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Chavez0321 Author

Level 1

50 points

BootCamp and M1 Mac Computers

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.

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

MacBook

Posted on Dec 2, 2020 2:46 AM

Top-ranking reply

Derek Currie

Level 1

123 points

Posted on May 21, 2021 3:05 PM

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.

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100 replies

rocksr

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2022 6:46 PM in response to MrHoffman

For more than a month now, I have been running a licensed copy of Windows 11 for ARM-based computers on my 2020 M1 MacBook Air, using Parallels 17 for Mac. Works perfectly so far for all my Windows apps (I have dozens of them). It interfaces perfectly with my Mac. I can access all internal and external drives. Networking (including NordVPN) works perfectly, as do all printers and other network devices. So far, the only incompatibilities I've read about are apps that require an Intel CPU--I don't have any of those, so I can't attest to that, but it makes sense. I'm a heavy Excel user, and find that the Windows version works better for me. And of course, as there isn't a Mac version of Microsoft Access, The Windows 11/Parallels combination is a lifesaver.

There's lots of information on the Parallels website. Yeah, you have to buy an additional app (Parallels for Mac), but I always did that anyway, as I can have Windows and Mac apps running at the same time--something Bootcamp didn't allow. The Coherence mode of Parallels allows my Windows apps to appear in their own windows along with my native Mac apps (rather than having a separate Windows window with all the apps inside of that one window). I also use NTFS for Mac (also from Parallels), so I can have Windows formatted external drives that I can also access from Mac's Finder.

Jan 23, 2021 2:04 AM in response to Loner T

One think I have learnt is to come here in the future to find out what Apple are doing as this was a big negative for me I wish I had know

Jan 23, 2021 2:15 AM in response to Loner T

Yes you can’t beat the older machines my wife has MacBook 2012 she loves it.

Jan 23, 2021 10:25 AM in response to Loner T

I did see this on web thanks for link will have a look

Feb 23, 2021 5:19 AM in response to Chavez0321

You can use the app Parallel and virtually emulate windows, but you need a iso or disk image file of windows. Parallels is free for 16 days then you have to buy it for 80€. I hope this helps

Feb 23, 2021 12:46 PM in response to 05_Narwhal_Playz

Thanks you helpful

Mar 30, 2021 8:39 AM in response to Chavez0321

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

Mar 30, 2021 8:45 AM in response to abbasamiri00

I would say yes, but not just yet. There has been quite a lot of work to get Linux to boot and has some success so far. But it is quite some way to being usable for the masses as is windows.