Parallels working to bring Windows 11 to Mac

AppleInsider · July 2, 2021 12:25AM

Virtualization specialist Parallels on Thursday confirmed plans to bring the recently released Windows 11 to Mac, though it is unclear when compatibility with the new Microsoft operating system will land.

Parallels failed to provide an estimated launch timeframe in a statement to iMore, saying only that it "will surely do everything that's possible to make it happen."

"Since Windows 11 has just been announced recently, the Parallels Engineering team is waiting for the official Windows 11 Insider Preview build to start studying changes introduced in the new OS to deliver full compatibility in future Parallels Desktop updates," said Nick Dobrovolskiy, Parallels' SVP of engineering and support.

Windows 11 debuted last week with a fresh user interface, new multitasking options, Android app support, Microsoft Teams integration, and more.

Parallels most recently updated its Parallels Desktop virtualization software in April with support for Apple's M1 chip. The suite is optimized for macOS Big Sur, though Parallels is already developing tweaks for the upcoming macOS Monterey.

For now, users can turn to Apple's Boot Camp to run both native and virtualized instances of Windows on Intel Macs. That will change once Apple transitions its laptop and desktop lines to Apple Silicon, leaving third-party virtualization solutions as the only option in the near term.

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elijahg · July 2, 2021 12:39AM

Presumably the ARM version of Win 11 and not the x86 version? Which let's be honest, is the only version people actually want (well, need... does anyone actually want Windows)?

rob53 · July 2, 2021 12:42AM

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

MacPro · July 2, 2021 12:56AM

I'm running the Windows 10 ARM already on an M1 and now the Windows 11 version on a PC and my suspicions were correct, they are almost identical. I would imagine the ARM 11 isn't far off developer release.

rob53 · July 2, 2021 1:24AM

MacPro said:

I'm running the Windows 10 ARM already on an M1 and now the Windows 11 version on a PC and my suspicions were correct, they are almost identical. I would imagine the ARM 11 isn't far off developer release.

If Microsoft has ARM-based PC manufacturers lined up, otherwise I have to wonder why they're even doing an ARM version. Mac users aren't enough, they have to have been working with PC manufacturers in order to justify the R&D. I can't believe the Surface is generating enough business (if it's ARM-based).

PERockwell · July 2, 2021 2:39AM

Has Microsoft said for sure that they will support Windows 11 ARM on Apple Silicon and that they will sell a license for it to end users? Developer Previews are beta software and don’t they disappear after the product gets released?

VMware has stated they won’t prioitize Windows on ARM for Fusion until Microsoft answers the licensing questions as they do not want to run afoul of EULAs.

chadbag · July 2, 2021 2:59AM

We have to remember that Parallels currently also supports Intel Macs and will want to make sure Intel version of Win 11 works. Not everything is M1 now.

KTR · July 2, 2021 4:45AM

I’m sure ms will release a m1 version if apple makes iMessage for windows 10/11 via edge

sflocal · July 2, 2021 7:51AM

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

I'm reading this as Parallels bringing x86 Windows 11 to the Mac, and not to the M1, or Windows 11 ARM.

Even though Intel on the Mac is dead in terms of future products, there are still hundreds of millions of Intel Macs still out there for many years and people like me are more than prepared to get Windows 11 for our Intel Macs. I use (and love) VMWare Fusion so I hope VMWare continues getting the necessary updates to support this. I bought a 2020 iMac with the intent of it being my last Intel-based Mac and plan on having it be a VM-based Windows machine as well.

mr lizard · July 2, 2021 9:58AM

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now, and the Window 11 Insider Preview is available as an ARM version.

The only question is one of licensing; whether Microsoft will require that Windows 11 ARM version is licensed for installation inside a virtual machine.

dysamoria · July 2, 2021 10:44AM

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

lkrupp · July 2, 2021 1:20PM

Announcing and releasing are completely different topics.

crowley · July 2, 2021 1:24PM

lkrupp said:

Announcing and releasing are completely different topics.

