How to Run Windows on Mac with a Virtual Machine: The Complete Guide

Whether you’re a developer needing Windows-specific tools, a business professional requiring PC-only software, or simply want the flexibility of both operating systems, learning how to run Windows on Mac has become essential for many users. Virtual machines offer the perfect solution, allowing you to operate Windows alongside macOS without rebooting your computer.

This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about Mac virtualisation software, from choosing the right platform to optimising performance. We’ll explore the top virtual machine options, provide detailed setup instructions, and share expert tips to ensure smooth operation.

Why use a Virtual Machine instead of Boot Camp?

Before diving into virtual machines, it’s worth understanding why they’ve become the preferred method to run Windows on Mac:

• Simultaneous Operation: Run both macOS and Windows without restarting
• Easy File Sharing: Seamless drag-and-drop between operating systems
• Snapshot Protection: Save system states and revert if problems occur
• Resource Flexibility: Adjust RAM and storage allocation as needed
• Multiple OS Support: Run various Windows versions or Linux distributions

System requirements for running Windows VM on Mac

Minimum requirements

• Processor: Intel Core i5 or Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3
• RAM: 8GB (4GB allocated to VM)
• Storage: 60GB free space
• macOS: Big Sur 11.0 or later

Recommended specifications

• Processor: Intel Core i7/i9 or Apple Silicon M1 Pro/Max or newer
• RAM: 16GB or more
• Storage: 128GB+ free space
• macOS: Latest version for optimal compatibility

Comparing the top Virtual Machine software for Mac

1. Parallels Desktop 19

Price: £89.99/year (Standard) | £119.99/year (Pro)

Pros:

• Best performance, especially on Apple Silicon
• Coherence Mode for seamless integration
• Automatic Windows installation
• DirectX 11 support for gaming
• One-click Windows app installation

Cons:

• Subscription-based pricing
• Most expensive option
• Limited to Windows and Linux guests

Best For: Professional users requiring maximum performance and integration

2. VMware Fusion 13

Price: Free – Download Here

Pros:

• Excellent performance on Intel Macs
• Professional-grade features
• Strong enterprise support
• Snapshot branching
• Unity Mode for app integration

Cons:

• Apple Silicon support is still developing
• Steeper learning curve
• Higher upfront cost

Best For: IT professionals and developers needing advanced features

3. VirtualBox 7.0

Price: Free (Open Source) – Download Here

Pros:

• Completely free
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Extensive customisation options
• Active community support
• Regular updates

Cons:

• No official Apple Silicon support
• Lower performance than paid alternatives
• Less polished user interface
• Manual configuration required

Best For: Budget-conscious users and those comfortable with technical setup

4. UTM (Apple Silicon Alternative)

Price: Free (Open Source) | £9.99 (Mac App Store)

Pros:

• Native Apple Silicon support
• Based on QEMU
• iOS/iPadOS compatible
• Growing feature set

Cons:

• Limited Windows compatibility
• Fewer convenience features
• Smaller community

Best For: Apple Silicon Mac users seeking free virtualisation

Step-by-step guide: Installing Windows on Mac with Parallels Desktop

Step 1: Download and install Parallels Desktop

1. Visit the Parallels website and download the trial version
2. Open the downloaded DMG file
3. Double-click the Parallels Desktop icon
4. Follow the installation wizard
5. Enter your activation key or start the trial

Step 2: Obtain Windows installation media

1. Visit Microsoft’s website
2. Download the Windows 11 ISO file (approximately 5.4GB)
3. Save to your Downloads folder
4. Ensure you have a valid Windows licence key

Step 3: Create your Windows Virtual Machine

1. Launch Parallels Desktop
2. Click “Install Windows or another OS from DVD or image file”
3. Select your Windows ISO file
4. Choose “Express Installation” for automatic setup
5. Enter your Windows product key
6. Select the installation location and name your VM

Step 4: Configure Virtual Machine settings

1. Memory Allocation:
   • Minimum: 4GB
   • Recommended: 8GB
   • Gaming/Development: 16GB
2. CPU Cores:
   • Standard use: 2-4 cores
   • Development: 4-6 cores
   • Never exceed half your Mac’s total cores
3. Storage:
   • Minimum: 64GB
   • Recommended: 128GB
   • Expandable later if needed

Step 5: Complete Windows installation

1. Start the virtual machine
2. Windows setup begins automatically
3. Follow on-screen prompts
4. Create your user account
5. Install Parallels Tools when prompted
6. Restart to complete installation

Setting up Windows VM with VMware Fusion

Installation Process

1. Download VMware Fusion from vmware.com
2. Mount the DMG and run the installer
3. Enter your licence key
4. Launch VMware Fusion

Creating a new Virtual Machine

1. Select “Create a new Virtual Machine”
2. Choose “Install from disc or image”
3. Browse to your Windows ISO
4. Select “Windows 10/11” as the guest OS
5. Choose “UEFI” firmware type for Windows 11

Optimisation settings

• Enable 3D acceleration
• Allocate adequate video memory (minimum 128MB)
• Configure shared folders
• Install VMware Tools for enhanced performance

VirtualBox installation guide for Mac

Getting started with VirtualBox

1. Download VirtualBox from virtualbox.org
2. Install the main application
3. Download and install Extension Pack
4. Grant necessary security permissions in System Preferences

Creating your Windows VM

1. Click “New” in VirtualBox Manager
2. Name your VM and select “Windows 11”
3. Allocate memory (minimum 4096MB)
4. Create a virtual hard disk (VDI format)
5. Choose dynamically allocated storage

