BootCamp and M1 Mac Computers

To clear up confusion in this discussion:

There will never be Boot Camp for Windows x86 on M1 Macs. This is because the M1 processors offer no ability to virtualize Windows x86, as opposed to modern Intel x86 processors which do. It's that simple. (And note that, despite confusion on the Internet, Boot Camp specifically made use of Windows virtualization, not emulation).

M1 processors are able to virtualize operating systems written to run on ARM architecture processors. As such, M1 compatible virtualization software, such as Parallels for M1 processors, can run Windows 10 for ARM and Linux for ARM. The list of currently compatible operating systems using Parallels virtualization can be found on this page:

https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/resources/#requirements

Compatible operating systems include:

• Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview
• Ubuntu 20.10, 20.04
• Fedora Workstation 33-1.2
• Debian GNU/Linux 10.7
• Kali Linux 2021.1

At this time, Microsoft is not making Windows 10 for ARM architecture available to the public except as a preview. The general consensus is that Microsoft are not going to put much further effort into Windows 10 for ARM, such as providing further drivers or software. (Note that Windows 10 for ARM cannot run Intel x86 software).

WINE, such as CodeWeavers CrossOver, has been updated to run WINE compatible Windows applications on M1 Macs. You can search the CrossOver compatibility Windows software list here:

https://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility

You're going to find that a great many Windows programs are not WINE compatible, most particularly those that use Microsoft proprietary APIs such as DirectX. You'll also find compromised compatibility in many cases. IOW: WINE is no replacement for virtualization but may work great in some cases. Check the compatibility list linked above to be sure. (Note that both Homebrew and MacPorts, using the X11 system, may be able to run WINE compatible Windows x86 apps for free. But they require use of the Mac Terminal CLI to run).

There is a fairly large and growing number of emulators that run alternative operating systems on M1 Macs. At this time, however, there is no emulator that will run Windows 10 x86 software. That may well change in the future. But keep in mind that running software in emulation is comparatively slow.

Chavez0321 wrote:

One of the main reason buy Mac's is Boot Camp Assistance were it allows me to switch from Mac OS to Windows OS. I bought a MacBook 13 Pro M1 maxed out, I went out and bought a new Windows 10 the most expensive one and as I attempt to install it on the Book 13 Pro M1 and click on the Icon that is already installed that says Boot Camp Assistance thinking I'm good to go because it was per-installed but it quickly let me know Boot Camp Assistance was not available for M1 Macs when i clicked on the Icon for Boot Camp assistance, so I'm Stuck with Windows 10 and no where to install it, what a Bummer.

If you are within the Return window, get an Intel Mac, if you need Windows, or a Windows PC. Also, see Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant - Apple Support for reference, which says...

Boot Camp requires a Mac with an Intel processor.

Will Boot Camp Assistance ever become available for M1 Mac Computers?

Apple does not announce availability of features through ASC. You will need to watch WWDC announcements. If Microsoft can port Windows to Apple M1, you can use it. Try to convince Microsoft as well. 😜

Apple did publicize their M1 CPU launch and also provided developers with Transition Kits. ASC may not always know what is coming. The best place to learn more is at https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/. It provides a very good preview.

Newer software can also be buggy compared to older software, but it is a trade-off between new features and stability.

I have quite a few Macs still on macOS Sierra. I find it stable, but some of the older software that integrates Apple's ecosystem has stopped working properly, for example FaceTime is one.

Also, be aware of 32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support.

varun133 wrote:

boot camp install 2020m1 macbook air

M1 is an Arm architecture processor and not x86-64, and Apple Boot Camp is for x86-64 processors.

Windows for x86-64 will not boot and will not work on an M1 processor.

For Windows, you will need Windows for ARM64 for your M1 Mac, and that product is not available for purchase (yet?) from Microsoft.

