How to run Windows 11 on Mac using UTM
You may want to run Windows on a Mac with Apple Silicon (i.e. an M-series chip) if you use an app that is Windows-only. Unlike Intel Macs, modern Macs do not have Boot Camp so that you can dual boot. Microsoft officially suggests two options for running Windows on a modern Mac:
Windows 365, a subscription service that provides you with a remote PC to connect to.
Parallels, paid virtualization software that runs Windows locally on your computer.
Instead of either of these options, I chose to use the free virtualization software UTM. Here’s how to set it up.
What you need
- UTM for Mac. The left button is a free download from GitHub that you must update manually. The right button is a low-cost download from the Mac App Store that provides automatic updates.
- Microsoft account registered for Windows Insider Program
- Valid Windows 11 license key [1]
- Patience
How to do it
Follow these beautiful instructions from OSXDaily, complete with screenshots.
Tips and tricks
- The SPICE guest tools must be re-installed after each Windows update.
- In the settings for your VM under “QEMU”, both “UEFI Boot” and “TPM 2.0 device” should be selected.
- Bypass the Windows 11 hardware requirements check with a few registry changes:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfigBypassTPMCheck- DWORD set to 1BypassSecureBootCheck- DWORD set to 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\SelectionUIBranch- String value set to “CanaryChannel”
Endnotes
- Please pay for your Windows license. PC World has suggestions on how to get Windows 11 cheap.