Run Windows on macOS using UTM

Are you a developer looking to run Windows on your Mac? Look no further than UTM, a convenient and easy-to-use solution for running Windows through a virtualized image.

To get started, first download the latest version of UTM from the website or install it through the App Store. Once installed, navigate to the 'Operating System' section and select 'Windows'. You will need a downloaded image in VHDX format. I recommend choosing the latest build, which is usually available on the Dev channel.

I found the official UTM instructions to be somewhat clunky, so I've provided my own step-by-step guide below:

1. Download the latest Windows Insider Preview image from Microsoft.

2. If you are part of the Microsoft Insider Program, you can download Windows 11 images for ARM64 architectures to run on UTM.

UTM is a convenient way to use Windows through a virtualized image, and thankfully, full machine emulation is no longer necessary for running Windows, as long as you're willing to run the preview builds of Windows 11 on ARM64.

As an alternative to UTM, QEMU is a mature open-source solution for machine-level emulation. However, it can be notoriously difficult to set up, which is where UTM comes in - a nicely packaged app that wraps QEMU for macOS.

In some situations, you may need a solution that provides full machine-level virtualization and emulation. For example, as explained in a Gingko Bioworks blog post, macOS and Docker support for emulating 64-bit Intel (x86_64 or 圆4) at the instruction level has improved since the launch of the first M1 chips in mid-2020. However, you may occasionally encounter low-level compatibility issues where such low-level emulation fails.

If you're a developer who recently got a Mac with Apple Silicon, one of the unexpected pain points you might have is that your toolchain around containers and virtualization could break. UTM provides a convenient solution to this problem, allowing you to run Windows on your Mac without having to worry about compatibility issues.

In conclusion, UTM is a great way to run Windows on your Mac, providing a convenient and easy-to-use solution for running Windows through a virtualized image. With its latest build and preview builds of Windows 11 on ARM64, you can ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of Windows available.

Qemu macos windows