Running Windows 11 on a Mac with Big Sur using VMware Fusion

As I prepare to upgrade my MacBook Pro to the latest M2 model, I've been considering how to run Windows 11 on my new device. With the advent of Apple Silicon, I'm interested in exploring options for running VMs on macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura, on Intel or Apple Silicon Macs. In this article, we'll take a closer look at VMware Fusion's capabilities and user experiences with running Windows 11 on Apple Silicon.

According to VMware's website, Fusion 13 Pro and Player support running virtual machines on macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura, on both Intel and Apple Silicon hardware. This means that I can run my Win11 machine on my new M2 MacBook Pro, just as easily as I have with previous Intel-based Macs.

Microsoft has also recognized Parallels Desktop as an authorized solution for running Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise installed in a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop on Mac with Apple silicon. This is an important consideration for anyone planning to run Windows 11 on their new M1 or M2 MacBook.

I've used VMware Fusion in the past, but have since switched to a separate HP laptop running Windows 11 (upgraded from 10). My current Mac is a late 2013 MBP, which I've been using with Fusion to run Windows 7 and frequently ran it in Unity mode. As I prepare for my new M2 MacBook Pro to arrive, I'm eager to learn more about user experiences running Parallels or VMware Fusion on Apple Silicon.

If you're like me and are considering running Windows 11 on your Mac, what factors will influence the drive size you ultimately allocate to a Win11 machine? Have you had any success with running VMs on Apple Silicon using VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Macos big sur vmware fusion