How to Run Windows 11 for Free on an M1 or M2 Mac with UTM Emulator on Windows

It's quite simple to install and set up Windows with UTM, without needing command-line configuration. The emulator looks a bit like Parallels Desktop and offers a user-friendly GUI. In this article, we'll explain how you can run Windows on an M1 Mac (or any Mac with an M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, or M2 chip) with UTM, for free - including a free version of Windows 11 Pro.

UTM is not as feature-rich as Parallels Desktop but offers a free alternative. You can bypass much of the initial setup complexity by using the UTM app, which allows you to run QEMU on your Mac with very little setup. Another solution is QEMU: a free, open-source emulator that (at least in its standard package) is somewhat difficult to install and set up.

Parallels Desktop's pricing can range from about $50 for upgrades from a previous version to $100 for the Pro Edition, unless you happen to buy it when it's on sale. Of the two popular apps used for years to run Windows and other operating systems on a Mac - namely VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop - only the latter has been updated to run on an M1 or M2-based Mac.

For those who want to move forward with Apple silicon, there's another option: virtualization. Unfortunately, Apple only supports Boot Camp on Macs with an Intel processor. Apple's Boot Camp allowed you to start up your Intel-based Mac in either macOS or Windows, and this dual-boot capability was great for people who needed to use both operating systems.

With UTM, you can run Windows 11 for free on your M1 or M2 Mac, making it a great option for those looking to try out Windows without breaking the bank.

Mac os emulator on windows