Send your feedback to Apple: Product Feedback - Apple

Windows 10 on M1 - Apple Community

thats not how it works at all

m1 is an arm based cpu it execute arm-based binaries because apple developed a "wrapper" called rosetta stone 2 Rosetta Stone - Wikipedia

macOS arm version can execute x86 binaries, they had the same system when they moved from powerpc cpu to intels x86

bootcamp does not run under macOS it's right on the metal which in the case of m1 is arm based, microsoft x86 operating system can't run on an arm cpu, microsoft has a windows 10 for the arm cpu architecture, but does not sell it other to oem (manufactures of computers) not to end users

bootcamp is 3 things

1. a setup tool to remove some of the storage from macOS and put a microsoft file system on it
2. a bootloader which choose if windows is started or if macOS is
3. a zip file with drivers for windows to best suit the apple hardware in the mac computer

apple will never be able to run x86 windows on their arm based cpu

if microsoft release their win10 arm based operating system that's another situation

windows 10 arm based will likely not run the latest 3d x86 games all that well

likely the best bet is to way and see if parallels can make a virtual machine that can run x86 apps on an arm platform

also not likely to be an option for the latest 3d x86 games.

Derek Currie wrote:

At this time, however, there is no emulator that will run Windows 10 x86 software. That may well change in the future. But keep in mind that running software in emulation is comparatively slow.

There have been emulators (Insignia) in the past, and even now, QEMU exists (https://www.qemu.org).

Also, take a look at

• If you need to install Rosetta on your Mac - Apple Support
• https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple-silicon/about-the-rosetta-translation-environment
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emulators

Emulators can be slow.

Null0000 wrote:

Windows has had ARM versions since Windows RT back in 2012.

Windows RT 32-bit ARM version derived from W8/W8.1 for the Windows Mobile devices.

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/business/surface-pro-x/processor has an ARM64 processor from Qualcomm (SQ1).
• https://www.windowslatest.com/2021/03/29/qualcomms-snapdragon-8cx-gen-3-for-windows-10-benchmark/

Not all ARM processors are created equal.

Apple has stated that Windows through Bootcamp will not be supported - https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/24/21302213/apple-silicon-mac-arm-windows-support-boot-camp

Virtualization is how it will be done in the future - https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-apple-silicon-mac/

I'm ready to run Windows on my MBP M1 though. Can't wait! The M1 flies! :)

In https://www.parallels.com/blogs/parallels-desktop-apple-silicon-mac/, I find this statement

 Parallels is also amazed by the news from Microsoft about adding support of x64 applications in Windows on ARM. 

full of subterfuge. Confusing Microsoft/Qualcomm ARM SQ1/SQ2 with Apple ARM M1 is a very poor marketing strategy.

This

Given the small percentage of macOS users that actually use Boot Camp and the roughly 100 million install base of Macs, running Windows 10 on ARM natively on Apple’s ARM-based Macs clearly wasn’t a priority for Apple.

is a much cleaner way of articulating the issue.

if ms started selling arm win10 non oem then people would likely expect drivers for all the hardware that x86 has bundled, something which they would not be able deliver within a reasonable timeframe as the drivers would not be made by them.

The x86 driver catalog hosted by Microsoft (https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx) is very large. Porting all these drivers is a significant undertaking. Virtualization will also limit performance of such drivers.

It is better for Mac+Windows to stay with Intel. If consumers want an Intel Mac, they can ask Apple to continue building/supporting the Intel line. The other option is to license macOS-on-Intel to a separate corporate entity which can carve it's own path based on customer demand (similar to the now-defunct PsyStar).

Jobs also tried to negotiate (around 1997-2001) macOS running on non-Apple hardware and came close with Compaq and Sony (and some others), but significant deals never materialized.

Just some thoughts on this,

I would think through VirtualBox, Parallels, or VMware Fusion you can run Windoze in a VM. But interesting that Boot Camp won't work in M1. I suspect that may change in the future as Windoze can run on ARM based processors.

Good luck!

Good question but the real answer is most likely the bootcamp days of Mac are over. The only way Windows can work on a Mac through bootcamp is if you have an Intel base processor on said Mac. So, no

iApplemetoo wrote:

The only way Windows can work on a Mac through bootcamp is if you have an Intel base processor on said Mac. So, no

...or Microsoft decides to port Windows to ARM M1 (and future Apple Silicon). 😉