How to Run Windows 11 on a Mac

by Muhammad Imran Habib · November 4, 2021

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The permanent version of Windows 11 will come by the end of 2021, but the testing/preview version is now available. You can use Parallels 17 to use Windows 11 on Intel and M1 Macs today.

Parallels 17, a virtual machine utilization, supports Windows 11 prerelease versions on macOS Monterey. The base variant of the app costs $80, but if you previously have an older version, the upgrade is for $50. Scan the Parallels website to buy the applicable version.

On Intel Macs, you can run Windows 11 after installing the Windows 10 Insider Preview build. To do so, you need a Microsoft account enrolled with the Windows Insider Program.

While the M1 Macs support several Windows software, they cannot support the standard Windows 11 version. It requires installing Windows 10 on ARM first and then upgrading it to Windows 11.

There are various ways you can install Windows on a Mac. You can go with Boot Camp, but it indicates you’ll need to dual-boot it with macOS, lose some storage space, and practice only one of the OSes at a time. Similarly, with applications similar to Parallels, you would not need to dual-boot or restart your Mac when you run Windows 11.

To install Windows 11 on your Mac, all you need is to download and install Parallels 17 on your Mac device. Once installed, open it and run its virtual machine wizard. Now, select “Get Windows 10 from Microsoft” and then click “Continue.”

Next, Choose “Download Windows 10” and click “Continue.”

Now, please wait a while, and the wizard will download the newest version of Windows 10 and install it.

Once the installation process is complete, open the Windows 10 virtual machine, click the windows start menu, and search for “Windows Insider Program Settings.”

Once you get to the Windows Insider Program Settings section, click “Get started.”

Now, locate your Microsoft account that’s registered to the Windows Insider Program.

Next, you’ll need to update special Registry keys and turn from Release Preview Version to Dev Preview Version.

To do so, open the Registry Editor in Windows 10 with Administrative dues. After authorizing it to make changes, you can allocate to the following key or copy-paste in the address bar of the Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection

Now you will see “UIBranch” key on the right side, double click on it and type “Dev” in the “Value data” section.

Once you do so, now copy-paste the below key in the address bar of the Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability

Now you will see “BranchName” key on the right side, double click on it, and type “Dev” in the “Value data” section.

Reboot the Windows 10 Virtual Machine and open the Windows Update to retrieve fresh updates when you are done. The downloading process of the Windows 11 Insider Preview build should begin instantly.