows itself requires additional storage, with Parallels listing at least 16 GB for the Windows operating system.

For a comfortable Windows 11 experience, having 16 GB or more of Mac RAM is preferable, particularly if you plan to keep macOS applications open while Windows is running.

How to install Windows 11 on an Apple silicon Mac

If your Mac has an M-series chip, you don’t need to manually download an ISO in most cases.

Parallels can download and install Windows 11 ARM automatically.

Step 1: Download Parallels Desktop

Download the latest version of Parallels Desktop compatible with your Mac.

Download Parallels Desktop from Parallels

Install the application normally and launch it.

Step 2: Start the Windows installation

If this is your first time using Parallels Desktop, the application should display an installation assistant.

Select:

Install Windows

Parallels will automatically prepare the Windows 11 virtual machine.

If you already have virtual machines configured, open:

Parallels menu → Control Center → + → Get Windows 11 from Microsoft

Then click Continue and select Install Windows.

Parallels’ current installation procedure automatically downloads Windows 11 and creates the virtual machine.

Step 3: Let Parallels download Windows 11

Parallels will download the appropriate Windows 11 ARM installation files for your Apple silicon Mac.

You don’t normally need to manually find an ISO.

Wait while Parallels downloads and configures Windows.

The amount of time required depends primarily on your internet connection and Mac.

Step 4: Complete Windows setup

After the virtual machine is created, Windows 11 will start.

Follow Microsoft’s setup instructions.

Depending on your Windows edition and current setup, you may be asked to:

1. Select your region.
2. Select a keyboard layout.
3. Connect to the internet.
4. Sign in with a Microsoft account.
5. Configure privacy settings.
6. Choose Windows settings.

Once setup finishes, you’ll arrive at the Windows 11 desktop.

Step 5: Install or update Parallels Tools

Parallels Tools provides drivers and integration features that allow Windows to communicate properly with the virtual hardware.

Keep Parallels Tools updated, particularly after upgrading Parallels Desktop.

Parallels specifically recommends updating Parallels Tools after upgrading to Parallels Desktop 27 because of its new graphics driver.

How to install Windows 11 on an Intel Mac

The process is similar if your Mac uses an Intel processor.

Open Parallels Desktop and select:

Parallels menu → Control Center → + → Get Windows 11 from Microsoft

Then select:

Download Windows 11

Parallels will download the Windows installation files and create the virtual machine.

You can also install Windows manually from an ISO file.

Install Windows 11 from an ISO

If you already have a Windows 11 ISO:

1. Open Parallels Desktop.
2. Open the Control Center.
3. Click the + button.
4. Select Install Windows, Linux, or macOS from an image file.
5. Select your Windows 11 ISO.
6. Click Continue.
7. Follow the installation wizard.
8. Allow Windows to complete the installation.

On Intel Macs, Parallels supports the standard x86 version of Windows 11.

Do you need a Windows 11 ISO?

Not necessarily.

For most users, the easiest option is to let Parallels download Windows 11 automatically.

You would typically use an ISO when you need more control over the installation—for example, when using a specific Windows edition, installation image, or custom deployment.

Parallels also documents a manual ARM installation procedure for Apple silicon Macs if you want to preserve the full Windows Out-of-Box Experience and manually configure options such as the edition, product key, language, region, and privacy settings.

Do you need to bypass TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?

This is one of the biggest differences between the original Windows 11 installation guides and the current Parallels experience.

No, you generally don’t need to manually bypass Windows 11’s TPM or Secure Boot requirements when creating a supported Windows 11 virtual machine through Parallels.

Parallels configures the virtual machine with the required virtual hardware and provides a supported installation path.

That means you shouldn’t follow old tutorials telling you to:

• Modify the Windows Registry
• Disable TPM checks
• Bypass Secure Boot
• Use unsupported installation scripts
• Join the Windows Insider Program
• Install Windows 10 first

Those workarounds were relevant to older Windows 11 installation methods, but they are unnecessary for a normal Parallels installation in 2026.

Windows 11 ARM on Apple silicon: what you need to know

If you have an M-series Mac, Windows runs using the ARM architecture.

Windows 11 ARM can run many traditional x86 Windows applications through Microsoft’s compatibility technology, but compatibility is not identical to running Windows on a conventional Intel or AMD PC.

Some applications, drivers, games, and hardware-dependent software may not work correctly.

Parallels also lists several limitations for Windows 11 ARM on Apple silicon, including limitations involving nested virtualization, some emulators, certain applications, and demanding games.

WSL2 and nested virtualization

One important limitation is nested virtualization.

On Apple silicon Macs, Parallels currently does not support nested virtualization for Windows 11 in the same way as a physical Windows PC.

As a result, technologies that depend on nested virtualization can be unavailable. Parallels specifically lists Hyper-V-based technologies and WSL2 among the limitations. WSL1 can be used as an alternative in applicable scenarios.

If your primary reason for running Windows is software development involving Hyper-V, WSL2, Android emulators, or other virtualization-dependent workloads, check compatibility before committing to a Parallels VM.

Can you play Windows games with Parallels?

Yes, but gaming compatibility depends heavily on the Mac and the game.

Windows 11 ARM on Apple silicon supports Windows applications, but some games can have problems because of graphics APIs, anti-cheat systems, drivers, or ARM compatibility.

Parallels currently supports DirectX 11-class graphics on Windows 11 ARM, while some games and workloads may require technologies that aren’t available in the virtualized environment.

Therefore, Parallels is generally better suited to Windows productivity applications than to demanding PC gaming.

