Whitepaper
Windows apps on an Apple silicon Mac: what works in 2026?
You’ve switched to a Mac, or you’re thinking about it, and there’s still that one Windows program. The accounting package your bookkeeper uses, a tool from work, or a game you don’t want to give up. A Mac with an M-series chip can do a lot, but not everything, and the old tricks from the Intel days no longer work. This whitepaper is part of the series “Mac and the rest of the world” and lays out the options as of October 2026: what they cost, what they can and can’t do, and which one fits which use.
The bad news first: Boot Camp is gone
On Intel Macs, Boot Camp let you install Windows directly on the hardware. At startup you picked macOS or Windows. On a Mac with Apple silicon that isn’t possible. The M-series chips are Arm processors, and Apple never brought Boot Camp to these Macs. Microsoft doesn’t offer a version of Windows you can install natively on a Mac either. And since macOS Golden Gate (macOS 27) only runs on Apple silicon, Boot Camp is truly a thing of the past for any current Mac.
That leaves three routes: Windows in a virtual machine on your Mac, Windows programs running through a translation layer without Windows, or Windows from the cloud.
Rosetta 2: what it does and doesn’t do
Rosetta 2 translates Mac apps built for Intel processors so they run on an M-series chip. So it’s not a way to run Windows programs. It still matters here, because some of the options rely on it.
In 2025 Apple announced that Rosetta stays available as a general translation layer through macOS 27. Starting with macOS 28, expected in fall 2027, Apple will keep only a limited subset for older, unmaintained games. Intel-only apps will no longer launch. Since macOS 26.4 you already get a warning when you open one.
For Windows in a virtual machine this makes no difference: Windows handles the translation itself, with its own emulator. For CrossOver it does matter, more on that below.
Your options
Parallels Desktop
Parallels is the best known and most complete choice. It sets up Windows 11 for Arm in a virtual machine in a few clicks. Microsoft’s own support article names Parallels Desktop as an authorized way to run Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise on Apple silicon. That article still only lists M1 through M3 and Parallels 18 through 20. In practice it also works on M4 and M5, but those aren’t in Microsoft’s text (yet).
Windows 11 for Arm runs most regular Windows programs built for Intel and AMD (x64) through Prism, Microsoft’s built-in emulator. Since late 2025 Prism also handles AVX and AVX2, so more modern software and games will start. Coherence mode shows Windows programs as separate windows alongside your Mac apps.
Parallels Desktop 27 came out at the end of August 2026, adding support for macOS Golden Gate and a new graphics driver with OpenGL 4.3. It now runs on Apple silicon only. Regular pricing:
- Standard: $99.99 per year, or $219.99 one time
- Pro: $119.99 per year, for developers and heavier virtual machines
- Business: $149.99 per year, with central management
Euro prices are about the same, but Parallels runs promotions often, so check the Parallels website for the current price. There’s a free trial.
The main limitations, according to Parallels: no nested virtualization (so no Hyper-V and no WSL2, though WSL1 works), no virtualization-based security, and 3D support up to DirectX 11.1. Newer games that need DirectX 12 often won’t start.
VMware Fusion
Since Broadcom bought VMware, Fusion Pro has been free. First for personal use in May 2024, then for businesses too from November 2024. You do need an account on the Broadcom portal to download it, and that portal isn’t exactly friendly. On Apple silicon Fusion only runs Arm operating systems, so again it’s Windows 11 for Arm. Recent versions can fetch Windows for you.
Fusion is solid, but on the Mac it trails Parallels in ease of use and graphics performance. Paid support is gone, so you’re left with the community forum. Microsoft doesn’t list Fusion as an authorized solution.
UTM
UTM is free and open source (the Mac App Store version costs a few euros to support the developers). It uses the virtualization built into macOS, or QEMU for emulation. You can install Windows 11 for Arm, but you do more of the work yourself and graphics performance is limited. Fine for experimenting or a light program, less so for daily work.
CrossOver, Wine and the Game Porting Toolkit
CodeWeavers’ CrossOver runs Windows programs without Windows. It’s based on Wine, a translation layer that maps Windows functions to macOS. So you don’t need a Windows license and it starts quickly. The catch: a given program either works or it doesn’t. You can look up how well an app runs on the CodeWeavers website. A license with a year of updates costs around $74.
There’s a transition going on. On Apple silicon CrossOver relies on Rosetta, which goes away in 2027. CodeWeavers is building its own translation instead. Since August 2026 there’s a preview of a native Arm version, which reportedly is headed for CrossOver 28. CrossOver 27 only supports 64-bit Windows programs and drops Intel Macs, so old 32-bit software is out.
Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit is meant for developers who want to test how a Windows game would run on a Mac. The technology behind it (D3DMetal) is also part of CrossOver. Whisky, the popular free app that made Wine and the toolkit easy to use, was discontinued in 2025. It may still work, but it gets no updates, and I no longer recommend it.
Windows from the cloud: Windows 365 and Windows App
With Windows 365 you rent a complete Windows PC in Microsoft’s cloud. You open it on your Mac with the free Windows App, the successor to Microsoft Remote Desktop. It also gets you into Azure Virtual Desktop and Microsoft Dev Box if your employer uses them. Microsoft’s support article calls this the most compatible option, which makes sense, because it’s a real x64 PC. You do always need a decent internet connection, and it’s a business subscription billed per user per month. For companies it’s often the cleanest solution. For home use it’s usually too expensive and too fiddly.
