Wesley Hilliard
Using some custom patches to popular virtualization tool QEMU, a developer has managed to launch Windows for ARM processors on a M1 Mac with decent results.
The ability to run Windows for ARM processors has been in question since Apple revealed its Macs running custom Apple Silicon. The closest to a confirmation so far had been Craig Federighi stating that is "a decision Microsoft has to make."
Users have been tinkering with custom software and emulation tools to try and get Windows to work, and one developer finally succeeded. The developer in question used QEMU and custom patches to get the OS running and claims it runs smoothly enough, and can even run some x86 apps.
Who said Windows wouldn't run well on #AppleSilicon? It's pretty snappy here . #QEMU patches for reference: https://t.co/qLQpZgBIqI pic.twitter.com/G1Usx4TcvL
— Alexander Graf (@_AlexGraf) November 26, 2020
The details of this workaround were covered by The 8-Bit, with the report stating the developer was able to run the preview version of ARM Windows by using the Hypervisor.framework. This framework lets users virtualize software without dealing with kernel extensions.
Graf claims to have achieved "near-native" performance though it is still early days. Other users trying to perform the same operation report slow startup times and lagging apps when operating normally. When QEMU is running ARM Windows, battery life is effectively cut in half.
Microsoft may release an official version of ARM Windows for consumers to purchase and run on M1 based Macs, but the timeline is unclear. Microsoft has not given any official statement regarding even working on such compatibility.
Andrew Orr
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
90 Comments
I figured there would be an article on this here after I posted about it in another thread. I may try this if my Macbook Pro ever gets here.
Before Bootcamp existed, hackers got Windows working anyway. I see echos of that here, inferring that official support can't be too far away.
I think more of those macs will have to be on the market to make it worth while for MS to start development or at least make a alpha/beta. for all we know, they probably started working on it.
Would there be any benefits for Microsoft to have Windows running on M1 Macs? It's not as though Apple's Mac market share percentage is very high. Wouldn't Microsoft be undermining its own OEM partners if they did have an official build of Windows for Apple Silicon?