You can run Linux, another macOS installation, or Windows 11 alongside macOS on an Apple Silicon Mac without repartitioning the internal drive. The reliable route is to create an ARM64 (also called AArch64) virtual machine (VM) with a manager that uses Apple’s Virtualization framework. UTM gives you a free, open-source graphical app; Parallels provides a guided Windows 11 on Arm setup; Apple’s framework is the lower-level option for developers building or scripting their own VM app.
The important constraint is architecture: choose an ARM64 guest image whenever one exists. An Intel-only operating-system image must be emulated rather than directly virtualized, and that is slower and less compatible. Before choosing software, identify the exact applications, drivers, USB devices, graphics features, and development tools you need to use inside the guest.
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What works on an Apple Silicon Mac
Apple Silicon Macs use ARM processors. A VM can therefore give an ARM64 guest operating system virtual CPU access that closely matches the host architecture. Linux distributions that publish arm64 or aarch64 images are the most straightforward guests. Supported macOS guests and Windows 11 on Arm are also possible through tools that integrate with Apple’s virtualization APIs.
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Virtualization is different from emulation. In virtualization, the guest and host use compatible instruction sets and the processor executes most guest instructions directly. Emulation translates instructions from another architecture, such as x86 or x64, and normally costs performance and compatibility. Apple’s Virtualization framework can run ARM Linux guests, but Apple explicitly says it does not bootstrap or install Intel Linux distributions on Apple Silicon. Inside an ARM Linux VM, Apple documents a separate Rosetta-based route for running many x86_64 Linux binaries; that does not turn an Intel operating-system installer into a native ARM guest.
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A VM runs in a window or full-screen beside macOS. It does not replace macOS, erase your files, or require Boot Camp. The guest still has its own storage, updates, permissions, drivers and application requirements, so “it boots” is not the same as “every program or peripheral works.”
Choose the VM approach that matches your guest
| Need | Best-fit approach | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Linux or macOS guest, developer control | Apple Virtualization framework | A documented API for configuring CPUs, memory, storage, devices and bootloaders. It is a developer framework rather than a ready-made end-user application. |
| General-purpose ARM Linux or other experimentation | UTM using Apple Virtualization | A Mac application that exposes VM settings through a graphical interface. ARM64 guests virtualize on Apple Silicon; x86/x64 guests are emulated and are slower. |
| Windows 11 on Arm with guided installation | Parallels Desktop | Parallels says it is currently authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 in a virtual environment on Apple silicon and supports Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise on Arm. Windows licensing is separate. |
| Legacy Intel-only operating system | UTM emulation, if the guest is supported | Expect lower performance and more limitations than an ARM64 VM. Confirm that the required software and devices function under emulation before relying on it. |
These products are not interchangeable in every workload. Apple’s API gives maximum control but requires programming or a sample application. UTM is free and open source according to the project (“UTM is and always will be completely free and open source”), while its App Store edition funds development and receives automatic updates. Parallels is a commercial application and does not include a Windows license.
Check compatibility before creating the VM
Confirm the guest architecture
- Look for an official ARM64, arm64, or aarch64 installer image from the operating-system project.
- For Windows, verify that the edition and applications you need support Windows 11 on Arm.
- Do not assume that an x86 ISO will install natively just because an ARM version of the same operating system exists.
List the workload, not just the operating system
Write down the applications, compilers, containers, databases, games, USB devices, VPN clients, kernel modules and graphics APIs you intend to use. Check each vendor’s architecture and driver requirements. A Linux desktop may boot correctly while a proprietary graphics driver, anti-cheat component, nested hypervisor or hardware security key does not.
Prepare host resources
Reserve enough storage for the guest disk, updates, snapshots and application data. Decide how many virtual CPUs and how much memory the workload needs, then leave adequate resources for macOS and its applications. Apple’s configuration model exposes CPU count, memory, virtual devices and bootloader settings, but there is no universal CPU or memory allocation that is correct for every Mac or guest. Start conservatively, observe the workload, and adjust rather than assigning the host’s entire capacity.
