How to Run Windows on a Mac: Boot Camp, Parallels & What to Check First
Boot Camp only works on older Intel Macs. See how to run Windows on a newer Mac, which options are supported and what to check before you buy.
Some businesses still have one program that only runs on Windows. The good news is that a Mac can run Windows. How you do it depends on which chip your Mac has, and that is where most of the confusion comes from.
This guide explains the two paths, which options are supported, and what to check before you spend money.
Check which Mac you have
Click the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. If it lists an Intel processor, you have an older Intel Mac. If it says Apple M1 or later, you have a newer Apple silicon Mac. The rest of this guide depends on that answer.
Intel Macs: Boot Camp
On an Intel Mac, Boot Camp Assistant installs Windows alongside macOS, and you choose which one to use each time you start the Mac.
Boot Camp installs Windows 10. You need at least 64GB of free space, and 128GB or more works best. You also need a full copy of 64-bit Windows 10 Home or Pro.
Newer Macs: no Boot Camp
Boot Camp does not work on Macs with M1 or later chips. On these Macs, you run Windows inside a virtual machine, which is a window on your Mac that behaves like a separate Windows computer.
Microsoft supports two ways of doing this on Macs with M1, M2 and M3 chips. It names only those chips, so if you have a newer Mac, ask us to confirm what will work before you buy anything.
Option 1: Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop versions 18, 19 and 20 are approved by Microsoft for running Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise on M1, M2 and M3 Macs. It comes with a free 14 day trial, and the first time you open it, it offers to install Windows 11 for you.
Windows 10 does not run this way, so plan on Windows 11. If you are replacing an older Intel Mac that already runs Windows, plan how your Windows files will move across before you switch.
Option 2: Another option: a Windows server
If several people need the same Windows program, there is another approach that does not run Windows on each Mac at all. The program runs on a Windows server, in your office or in the cloud, and each Mac opens a window onto it. This is called Remote Desktop Services, often shortened to RDS.
The program appears on the Mac like any other window. Because it runs on the server, there is one copy to update and look after instead of one on every Mac. It also works the same way whichever chip your Mac has, which helps if Microsoft has not yet named your Mac for the options above.
On the Mac, you need an app called Windows App. It is free in the Mac App Store, and it needs macOS 13 or later. You may know it by its old name, Microsoft Remote Desktop. You add the server details we give you, sign in, and the program opens. It can connect through a gateway, so staff can reach the server securely from outside the office. It can also share your Mac’s folders, clipboard, microphone and camera with the Windows session.
Remote Desktop Services has its own licensing. As well as the Windows server itself, each person or computer that connects needs a Remote Desktop licence. A per-person licence suits staff who each have their own computer, and a per-computer licence suits computers shared between shifts.
This suits a business where several staff need the same Windows program, such as accounting or industry software. For one person who needs Windows now and then, Parallels is simpler.
We can set up Remote Desktop Services for your business, look after the licensing and connect your Macs to it.
Option 3: Windows in the cloud
The other option is Windows 365, where your Windows computer runs on Microsoft’s servers and you use it through an app on your Mac. You pay for it per person, per month, and it suits businesses that want the same Windows setup on any device.
Limits to know about
The version of Windows 11 that runs on Apple Silicon Macs is built for a different type of chip. Most everyday programs work, but some games, specialised hardware and a small number of older or technical programs do not.
If your Windows program is a game, uses special hardware such as a lab or point-of-sale device, or is a developer or security tool, test it during the free trial before you commit.
Licensing
You need a Windows licence for each copy of Windows you run, including one in a virtual machine, if you do not already have one.
Before you buy anything
Check whether the program has a web version or a Mac version. That can save you the cost of a Windows licence and Parallels altogether. If you do need Windows, use the free trial to test your program properly before you pay.
Need a hand?
If you would like help testing a Windows program on your Mac, setting up a Windows server for your team, or choosing the right setup for your business, see our Mac Support & Setup service or our Mac and Apple device setup and troubleshooting service, or contact Your Mac Tech.
