How to Install Windows 11 on Your M1 Mac Using UTM and QEMU

UTM is a popular open-source software that allows you to run Windows apps on your M1 Mac for free. In this article, we'll explore the process of installing Windows 11 on your M1 Mac using UTM and QEMU.

To get started, you'll need to download the Windows Insider beta of Windows 11 for ARM from the official Microsoft website. Once downloaded, use the import option in the UTM frontend to import the file into UTM.

UTM is not only limited to installing the latest Windows 11 on your M1 Mac but also allows you to virtually install older Windows iterations and other operating systems like Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux. This makes it a versatile tool for experimenting with different OS's without having to reboot your machine.

However, it's worth noting that UTM is not suitable for intensive gaming due to its lack of support for DirectX and OpenGL. While you can run older titles using software rendering options, new games may not be playable as the software doesn't support GPU virtualization at this time.

One of the major limitations of UTM is its performance compared to other popular virtual machine software like Parallels. However, since it's free, UTM offers a great alternative for those who don't want to pay a premium for running virtual machines on their M1 Macs.

In contrast, VMware offers a free version with limited options and slower performance compared to UTM. Parallels, on the other hand, offers a 14-day free trial before requiring a payment of $79.99 for the standard edition or $99.99 per year for the pro edition.

To install Windows 11 using UTM, simply follow these steps:

1. Download the Windows Insider beta of Windows 11 for ARM from Microsoft.

2. Import the file into UTM using the frontend.

3. Restart your M1 Mac and select the virtual machine option in the boot menu.

4. Press Control + option on your keyboard to bring up the mouse cursor and make it full screen by clicking on the green maximize button.

With these simple steps, you can easily run Windows 11 virtually on your M1 Mac using UTM for free. While there may be limitations compared to other virtual machine software, UTM offers a great alternative for those who want to experiment with different OS's without breaking the bank.

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