On a Mac with Apple M1 chip, Parallels Desktop uses a new virtualization engine that supports running various ARM-based operating systems in a virtual machine. Learn more...

To install a new virtual machine, you need to use an ARM-based installation image of the supported operating system.

Watch this video to install a new system on Mac with Apple M1 chip using Parallels Desktop:

Install Windows 10 on ARM

To install a Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview virtual machine on Mac computers with the M1 chip, you need to download an ARM-based installation source (VHDX, ISO). Please note that customers who install guest operating systems in Parallels Desktop virtual machines are responsible for making sure that they are compliant with each OS's end-user licensing agreement (EULA).

0. If you haven't install Parallels Desktop yet, download and try for free.

1. Visit the Microsoft Windows Insider Preview Downloads web page.

2. Click Sign in in the upper right corner of the page.

To download Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview, you must register to the Windows Insider Program. Follow the link and click the Register option to register for the Windows Insider Program.

3. After successful registration for the Windows Insider Program, visit the Windows Insider Preview Downloads web page.

4. Scroll down the page and click the Windows 10 Client ARM64 Insider Preview button to download the VHDX image:

5. Once the VHDX image is downloaded, double-click on the file to open in Parallels Desktop and follow the on-screen instructions.

6. Wait for the installation to complete. When ready, you will see the following window:

Install Linux ARM

In Parallels Desktop, you can download a set of ready-to-go Linux virtual machines from the main Installation Assistant menu:

To install another distribution of Linux ARM, use a bootable ISO installation image, but make sure that it is an ARM-based image.