I'm sure we'll get a new forum thread when it's released.

lkrupp · July 2, 2021 1:27PM

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now, and the Window 11 Insider Preview is available as an ARM version.

The only question is one of licensing; whether Microsoft will require that Windows 11 ARM version is licensed for installation inside a virtual machine.

I’ve been reading reports about Windows users finding out that Windows 11 is really, REALLY picky about hardware requirements. Apparently there’s an app that checks and verifies whether Windows 11 will run on a user’s hardware and the requirements are difficult to meet.

If Microsoft eventually does license Windows 11 ARM I’m sure it will not satisfy many of those who want to run classic Windows apps. Would that not require Microsoft to produce a Rosetta 2 of its own?

crowley · July 2, 2021 1:29PM

lkrupp said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now, and the Window 11 Insider Preview is available as an ARM version.

The only question is one of licensing; whether Microsoft will require that Windows 11 ARM version is licensed for installation inside a virtual machine.

I’ve been reading reports about Windows users finding out that Windows 11 is really, REALLY picky about hardware requirements. Apparently there’s an app that checks and verifies whether Windows 11 will run on a user’s hardware and the requirements are difficult to meet.

If Microsoft eventually does license Windows 11 ARM I’m sure it will not satisfy many of those who want to run classic Windows apps. Would that not require Microsoft to produce a Rosetta 2 of its own?

Already done: https://www.extremetech.com/computing/318245-microsoft-adds-64-bit-x86-emulation-to-windows-on-arm

mr lizard · July 2, 2021 1:37PM

dysamoria said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

Hence the part of my comment that you cut off in your quote: "The only question is one of licensing"

rob53 · July 2, 2021 1:58PM

sflocal said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

I'm reading this as Parallels bringing x86 Windows 11 to the Mac, and not to the M1, or Windows 11 ARM.

Even though Intel on the Mac is dead in terms of future products, there are still hundreds of millions of Intel Macs still out there for many years and people like me are more than prepared to get Windows 11 for our Intel Macs. I use (and love) VMWare Fusion so I hope VMWare continues getting the necessary updates to support this. I bought a 2020 iMac with the intent of it being my last Intel-based Mac and plan on having it be a VM-based Windows machine as well.

You're correct. What I'm talking about is a future without Intel Macs, which Apple is going to in the next year or so. After that, developing anything for Intel Macs will be a time-limited product.

rob53 · July 2, 2021 2:04PM

dysamoria said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

Just checked the Windows Insider Preview website and it doesn't mention anything about Windows 11 anything. Is there a different previewer website?

GeorgeBMac · July 2, 2021 2:42PM

mr lizard said:

dysamoria said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

Hence the part of my comment that you cut off in your quote: "The only question is one of licensing"

That's your assumption. Although there is no reason to believe that Microsoft would withhold a fully developed, viable product (if it existed) because of, quote, "Licensing".

MacPro · July 2, 2021 4:08PM

dysamoria said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

Yes, it is, you can download it if you join the Windows Insider program. I did, I have it, and run it.

MacPro · July 2, 2021 4:28PM

rob53 said:

dysamoria said:

mr lizard said:

rob53 said:

Limited article. Parallels can’t do anything with Windows 11 until Microsoft releases an ARM version. Apple moving away from Intel so VMWare seems to not care about non-Intel related virtualization. Parallels is trying but can’t make Microsoft do anything. Running Unix/Linux under virtualization on an M-series Mac might not have enough customers to keep Parallels in business long term.

Um... Windows 10 has had an ARM version for a while now [...]

Not available to end users, though, is what I keep reading here on this forum.

Just checked the Windows Insider Preview website and it doesn't mention anything about Windows 11 anything. Is there a different previewer website?

It's a matter of what level you choose. Currently, only developer-level has it. So far Windows 11 has run everything I've tried without issue. I am running a 4K set up with a GTX 1080 GPU. No problem with Steam either or any games.

Note this is a PC, none of my Boot Camp or Macs with direct Boot into Windows set-ups 'qualified.' They do, however, all have the latest Windows 10 betas through the same insider program account.

Parallels working to bring Windows 11 to Mac

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