Critical configuration steps

1. Enable EFI: Settings > System > Enable EFI
2. Processor Settings: 2+ CPUs, enable PAE/NX
3. Display: 128MB video memory, enable 3D acceleration
4. Network: NAT or Bridged Adapter
5. USB: Enable USB 3.0 controller

Performance optimisation tips

Universal optimisation strategies

1. Close Unnecessary Mac Applications: Free up RAM before starting VM
2. Disable Visual Effects: Reduce Windows animations and transparency
3. Use SSD Storage: Dramatically improves VM responsiveness
4. Regular Maintenance: Clear temporary files and defragment the virtual disk
5. Snapshot Management: Delete old snapshots to save space

Parallels-specific optimisation

• Enable Parallels Hypervisor
• Use Travel Mode for laptop battery savings
• Configure Coherence Mode preferences
• Adjust video memory based on usage

VMware Fusion optimisation

• Enable side channel mitigations cautiously
• Use Unity Mode selectively
• Configure memory trimming
• Optimise the virtual disk periodically

VirtualBox performance tweaks

• Install Guest Additions immediately
• Enable hardware virtualisation (VT-x/AMD-V)
• Increase video memory to maximum
• Use fixed-size virtual disks

Troubleshooting common issues

Issue 1: The Virtual Machine won’t start

Solutions:

• Verify virtualisation is enabled in Mac’s firmware
• Check for software conflicts (especially other virtualisation tools)
• Reset PRAM/NVRAM on Intel Macs
• Ensure adequate free disk space

Issue 2: Poor graphics performance

Solutions:

• Increase video memory allocation
• Enable 3D acceleration
• Update virtual machine tools/additions
• Disable Windows transparency effects

Issue 3: Network connectivity problems

Solutions:

• Switch between NAT and Bridged networking
• Reset virtual network adapters
• Disable the Mac firewall temporarily for testing
• Reinstall virtual machine tools

Issue 4: Apple Silicon compatibility issues

Solutions:

• Use the ARM64 version of Windows 11
• Install Parallels Desktop 18+ for M1/M2 support
• Consider UTM as an alternative
• Check for regular software updates

Issue 5: Activation problems

Solutions:

• Verify licence key validity
• Check internet connectivity
• Use the telephone activation option
• Contact Microsoft support for OEM keys

Advanced features and use cases

Development environment setup

• Configure shared folders for code repositories
• Enable nested virtualisation for Docker
• Set up network isolation for testing
• Create linked clones for multiple environments

Gaming on Virtual Machines

• Parallels Desktop: Best for casual gaming with DirectX 11 support.
• VMware Fusion: Adequate for older titles.
• VirtualBox: Limited gaming capability

Optimisation for Gaming:

• Maximise CPU and RAM allocation
• Enable all graphics acceleration
• Close all Mac background apps
• Consider Boot Camp for AAA titles

Running Legacy Software

• Use Windows 7 or XP for older applications
• Enable compatibility mode
• Isolate from the network if unsupported
• Create snapshots before installing legacy software

Security best practices

Essential security measures

1. Isolate Sensitive Operations: Use separate VMs for banking/financial tasks
2. Regular Backups: Schedule automatic VM backups
3. Antivirus Protection: Install Windows Defender or a third-party solution
4. Network Segmentation: Use NAT for isolation from the local network
5. Snapshot Before Updates: Create restore points before major changes

Data protection strategies

• Enable BitLocker encryption in Windows
• Use encrypted virtual disk formats
• Implement strong passwords
• Disable clipboard sharing for sensitive work
• Regular security updates for both the host and guest OS

Cost comparison and recommendations

Total cost of ownership (first year)

Software	Licence Cost	Windows Licence	Total
Parallels Desktop	£89.99	£139.99	£229.98
VMware Fusion	£149.00	£139.99	£288.99
VirtualBox	£0	£139.99	£139.99
UTM	£0-9.99	£139.99	£139.99-149.98

Recommendations by user type

For business professionals: Parallels Desktop

• Seamless integration with macOS
• Excellent performance
• Professional support
• Regular updates

For developers: VMware Fusion Pro

• Advanced networking features
• Snapshot branching
• Command-line tools
• Enterprise compatibility

For casual users: VirtualBox

• Free and functional
• Adequate for basic tasks
• Large community support
• Cross-platform compatibility

For Apple Silicon users: Parallels Desktop or UTM

• Native ARM support
• Optimised performance
• Growing compatibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Running Windows on Mac through virtual machines provides unmatched flexibility for users needing both operating systems. Whether you choose the premium experience of Parallels Desktop, the professional features of VMware Fusion, or the cost-effective solution of VirtualBox, modern Mac virtualisation software makes it easier than ever to enjoy the best of both worlds.

For most users, Parallels Desktop offers the best balance of performance, features, and ease of use, particularly on Apple Silicon Macs. However, those on a budget shouldn’t overlook VirtualBox, which provides remarkable functionality at no cost. Developers and IT professionals may find VMware Fusion’s advanced features worth the investment.

Remember that successful virtualisation depends on adequate hardware resources and proper configuration. Start with the recommended settings in this guide, then adjust based on your specific needs. With the right setup, your Windows VM on Mac can deliver near-native performance while maintaining the convenience of running both operating systems simultaneously.

Take time to explore the features of your chosen platform, implement the optimisation tips provided, and don’t hesitate to experiment with different configurations. The flexibility of virtual machines means you can always adjust settings or try other software until you find the perfect setup for your workflow.

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