In a significant step for Mac users looking to run Windows applications, VMware has released VMware Fusion Pro 13 for free personal use. This can be particularly useful for those using Apple Silicon Macs, allowing them to run Windows 11 ARM in a virtual environment. This article provides detailed guidance on installing Windows 11 on your Mac using this free virtualization software. We'll walk through the necessary steps, including setting up a VMware Fusion Pro personal license, downloading the software, and configuring Windows 11.
## Table of Contents
1. [Create a VMware Fusion Pro Personal License](#create-a-vmware-fusion-pro-personal-license)
2. [Download and Install VMware Fusion Pro 13](#download-and-install-vmware-fusion-pro-13)
3. [Download Windows 11 and Configure the Virtual Machine](#download-windows-11-and-configure-the-virtual-machine)
4. [Configure and Install Windows 11](#configure-and-install-windows-11)
5. [Setup Windows 11 and Bypass Microsoft Login](#setup-windows-11-and-bypass-microsoft-login)
6. [Install VMware Tools](#install-vmware-tools)
7. [Run Windows Update](#run-windows-update)
8. [9to5Mac's Take](#9to5macs-take)
## Create a VMware Fusion Pro Personal License
To begin, you need a VMware Fusion Pro personal license. Follow these steps:
1. Visit Broadcom's user registration page and enter your email address.
2. Verify your email using the six-digit code sent to your inbox.
3. Complete your registration by entering the required information, accepting the terms, and clicking "Create Account."
4. Go to the VMware Fusion software download page and select "VMware Fusion 13 Pro for Personal use." Click on the latest version to reach the download page specific to that version.
5. Check the box agreeing to the terms and conditions, then proceed to download.
6. Finally, confirm your details and select "I Agree" to complete the trade compliance verification.
## Download and Install VMware Fusion Pro 13
Once you have your license, the next step is downloading and installing VMware Fusion:
1. On the VMware Fusion Pro page, click the download button to download the application.
2. Locate the downloaded Universal DMG in your downloads folder and double-click it to mount.
3. Open the VMware Fusion installer, enter your administrator password, and follow the prompts to install.
## Download Windows 11 and Configure the Virtual Machine
After installing VMware Fusion, you can proceed to download Windows 11 and create your virtual machine:
1. In VMware Fusion, choose “Get Windows from Microsoft” to begin the Windows installation.
2. Click “Download Windows” which will start the process of obtaining the Windows 11 ISO file. Note that while Windows 11 itself is not free, Microsoft offers a grace period for activation.
3. Configure your machine by selecting UEFI as the firmware type for better compatibility with Windows 11.
4. Choose to create a new virtual disk and click through the settings, customizing them if necessary.
Tip: The downloaded Windows 11 ISO will be saved in the
## Configure and Install Windows 11
Now, you are ready to proceed with the installation:
1. Click the Play button to boot the VM and when prompted, press any key to boot from the downloaded Windows ISO.
2. Proceed through the Windows Setup screens, configuring your language and region settings.
3. When prompted for an activation key, select "I don’t have a product key" to continue the setup.
4. Next, select Windows 11 Pro and accept the license terms.
5. Choose to install
Completing these steps will activate the installation process which will handle copying files and configuring the operating system.
## Setup Windows 11 and Bypass Microsoft Login
During the Windows 11 setup, you may encounter a requirement to log in with a Microsoft account. To bypass this:
1. On the country and region screen, press
2. Type
3. Following the reboot, configure your device name and select how you want to set up your Windows environment.
Remember, you can limit internet connectivity during this process to avoid forced sign-ins.
## Install VMware Tools
After the installation of Windows 11 is complete, you need to install VMware Tools for better performance:
1. In VMware Fusion's menu, go to Virtual Machine → Install VMware Tools.
2. Access the mounted VMware Tools disk in Windows Explorer and run the setup.
3. Follow the prompts to install and restart Windows once done.
VMware Tools enhances graphics resolution and overall integration with macOS.
## Run Windows Update
To ensure that your new Windows installation is up to date:
1. Open the Start menu, navigate to Settings → Windows Update, and check for any available updates.
2. Install the updates and reboot if prompted.
## 9to5Mac's Take
Installing Windows 11 on a Mac using VMware Fusion Pro is an efficient way to harness both operating systems. With the recent changes by Broadcom, users benefit from free access to this virtualization platform, removing barriers to running Windows applications on Mac.
This guide, although detailed, can be followed in approximately 30 minutes, provided that the internet connection is adequate for downloading the Windows operating system and subsequent updates. VMware Fusion strikes a great balance between functionality and resource management, which is especially beneficial for users who do not require the advanced features offered in products like Parallels.
In conclusion, if you are a Mac user needing compatibility with Windows applications, VMware Fusion Pro provides an accessible and effective solution. Whether you need to run a specific application for work or are simply exploring the possibilities of a dual ecosystem, following these steps will lead you through the process without any hitches.