Parallels Desktop 27 improves graphics support

One of the significant 2026 changes is Parallels Desktop 27.

The new version introduces a Metal-based graphics driver with OpenGL 4.3 support for Windows 11 ARM virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs.

Parallels says this improves compatibility for professional applications that require OpenGL 4.3, including applications such as ArcGIS Pro.

This doesn’t mean every Windows application will run perfectly, but it expands the range of software that can benefit from hardware-accelerated graphics.

How to improve Windows 11 performance in Parallels

If Windows feels slow inside the virtual machine, try the following.

Give the VM enough memory

Don’t allocate all of your Mac’s RAM to Windows.

For a Mac with 16 GB of RAM, a moderate Windows allocation is usually preferable so macOS still has enough memory for its own applications.

For heavier workloads, a Mac with 24 GB, 32 GB, or more RAM provides more flexibility.

Use an SSD

Windows performs significantly better when the virtual machine is stored on fast SSD storage.

Avoid keeping a Windows virtual machine on a slow external hard drive.

Keep enough free storage

A Windows VM can grow considerably after installing applications, updates, games, and user files.

Keep sufficient free space available on the Mac’s internal storage.

Update Parallels Tools

Parallels Tools provides important drivers and integration components.

After upgrading Parallels Desktop, check that the latest version of Parallels Tools is installed.

Keep Windows updated

Windows 11 continues to receive monthly security and quality updates.

As of September 2026, Windows 11 25H2 is a supported release, while Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro are scheduled to reach end of updates on October 13, 2026.

If you’re creating a new Windows 11 VM, using the current supported release is preferable to installing an older Windows build.

How to activate Windows 11 in Parallels

Parallels Desktop and Windows are separate products.

Buying or activating Parallels Desktop does not automatically activate Windows.

You need a valid Windows license to activate Windows according to Microsoft’s licensing requirements.

If Windows isn’t activated immediately, you can generally complete the activation process later through:

Settings → System → Activation

Parallels confirms that its license key activates Parallels Desktop, not Microsoft Windows.

Can you run Windows and macOS at the same time?

Yes.

That’s one of the main advantages of virtualization.

Instead of restarting your Mac to switch operating systems, Windows runs inside a virtual machine while macOS continues running normally.

You can use:

macOS → Windows → macOS

without rebooting.

With Coherence mode, Windows applications can also appear alongside Mac applications, making the two environments feel more integrated.

Parallels vs. Boot Camp

The choice is straightforward for newer Macs.

Boot Camp is mainly relevant to older Intel Macs. Apple silicon Macs do not use Boot Camp for Windows.

For Apple silicon Macs, Parallels is Microsoft’s authorized virtualization solution for Windows 11 ARM.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install Windows 11 on an M1 Mac?

Yes. Windows 11 ARM can be installed in Parallels Desktop on Apple silicon Macs, including M-series Macs. Parallels provides an automated installation process that downloads Windows 11 directly.

Can I install Windows 11 on an M2, M3, or M4 Mac?

Yes. Apple silicon Macs are designed to run the ARM version of Windows 11 through virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop.

Can I install Windows 11 on an Intel Mac?

Yes. Parallels Desktop 26 continues to support Intel-based Macs, and Windows 11 x86 is supported.

Does Parallels Desktop 27 work on Intel Macs?

No. Parallels Desktop 27 is exclusively for Apple silicon Macs. Intel Mac users should use Parallels Desktop 26.

Do I need Windows 10 first?

No.

The old Windows 10 → Windows Insider → Windows 11 upgrade procedure is no longer necessary.

Parallels can create a Windows 11 virtual machine directly.

Do I need to join the Windows Insider Program?

No.

A normal Windows 11 installation through Parallels does not require the Windows Insider Program.

Do I need to modify the Registry?

No.

You shouldn’t need the old Registry modifications described in older Windows 11-on-Mac tutorials.

Can I use Windows 11 ARM applications?

Yes. Windows 11 ARM can run native ARM applications and many traditional x86 Windows applications through Microsoft’s compatibility technology.

However, compatibility can vary between applications, drivers, games, and hardware-dependent software.

Can I use WSL2 inside Windows 11 on an M-series Mac?

Not currently through Parallels’ Windows 11 ARM environment because nested virtualization is not supported. Parallels identifies WSL2 and other Hyper-V-based technologies among the current limitations.

Can I run Windows games on an M-series Mac?

Some games work, but compatibility varies considerably. Graphics APIs, anti-cheat systems, ARM compatibility, and virtualization limitations can prevent certain games from working.

Is Parallels free?

Parallels Desktop is commercial software, although Parallels offers a trial option. Windows licensing is separate from the Parallels license.

Final thoughts

Running Windows 11 on a Mac is considerably easier in 2026 than it was when Windows 11 was first released.

If you have an Apple silicon Mac, Parallels Desktop 27 provides a straightforward way to install Windows 11 ARM without manually creating installation media or bypassing Windows hardware checks.

If you have an Intel Mac, Parallels Desktop 26 remains the supported option and can install the standard x86 version of Windows 11.

The most important thing to remember is that Apple silicon Macs run Windows 11 ARM, while Intel Macs run the x86 version. The ARM version works well for many everyday applications, but specialized software, virtualization workloads, drivers, and some games can still have compatibility limitations.

For most users who simply need a few Windows applications without leaving macOS, the modern Parallels installation process is significantly simpler than the Windows 11 workarounds that were required in the early days of Windows 11.