Fusion

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  • 1.  Can Macbook Pro M1, M2, or M3 run Windows Server instances in VMware Fusion?

    Posted Jan 23, 2024 03:14 AM

    Hi everyone,

    Does the latest version of VMware Fusion support installing Windows Server on a MacBook Pro with an M1, M2, or M3 CPU?

    I currently use a MacBook Pro with an Intel CPU and run Windows Server in Fusion.

    If I switch to a MacBook with an Apple Silicon CPU, will it support running Windows Server?



  • 2.  RE: Can Macbook Pro M1, M2, or M3 run Windows Server instances in VMware Fusion?

    Posted Jan 23, 2024 04:10 AM

    I don’t believe Microsoft offers server editions for ARM processors.



  • 3.  RE: Can Macbook Pro M1, M2, or M3 run Windows Server instances in VMware Fusion?

    Posted Jan 23, 2024 04:42 AM

    There are no ARM versions of Windows Server. It only runs on Intel CPUs

    The only way to run Windows Server on a M1, 2, or 3 Mac is to use UTM (it contains an Intel CPU emulator via integration with the open source QEMU software).  You will not be satisfied with the performance, though. 



  • 4.  RE: Can Macbook Pro M1, M2, or M3 run Windows Server instances in VMware Fusion?

    Posted Jan 23, 2024 04:54 AM

     

    I tried using UTM and was able to install Windows Server. However, I was unable to run Windows, even after selecting Architecture ARM64(aarch64) and QEMU 6.2 ARM Virtual Machine (virt-6.2).

    If you have any documentation or video tutorials that demonstrate how to run Windows Server on UTM, please share them with me.



  • 5.  RE: Can Macbook Pro M1, M2, or M3 run Windows Server instances in VMware Fusion?

    Posted Jan 23, 2024 03:25 PM

    The UTM documentation isn't very complete on creating a virtual machine,

    If you're trying to run an x86_64 version of Windows 10, you perform the same process as you do for Windows Server. Select "Emulate", and then select an x86_64 hardware architecture. 

    You'll need a copy of Windows 11 ARM if you want to run Windows 11 ARM on either Fusion or UTM. If using Fusion. it has a built-in tool to grab the ISO from Microsoft. If using UTM, you will need to use CrystalFetch (available on the Mac App store) to create that ISO. An x86_64 Windows ISO won't work with an ARM VM, and Microsoft doesn't have a direct download link for Windows 11 ARM.