The web version
Sounds boring, but it’s often the best answer. A lot of software that used to be Windows only now has a web version that works just as well in Safari or Chrome. Think of online accounting packages, Microsoft 365 and many company portals.
What usually works, and what doesn’t
| Type of software | Chance of success | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office and admin programs | Good | Usually run fine in Windows 11 for Arm through Prism. Test links to printers or bank files first. |
| Older accounting and industry software | Mixed | Local packages for bookkeeping, point of sale, installers or healthcare often work, but sometimes depend on a database server or plug-in that won’t cooperate. Check whether the vendor mentions Windows on Arm. |
| Hardware with its own driver | Poor | Drivers have to be built for Arm. An x86 driver is not emulated. Think older scanners, measuring equipment, label printers and programming cables. |
| USB license dongles | Mixed | You can pass USB devices through to the virtual machine, but the dongle still needs an Arm driver. Ask the vendor. |
| Games with kernel-level anti-cheat | Usually not | Many anti-cheat systems refuse to run in a virtual machine or on Arm. Online shooters are often ruled out. |
| Games that need DirectX 12 | Poor in a VM | Parallels supports up to DirectX 11.1. Through CrossOver DirectX 12 sometimes works, depending on the game. |
| Developer tools, Visual Studio, .NET | Good | Many tools have an Arm version. WSL2, Docker with Hyper-V and Android emulators don’t work inside the VM. |
Licensing Windows 11 for Arm
Windows in a virtual machine needs its own license. Microsoft says every installation of Windows 11 Pro needs a separate license, on hardware or virtual. You can move an existing license from an old PC if it’s a standalone (retail) license. A license tied to a laptop you bought (OEM) usually can’t be moved.
Watch the edition. Microsoft authorizes Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise on Apple silicon, not Windows 11 Home. Parallels and VMware can download the Arm installer for you. You activate with a product key or through the Microsoft Store inside Windows. For Enterprise you first need a Pro license and then a volume license through your employer.
Performance and memory
On an M-series chip, Windows 11 for Arm in a virtual machine feels surprisingly quick. Programs built natively for Arm run fastest. Emulated x64 programs are slower, but for office work you’ll barely notice.
Memory is usually the real limit. Windows wants 4 to 8 GB on its own, and macOS keeps running too. My advice:
- 8 GB: workable for one light program, but you’ll feel it on the Mac side. Parallels lists 8 GB as the minimum.
- 16 GB: the comfortable minimum for daily use of Windows next to your Mac apps.
- 24 GB or more: for developers, multiple virtual machines or heavier graphics software.
Plan for storage too. Windows alone quickly takes 30 to 60 GB, plus your programs. On a 256 GB Mac that gets tight.
Which option fits you?
| Situation | Best choice | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| One Windows program for work | Check for a web version first. Otherwise Parallels Standard with Windows 11 Pro. | CrossOver if the program runs well on it, or free VMware Fusion. |
| Gaming | First check whether the game has a Mac version or runs on Mac through Steam. Then CrossOver. | Cloud gaming such as GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming. Online games with anti-cheat: don’t count on it. |
| Developing for Windows | Parallels Pro, with plenty of memory. | VMware Fusion (free), or Microsoft Dev Box through Windows App. |
| Company apps from your employer | Ask IT about Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop through Windows App. | Parallels Business if IT allows and manages a local Windows install. |
| Hardware with its own driver or dongle | Ask the vendor first whether an Arm driver exists. | A cheap Windows PC on the side, or a cloud PC if the hardware doesn’t need to be local. |
| Trying something now and then | UTM or VMware Fusion, both free. | The Parallels trial. |
Step by step
- List every Windows program you really need, plus any hardware connected to it.
- For each program, check whether there’s a Mac version, a web version or a good alternative. Often that’s the end of it.
- For business software, ask the vendor whether Windows 11 on Arm is supported, especially if a dongle or driver is involved.
- For one or two programs that don’t need a Windows driver, try the free CrossOver trial first.
- If that doesn’t work, install the Parallels trial (or free VMware Fusion) with Windows 11 Pro for Arm and test everything you need, including printing and importing.
- If it works, buy a Windows 11 Pro license and a Parallels license. Choose deliberately between a subscription and a one-time purchase.
- Give the virtual machine enough memory, but leave at least 8 GB for macOS.
- Using CrossOver or old Intel Mac apps? Keep an eye on what happens to Rosetta in 2027 and whether your software gets an update.
And with Apple?
To be honest, the best Windows solution on a Mac is often not Windows at all. Always check first whether the maker has a Mac version, or a web version that works in Safari. Many accounting packages, Microsoft 365, Teams and most company portals work fine without Windows. Then look in the Mac App Store for an alternative. For many small Windows utilities there’s a Mac app that does the job just as well or better. A virtual machine is a good safety net, but it’s still a second computer inside your computer, with its own updates, its own license and its own security to look after. Switching over and want to know what else to watch out for? Read switching to the Mac as well.
This whitepaper describes the situation in October 2026, with macOS Golden Gate (macOS 27), Windows 11 and Parallels Desktop 27. Prices, supported versions and Apple’s plans for Rosetta can change, so always check the latest information from Apple, Microsoft and the software makers before you buy anything.
This article is part of the Mac and the rest of the world series, where you’ll find every part in one place.