Developer Successfully Virtualizes Windows for Arm on M1 Mac

by

Developer Alexander Graf has successfully virtualized the Arm version of Windows on an M1 Mac, proving that the ‌M1‌ chip is capable of running Microsoft's operating system (via The 8-Bit).

windows 10

Currently, Macs with the ‌M1‌ chip do not support Windows and there is no Boot Camp feature as there is on Intel Macs, but support for Windows is a feature that many users would like to see.

Using the open-source QEMU virtualizer, Graf was able to virtualize the Arm version of Windows on Apple's ‌M1‌ chip, with no emulation. Since the ‌M1‌ chip is a custom Arm SoC, it is no longer possible to install the x86 version of Windows or x86 Windows apps using Boot Camp, as was the case with previous Intel-based Macs. However, he said in a Tweet that when virtualized on an ‌M1‌ Mac, "Windows ARM64 can run x86 applications really well. It's not as fast as Rosetta 2, but close."

Graf was able to run the Windows ARM64 Insider Preview by virtualizing it through the Hypervisor.framework. Apple says this allows users to interact with virtualization technologies without having to write kernel extensions (KEXTs).

Graf applied a custom patch to the QEMU virtualizer, which is said to be known for "achieving near-native performance" by executing the guest code directly on the host CPU. This means that the Arm version of Windows can be virtualized on ‌M1‌ Macs with excellent performance.

Although Graf's experiment is still at an early stage, he believes others could reproduce his results. "It's early days for this. It's definitely possible to reproduce my results - all patches are on the mailing list - but don't expect a stable, fully functional system yet," he said. Above all, Graf has demonstrated that Windows is able to run on ‌M1‌ Macs.

Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi recently said that Windows coming to ‌M1‌ Macs is "up to Microsoft." The ‌M1‌ chip contains the core technologies needed to run Windows, but Microsoft has to decide whether to license its Arm version of Windows to Mac users.

See Graf's full process for virtualizing the Arm version of Windows for more information.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Apple Silicon Guide, M1 Guide

Top Rated Comments

Alan Wynn Avatar
Alan Wynn
40 months ago

This is not that big of a news. Windows lacks something like Rosetta so running the ARM version is much more painful. You can't run x86 apps.
Actually it does have something like Rosetta 2 (just not as good). From the article: "Windows ARM64 can run x86 applications really well. It's not as fast as Rosetta 2, but close."
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sfwalter Avatar
sfwalter
40 months ago

sooner or later, Im sure microsoft will sell an ARM version of windows.
I wonder if it will cost just an arm or an arm and a leg....Sorry for the bad joke.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RobbieTT Avatar
RobbieTT
40 months ago
Meanwhile, on my M1 Mac mini:



I wonder why they made the effort to compile and install it as a default app...

Attachment Image
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rjohnstone Avatar
rjohnstone
40 months ago

Does that mean we should get 16GB RAM because Windows is so inefficient with memory? :eek:
Guess you haven't used Windows in a while.
Runs very well even on computers with 4GB of ram.
Some apps are poorly optimized, but Win 10 is not the issue. 8GB seems to be the standard build these days.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saturnine Avatar
Saturnine
40 months ago

It's unlikely that the 4 less powerful core is usable on Windows 10.

Microsoft didn't publish the data how many percentage of battery life it saved and if it is compatible at all.
Since your comment and opinion is more important than everybody elses and deserves to stand out, I just wanted to thank you for using large text - especially in your signature. If you hadn't done that I might have missed them!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Awesome Avatar
Mr. Awesome
40 months ago
Amazing how Apple is causing more attention for ARM Windows than ARM PCs are.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

iPhone 15 General Feature Black

New iOS Features Coming in 2024 for Messages, Apple Music, and More

Thursday December 28, 2023 7:30 am PST by
2024 is just a few days away, and there are many iOS 17 and iOS 18 features that are expected to launch throughout the year. Below, we have recapped new iOS features expected in 2024, including Stolen Device Protection, collaborative Apple Music playlists, AirPlay on hotel room TVs, app sideloading in the EU, next-generation CarPlay, roadside assistance via satellite outside of the U.S., RCS ...
Read Full Article • 39 comments
iOS 17

iOS 17.3 Will Add These Two Useful Features to Your iPhone

Sunday December 24, 2023 8:59 am PST by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 17.3 earlier this month, and the upcoming software update includes two new features so far. iOS 17.3 will likely be released in January like iOS 16.3 and iOS 15.3 were, but February is also a possibility if testing is prolonged. Below, we provide additional details about the new features in iOS 17.3 so far. Stolen Device Protection Earlier this...
Read Full Article
iPhone 17 Five Features Header

iPhone 17: Five Features Apple Plans to Save for 2025

Thursday December 28, 2023 2:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
Read Full Article • 80 comments
Mac Gaming

Apple Discusses Push Towards High-End Mac Gaming in New Interview

Thursday December 28, 2023 6:19 am PST by
Inverse's Raymond Wong today published an in-depth overview of Apple's increasing push towards high-end gaming on the Mac. The story includes commentary from Apple marketing managers Gordon Keppel and Leland Martin. One of the biggest reasons that gaming has improved on the Mac in recent years is the switch from Intel processors to Apple silicon, resulting in MacBooks providing...
Read Full Article • 262 comments
Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Available in Apple Stores Starting Today, Online Sales to Resume Tomorrow

Wednesday December 27, 2023 2:28 pm PST by
Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are back in some of Apple's retail stores in the United States today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Select stores will have availability today, while all stores will have the Apple Watch models back in stock by December 30. Online sales of the devices are set to resume tomorrow by 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Apple is able to begin selling ...
Read Full Article • 70 comments
iPhone 15 Blue Three Quarters Perspective Camera Closeup Feature

6 Essential iPhone Camera Tips for Taking Great Photos

Tuesday December 26, 2023 3:00 am PST by
Apple's iPhones include several headline camera features that are worth using, such as Portrait Mode and Photographic Styles. But if all you want to use is the standard photo mode, there are still several tools and settings that can improve the composition of your pictures and help you capture the perfect shot using more traditional techniques. Whether you are the owner of a new iPhone or a...
Read Full Article • 37 comments
Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 Sales Ban Paused by US Appeals Court

Wednesday December 27, 2023 8:49 am PST by
The ban on imports of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models has today been temporarily paused, meaning that the devices can now go back on sale for a short while longer in the United States. Apple filed an emergency request to the United States Court of Appeals following President Biden's decision to decline a veto on the sales ban, allowing it to take effect earlier this week. ...
Read Full Article • 186 comments