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Option 1: Use Apple’s Virtualization framework
Apple’s Virtualization framework is the most direct documented path for developers. It lets an application create and manage a VM, attach virtual disks and network devices, select a bootloader, and start or stop the guest. Apple’s Linux example uses an EFI boot configuration and exposes explicit values for CPU count, memory and device configuration.
Basic implementation sequence
- Obtain an ARM64 Linux installer image from the distribution project and verify its checksum using that project’s published instructions.
- Create a VM configuration object in your macOS application.
- Set the virtual CPU count and memory size for the intended workload; keep host capacity available for macOS.
- Create or attach a virtual disk and connect the installer image as removable boot media.
- Configure the virtual network interface and any devices your application is allowed to expose.
- Attach an EFI bootloader, as in Apple’s Linux example, and validate the configuration before starting.
- Start the VM, complete the Linux installer, then detach the installer image and boot from the virtual disk.
- Install the guest’s integration components and test networking, display, clipboard and storage sharing.
Apple documents a SPICE agent that can share text and images through the clipboard between a Mac and a Linux guest on macOS 13 and later. Treat integration features as guest- and version-dependent; a minimal server image may not include the desktop components needed for clipboard or display integration.
When this route is appropriate
- You are building a developer tool, test harness or automated VM workflow.
- You need programmatic control over lifecycle, boot media or virtual devices.
- You are comfortable handling installer media, guest agents, permissions and error reporting yourself.
If you simply want a desktop VM, a graphical manager is usually less work than writing an application around the framework.
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Option 2: Create an ARM VM in UTM
UTM presents Apple Virtualization and QEMU through one Mac interface. On Apple Silicon, select virtualization for ARM64 guests whenever the guest has a compatible image. Select emulation only when you specifically need a different CPU architecture and accept the performance cost.
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Step-by-step
- Install UTM from the project’s distribution channel or its App Store edition, then open it.
- Choose the command to create a new virtual machine. Select Virtualize for an ARM64 operating system; choose Emulate only for an architecture the Mac cannot virtualize.
- Select the guest family, such as Linux, and attach the distribution’s ARM64 ISO or other supported installer image.
- Set virtual CPU count and memory for the workload. Do not allocate all host resources; macOS must remain responsive.
- Create a virtual drive large enough for the operating system, updates and data. Keep the VM bundle on storage with sufficient free space.
- Review the virtual network, display, shared-directory and removable-device settings. Expose only the devices the guest needs.
- Save the VM, start it and follow the guest installer. When installation finishes, remove or disconnect the installer image so the VM boots from its virtual drive.
- Install the guest’s integration tools when available, then test the network, clipboard, shared folders, display resizing and any USB device you require.
UTM limitations to account for
UTM states that x86/x64 emulation on Apple Silicon has lower performance than ARM virtualization. It also states that Windows GPU emulation or virtualization and 3D acceleration are not currently supported. That makes UTM a poor fit for a Windows workload that depends on modern 3D graphics. Check the current UTM release notes before relying on any graphics feature, because capabilities can change.
Option 3: Install Windows 11 on Arm with Parallels
Parallels provides a guided workflow for Windows 11 on Apple Silicon. Its product material says it can download Windows 11 during setup and supports Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise on Arm. It also claims to be the only third-party virtualization solution currently authorized by Microsoft for Windows 11 in a virtual environment on Apple silicon; this is a time-sensitive vendor claim, so verify its current status before deployment.
Typical setup
- Install the current Parallels Desktop release for Apple silicon.
- Start the new-virtual-machine wizard and choose the Windows 11 installation option. If the guided download is unavailable, provide a Windows 11 Arm image that the wizard accepts.
- Sign in or provide the Windows license information requested by the installer. A Parallels license and a Windows license are separate products.
- Choose the Windows edition your organization is licensed to use, then review CPU, memory, disk and sharing settings before creating the VM.
- Complete Windows Setup, install Parallels’ guest tools when prompted, and reboot the VM if required.
- Test the specific Windows applications, printers, USB accessories, VPN software and security tools you need. Do not treat successful installation as proof of application compatibility.
Parallels cautions that some applications, hardware accessories, specific drivers and nested-virtualization scenarios may not be supported on Windows 11 Arm. x86 and x64 Windows applications can use Microsoft’s translation mechanisms where supported, but an application that requires an unavailable driver, kernel component, specialized GPU feature or nested hypervisor can still fail.
