Installing Windows 11 on Parallels: It’s Not as Hard as It Sounds
So, here’s the deal—getting Windows 11 up and running on Parallels for Mac might seem like a slog, but it’s actually not bad if you’ve got everything you need sorted out first. As long as your Mac isn’t a dinosaur, it should probably handle it. Parallels has those system requirements, but really, if your machine isn’t from the stone age, you’re probably in the clear. Here’s a bit of how to tackle it.
Get Parallels on Your Mac
First up, grab Parallels from the official site—don’t go hunting in some sketchy corners of the internet. Install it like any other app: hit ‘Download’, open that .dmg, and drag Parallels Desktop.app into your Applications folder. Once it’s installed, open it and activate. Make sure your Mac is up to snuff hardware-wise. If it doesn’t seem to work, you might need to enable hardware virtualization in your Mac’s firmware. This can be tricky, so check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General for any alerts.
Download That Windows 11 ISO
You’ll need the Windows 11 installation media. Hit up Microsoft’s official website for that. Just snag the Windows 11 ISO. Once it’s on your machine, look somewhere boring like C:\Users\diskutil list to see your disks. And if you’re feeling fancy, use sudo /Applications/Install\ Windows\ 11.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB to whip up that drive. But honestly, just using the ISO with Parallels is simpler.
Set Up Your Virtual Machine
Now, fire up Parallels and create a new VM. The wizard generally makes this not too painful—just do what it says. You’ll need to point it at that Windows 11 ISO you downloaded. Click File > New, then choose Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file. Make sure you’ve got the right file selected; it’s easy to accidentally pick the wrong one and then hit a wall. Usually, it does figure out the OS for you—at least, that’s the plan.
Configuration: Here Comes the Fun
This is where things can get a bit tricky. You have control over how much RAM and storage your VM gets, so hit Customize Settings before you launch the VM. Set aside at least 4GB RAM (--memory 4096) and 64GB disk space; that’s a start. Make sure to enable Hardware Virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)—this can be hidden in your Mac’s firmware. If you’re in the Hardware > CPU & Memory section, you’ll want to allocate a couple of cores—let’s say 2 or more to keep Windows 11 happy. Don’t forget to enable 3D Acceleration for better graphics. For networking, stick with NAT unless you specifically need Bridged mode.
Kick Off the Windows 11 Install
Everything set? Great. Start up the virtual machine. The Windows setup should look pretty familiar and should guide you through it. You’ll throw in your activation key (or skip that for later). It may prompt for language and keyboard setup—this might take a little back and forth, because let’s be real, things rarely go smoothly. Errors usually pop up due to an incorrect ISO or not enough resources, so be prepared for a bit of trial and error.
Once you’re wrapped up, don’t forget to install Parallels Tools for the best performance. You can find that under Actions > Install Parallels Tools. This adds conveniences like hello—shared clipboard with Cmd + C and Cmd + V, shared folders, and improved graphics. Shortcut to open the VM menu? Just hit Ctrl + Command + C. Want to set it up for automatic startup? Dive into Parallels Desktop > Preferences > Notifications > Startup & Shutdown.
When it’s all said and done, you’ll have Windows 11 cozying up next to macOS in Parallels. Switching between them is as smooth as clicking away—no need for reboot drama. You can even set up shared folders for easy file transfers, like making your ~/Documents folder accessible from both worlds through Parallels Desktop > Preferences > Sharing.
Installing Windows 11 on Parallels? Yeah, it might take a little patience, but once you’re past the initial headaches, it’s a pretty slick deal. Tinkering with CPU, RAM, and disk space settings does have a learning curve, but after the setup, it’s all worth it. Just a heads-up: always keep good backups before diving into VM setups or Windows updates. To back up your VM, head to Actions > Backup. A little prep now could save countless hours later on. And once it’s humming along? You might just kick yourself for waiting so long to set this up.