As long as you have the Windows 11 ISO downloaded on your local storage, this should be an easy process. Step 6: The Installation Assistant will now open and guide you through the process of setting up your Windows 11 VM.
Step 5: Select Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image. Step 4: Select the Plus button in the upper-right corner of the window. When it's ready, Paralells should launch the Parallels Desktop Control center. Step 3: Launch Parallels and follow any final setup instructions to make sure it’s fully installed. You shouldn’t open the installer after it finishes downloading – that step will come later. Go to the section for Windows 11 disk image, select the only option in the Select download menu, and choose Download to begin. Microsoft has a useful guide on this page here. This file was not available during the first Windows 11 release window but was later added by Microsoft in late 2021, making this process much easier. Step 2: Download the Windows 11 ISO file. You can test out a trial version first if you want to make sure everything works. There is also a subscription version if you only plan on using it for a limited amount of time, and thee's also a discounted student version. The standard version – which is all you really need – costs $79.99 for a one-time purchase with limited support. The catch is that you’ll have to pay for it. Step 1: Download the latest version of Parallels, Parallels Desktop 17.
While we'll be showing the steps with Windows 11 in mind, this process should work with Windows 10 too if you have the right files. That lets you set up a VM that's managed away from your local hardware so it can circumvent a variety of limitations – in this case, problems with Apple chip compatibility. Parallels is a virtualization platform that's optimized with an eye on both Windows 11 and MacOS, including the latest Mac models with M1/M2 chips.
Use Parallels Desktop 17 to run Windows 11
But there is still an effective workaround if you're willing to invest a little in a VM (virtual machine) setup. When Apple updated its Macs with its own in-house M1 chips, that prevented Boot Camp from working as it did on old Intel chips, removing the way you could download Windows on older Macs. If your graphics still look wonky, you can utilize the same Brigadier tool to download the appropriate graphics drivers for your system to install it. Follow Step 2 and then Step 7 from the aforementioned post. When the options pop up, choose to boot into Safe Mode
Choose Advanced Options & allow it to restart (again). Your computer will reboot into recovery mode. Once you get to the log in screen, DO NOT LOG IN.
That is because the upgrade messed up the MacHALDriver.sys file which is used for you to control your brightness and keyboard lighting.Īllow the computer to restart. Once you finish installing, you might log on and see a blue screen with WDF violation. We swapped out that install file so the actual thing that will be installed is Windows 11. The installer will make it look like you are installing Windows 10 (since that was what it was created for by default), but do not worry. Navigate to the root directory of the USB and run setup.exe. Rename the "install.wim" on the USB to "install.esd" Paste the file you just copied into the Windows 10 USB sources folder Navigate to the sources folder and copy the "install.wim" file Once Rufus finishes, navigate to the sources folder that is located on the USB. Utilize Rufus to create a bootable USB using the Windows 10 ISO (I left the default settings selected after choosing the ISO) This method allowed me to install it while keeping all files and apps:ĭownload a Windows 10 ISO with the same architecture as your system
I was able to install it! For anyone else looking for how to do it with a system as old as mine (Macbook Pro 6,2) here's how to do it.