Install and validate the guest in a predictable order
1. Acquire the right image
Download only from the operating-system publisher. Match the image to ARM64 and to the VM’s firmware requirements. Keep the original installer until the guest has booted successfully from its virtual disk.
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2. Configure boot and storage
Use EFI for Linux configurations that expect it, attach the installer as temporary media, and create a persistent virtual disk. Keep backups of important guest data; a VM disk is a file that can be deleted or corrupted like any other file.
3. Install integration components
Guest tools can provide better display handling, clock synchronization, clipboard support, shared folders and shutdown behavior. Install only packages supplied by the VM manager or guest project, and review the permissions they request.
4. Test the real workflow
- Open the applications you actually use, not just a text editor.
- Compile or run the project with its real dependencies and architecture targets.
- Connect required displays, cameras, smart-card readers, storage devices or development boards one at a time.
- Test suspend, resume, shutdown, snapshots and recovery before storing unique data in the VM.
Architecture, translation and application compatibility
An ARM64 guest can run ARM64 applications directly. It may also run some x86_64 Linux applications through a translation layer such as Apple’s Rosetta support documented for Linux VMs, provided the guest, application and libraries meet the required conditions. This is application-level translation, not a promise that every Intel kernel module, installer or driver will work.
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Graphics and peripheral trade-offs
Desktop acceleration varies by manager and guest. UTM currently states that Windows 3D acceleration is not supported. Parallels lists graphics, driver and hardware-accessory limitations, and nested virtualization may be unavailable. These constraints matter for CAD, 3D rendering, games, GPU compute, video capture, biometric devices and software that expects direct hardware access.
Use a VM for ordinary development, office software, server testing and Linux utilities when the guest supports them. Consider a different deployment method if your workload requires near-native GPU performance, a proprietary kernel driver, direct access to a specialized PCIe device or a hypervisor inside the guest.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Installer says the CPU or image is unsupported | An Intel image was selected for an ARM VM, or the manager is in virtualization mode for the wrong architecture. | Download the guest’s ARM64/aarch64 image. If no ARM build exists, switch to emulation only after confirming that the guest is supported. |
| VM boots to a blank screen | Firmware, display integration or guest graphics support is mismatched. | Confirm EFI and boot media settings, try the guest’s basic or safe graphics option, and check the manager’s current guest-support notes. |
| Network works intermittently | Guest driver, virtual-network mode or host network changes. | Verify that the guest integration tools and virtual NIC driver are installed, then recreate or reset the virtual network adapter. |
| Clipboard or shared folders do not work | The guest agent is missing, unsupported, or blocked by permissions. | Install the manager’s supported guest tools, enable the sharing feature explicitly, and test with plain text before images or files. |
| Windows application installs but will not run | Unsupported architecture, driver, graphics API, nested virtualization or hardware dependency. | Check the application publisher’s Windows-on-Arm statement and test without optional drivers or plug-ins. A VM cannot supply hardware the guest manager does not expose. |
| Performance is unexpectedly poor | An x86/x64 guest is being emulated, the VM has too little or too much memory/CPU, or storage is saturated. | Use an ARM64 guest where possible, adjust resources while leaving capacity for macOS, and place the VM on fast storage with free space. |
Licensing, updates and safe operation
Virtualization software and guest operating systems have separate licenses. UTM’s project describes its software as free and open source, while its App Store edition is a separately distributed build. Parallels does not include a Windows license; obtain Windows rights for the edition and use case you operate.
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Decision checklist
- Choose Apple Virtualization when you are developing an application or need API-level control.
- Choose UTM with virtualization for a free, flexible ARM64 VM and accept that Windows 3D acceleration is not currently available.
- Choose Parallels when a guided Windows 11 on Arm installation and commercial support fit your requirements; budget separately for Windows licensing.
- Choose emulation only deliberately when an Intel-only guest is essential and you have verified that its performance, drivers and applications are adequate.
The safest plan is to test the exact ARM image, application versions and peripherals in a throwaway VM before migrating important work. Apple Silicon makes ARM64 virtualization practical, but it does not remove operating-system, driver or graphics compatibility boundaries.
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