Boot Camp for Mac: Alternatives that work on macOS
Boot Camp installs Windows on a Mac as a second system, but only on Intel Macs. Here is how to run Windows on an Apple Silicon Mac, which Boot Camp alternatives do it and how they differ.
Boot Camp
- Intel Macs only
- Windows 10
- Built into macOS
Boot Camp Assistant exists only on Intel Macs. On M1 and later Macs, Windows runs in a virtual machine: in a window next to macOS, with no restart.
Boot Camp alternatives for Mac
Parallels DesktopEasiest for Windows 11
Downloads and installs Windows 11 for ARM by itself, and Windows apps open next to your Mac apps. Microsoft authorizes Windows 11 on Apple Silicon Macs in Parallels.
- Windows 11 in a few clicks
- Paid, 14-day trial
VMware FusionA free virtual machine
Broadcom’s virtual machines: Windows 11 for ARM and Linux. Free, but downloading it needs a Broadcom account.
- Windows and Linux
- Free
UTMFree and open source
Runs Windows, Linux and old systems. It takes a little more setting up, but it is free.
- Open source
- Free on its website
CrossOverWindows apps without Windows
Runs individual Windows apps and games without installing Windows itself or buying its license. Not every app works: check yours on the CodeWeavers website.
- No Windows license
- Paid, 14-day trial
Boot Camp AssistantIntel Macs only
On an Intel Mac you already have Boot Camp: Applications › Utilities › Boot Camp Assistant. It installs Windows 10 as a second system, chosen when the Mac starts up.
- Built into macOS
| Parallels | VMware Fusion | UTM | CrossOver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Silicon Macs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Needs a Windows license | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| No restart | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Paid | Free | Free | Paid |
Which Mac you have
Your chip decides whether you have Boot Camp:
- Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac.
- If you see Chip with Apple M1, M2 or later, there is no Boot Camp: pick one of the apps above.
- If you see Processor with Intel, Boot Camp is there, and you can choose between it and a virtual machine.
Boot Camp or a virtual machine
- Boot Camp (Intel only): Windows gets the Mac’s full power, good for games. But switching means restarting the Mac, and Windows takes a part of the disk.
- A virtual machine (Parallels, VMware Fusion, UTM): Windows in a window next to macOS, with files dragged between the two. It needs more memory, and heavy games run worse.
- CrossOver: when you need one or two Windows apps, not the whole system.
Apple Silicon Macs run Windows 11 for ARM. It runs ordinary Windows apps made for Intel by itself, but drivers and some games with anti-cheat may not work.
How much space you need
Windows with its apps, in a virtual machine or a Boot Camp partition, takes 60–80 GB or more and grows with updates. Check your free space first: Apple menu › System Settings › General › Storage.
If space is short, first see what fills System Data.
Keep your Mac tidy
Virtual machines take tens of gigabytes, and finding room for Windows can be hard. System Junk in MacWashing finds app caches and old installers and shows how much space they take.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
Can I install Boot Camp on an M1, M2 or later Mac?
No. Boot Camp works only on Intel Macs. On Apple Silicon Macs, Windows 11 for ARM runs in Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion or UTM.
What is a free Boot Camp alternative?
VMware Fusion and UTM are free. You still need a Windows license. If you need just one Windows app, look at CrossOver: paid, with a trial.
Will Windows games work?
Many do, in Parallels or CrossOver, but games with anti-cheat or heavy graphics often don’t start. Check your game on the app’s website before you buy.