Macs with M1 and M2 chips cannot run Windows through Boot Camp? My Mac is an M1, and I want to know if it’s possible to run Windows on it. If so, can I install Windows on an external drive instead of directly on the Mac?
M1 and M2 Macs cannot run Windows through Boot Camp because Apple’s Boot Camp does not support ARM-based M1 and M2 chips. The traditional Boot Camp only works with Intel-based Macs. However, you can run Windows on M1/M2 Macs in the following ways:
- Use Parallels Desktop: Although Parallels Desktop is a paid software, it offers a trial version and is currently one of the most stable and efficient options for running Windows on ARM.
- Run Windows on Mac via UTM for free: UTM is an open-source virtual machine software that allows you to run Windows on ARM on M1/M2 Macs.
To get more information, you can read: How to run Windows on M1 Mac.
You can run Windows from an external disk. Although there is no direct way to run Windows on M1/M2 Macs from an external disk, you can configure a virtual machine (such as UTM or Parallels Desktop) on an external SSD, which helps save space on your Mac’s internal storage.