How to install Windows 10 on M1 MacBooks (Detailed Guide)

By 2021 most of you guys might know the process of installing Windows 10 in Intel-powered macs. Apple used Boot Camp for installing Windows 10 on MacBook M1. You could easily switch between Windows and Mac OS by restarting. Back in 2020, Apple launched the M1 MacBooks. The new M1 chips are the first ARM-based system on a chip that Apple manufactures. Apple uses Rosetta 2 to translate apps. They can use existing Mac apps in the new M1 Macs. However, they are slightly slow because of translation. But M1 chips are so powerful that slow down isn’t an issue. 

Must See: How to Boot Apple M1 MacBook into macOS Recovery Mode

Both the Intel and M1 are based on different architectures. So, the installation of Windows 10 isn’t the same on both of them. However, you can only install Windows 10 ARM on the M1 Macs. The installation of Windows 10 ARM can only be done through Virtual Machines. Do download Parallels Desktop in your new M1 powered M1 MacBooks. Please do keep in mind that there may be slight bugs after installing the latest Windows 10. Follow the steps mentioned below to install the same.

Steps to install Windows 10 on M1 powered MacBooks?

Before installing Windows 10, you guys should install Virtual Machines. Today, we are installing one of the Virtual Machine named “Parallels Desktop” for installing Windows 10 on your MacBook.

Prerequisite

1. First, download Parallels Desktop for your M1 Mac by clicking here. You can sign up and download the same by clicking the “Try Technical Preview” button on the website. 
2. There are different ways by which you can log in or sign up to the “Parallels Desktop.”
3. Now click on “Continue,” and then scroll down to read the “Terms and Agreements.”
4. Once you are done with reading those, accept it.
5. After this, scroll down and click on the “Download” button.
6. Make sure that you have copied the “Activation code” to activate the Windows.
7. Now, click on “Agree” to start downloading the same.
8. Do note that the program will be downloaded in “dmg” format. Once it is downloaded, launch the same.
9. Double click the “install” button on the screen to install “Parallels Desktop.”

Step 1: Gatekeeper Security

For your information, the Gatekeeper security mechanism in the MacOS will start pushing out a prompt on your screen for the permission of yours to install the application and other related components on your M1 MacBook. Please note that click on “Open” whenever there is a prompt on your screen during the whole installation process.

1. Once you are done with all those things, the installation setup process will start.
2. Again you have to accept the “Terms and Conditions.”
3. The setup will now start copying the files to your MacBook.
4. The Parallels can map your account in MacBook’s account folder using the “File Explorer” in Windows 10. They will ask you if you need this feature to allow or deny it as per your wish.
5. Finally, click on the “Finish” button to end the process.

Step 2 – Steps to sign up for the Windows Insider program?

1. For signing up for the Windows Insider Program, click here.
2. Click on the “Register” button to start registering for the insider program.
3. Then follow the prompts to finish registering for the program.
4. After that, click here to download the Windows 10 Client ARM64 Insider Preview.
5. Once the file is downloaded, open Parallels and then drag the Windows10_InsiderPreview_Client_ARM64_en-us file to the installation assistant and then click on the “Create” button.
6. After this, “Parallels” will create a new Windows 10, which is suited for the ARM virtual machine instance. Then you will be asked to log in to the Parallels with a user account that you have created earlier. Further, you will also be asked to provide the “Activation key,” which was issued during the initial process.
7. If everything is done, Parallels will start configuring the virtual Windows 10, and then it will install the Parallels tools. Then it will complete the installation of Windows 10 ARM.

PS:- Please do disable the “Time Sync” function; else, it will create problems like not responding while using the Windows 10 ARM. If you don’t know how to disable it, then follow the steps below.

1. First, click on “Actions,” which can be seen on the “Parallels” menu bar, and then select the Config option.
2. Now click on the “Options tab,” and then choose “More Options.”
3. Then, a drop-down box will appear near Time Sync. From there, select the option “Do not sync“ and then exit from the configuration window.

Step 3 – Now, enable x64 emulation Support!

1. For this, open the “Start” menu and then search for “Insider,” and finally click on the “Windows Insider Program” Settings.
2. Now, select the option “Diagnostics & Feedback” Settings menu.
3. Once it loads, turn on the “optional diagnostic data” option.
4. After this, click the “Link a Windows Insider Account” option, and then login with the account which you have registered earlier.
5. You are done with the linking of your Microsoft account.
6. Now let us configure the same. For this, click on “Beta Channel” and then choose the “Dev Channel” option for gaining access to the recent updates which Microsoft pushes.
7. Finally, click on the “Home button” to return to the menu for updating the Windows.
8. For updating Windows, go to the “Update and Security” tab.
9. Under “Windows Update,” tap the “Check for Updates,” and then you can select the “Download” option & then Windows will start downloading the latest Windows Insider Preview.
10. After downloading, “Windows” will start installing the update on your MacBook.
11. Please do note that it will automatically restart during the process.
12. Once everything is done, you should restart again manually.

By default, only two cores will be allotted for your Windows 10 ARM. We suggest that increasing it to four will help in achieving better performance. Since M1 chips have eight cores, the rest four can be assigned for the Mac. In order to bump cores for Windows to four from two, follow the below-mentioned steps.

• First, shut down your Windows and then click on the “Action” option found in the menu bar.
• Then select the “config” option.
• You can find CPU and Memory under the “Hardware” option.
• Finally, you can see a drop-down menu near “Processors.” From here, you can change from 2 to 4.

There you go, you have completed the installation of Windows 10 in your M1 powered MacBook. It makes more sense to have a Windows in your M1 MacBook. Do share the article with your friends and family. You can comment if you have any doubts related to this.

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