If you have any thoughts or experiences with running Windows 11 via VMware Fusion, feel free to share them in the comments below!
For the complete video tutorial, be sure to check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more useful guides and tips.
Source: 9to5mac.com .
## Table of Contents
1. [Create a VMware Fusion Pro Personal License](#create-a-vmware-fusion-pro-personal-license)
2. [Download and Install VMware Fusion Pro 13](#download-and-install-vmware-fusion-pro-13)
3. [Download Windows 11 and Configure the Virtual Machine](#download-windows-11-and-configure-the-virtual-machine)
4. [Configure and Install Windows 11](#configure-and-install-windows-11)
5. [Setup Windows 11 and Bypass Microsoft Login](#setup-windows-11-and-bypass-microsoft-login)
6. [Install VMware Tools](#install-vmware-tools)
7. [Run Windows Update](#run-windows-update)
8. [9to5Mac's Take](#9to5macs-take)
## Create a VMware Fusion Pro Personal License
To begin, you need a VMware Fusion Pro personal license. Follow these steps:
1. Visit Broadcom's user registration page and enter your email address.
2. Verify your email using the six-digit code sent to your inbox.
3. Complete your registration by entering the required information, accepting the terms, and clicking "Create Account."
4. Go to the VMware Fusion software download page and select "VMware Fusion 13 Pro for Personal use." Click on the latest version to reach the download page specific to that version.
5. Check the box agreeing to the terms and conditions, then proceed to download.
6. Finally, confirm your details and select "I Agree" to complete the trade compliance verification.
## Download and Install VMware Fusion Pro 13
Once you have your license, the next step is downloading and installing VMware Fusion:
1. On the VMware Fusion Pro page, click the download button to download the application.
2. Locate the downloaded Universal DMG in your downloads folder and double-click it to mount.
3. Open the VMware Fusion installer, enter your administrator password, and follow the prompts to install.
## Download Windows 11 and Configure the Virtual Machine
After installing VMware Fusion, you can proceed to download Windows 11 and create your virtual machine:
1. In VMware Fusion, choose “Get Windows from Microsoft” to begin the Windows installation.
2. Click “Download Windows” which will start the process of obtaining the Windows 11 ISO file. Note that while Windows 11 itself is not free, Microsoft offers a grace period for activation.
3. Configure your machine by selecting UEFI as the firmware type for better compatibility with Windows 11.
4. Choose to create a new virtual disk and click through the settings, customizing them if necessary.
Tip: The downloaded Windows 11 ISO will be saved in the
~/Virtual Machines.localized/VMWIsoImages/ directory for future reference.## Configure and Install Windows 11
Now, you are ready to proceed with the installation:
1. Click the Play button to boot the VM and when prompted, press any key to boot from the downloaded Windows ISO.
2. Proceed through the Windows Setup screens, configuring your language and region settings.
3. When prompted for an activation key, select "I don’t have a product key" to continue the setup.
4. Next, select Windows 11 Pro and accept the license terms.
5. Choose to install
Windows only (advanced), then select the unallocated space for Windows.Completing these steps will activate the installation process which will handle copying files and configuring the operating system.
## Setup Windows 11 and Bypass Microsoft Login
During the Windows 11 setup, you may encounter a requirement to log in with a Microsoft account. To bypass this:
1. On the country and region screen, press
Shift+F10 to open a command prompt.2. Type
OOBE\BYPASSNRO and hit Enter. Windows will reboot, allowing you to set up the machine without a Microsoft account.3. Following the reboot, configure your device name and select how you want to set up your Windows environment.
Remember, you can limit internet connectivity during this process to avoid forced sign-ins.
## Install VMware Tools
After the installation of Windows 11 is complete, you need to install VMware Tools for better performance:
1. In VMware Fusion's menu, go to Virtual Machine → Install VMware Tools.
2. Access the mounted VMware Tools disk in Windows Explorer and run the setup.
3. Follow the prompts to install and restart Windows once done.
VMware Tools enhances graphics resolution and overall integration with macOS.
## Run Windows Update
To ensure that your new Windows installation is up to date:
1. Open the Start menu, navigate to Settings → Windows Update, and check for any available updates.
2. Install the updates and reboot if prompted.
## 9to5Mac's Take
Installing Windows 11 on a Mac using VMware Fusion Pro is an efficient way to harness both operating systems. With the recent changes by Broadcom, users benefit from free access to this virtualization platform, removing barriers to running Windows applications on Mac.
This guide, although detailed, can be followed in approximately 30 minutes, provided that the internet connection is adequate for downloading the Windows operating system and subsequent updates. VMware Fusion strikes a great balance between functionality and resource management, which is especially beneficial for users who do not require the advanced features offered in products like Parallels.
In conclusion, if you are a Mac user needing compatibility with Windows applications, VMware Fusion Pro provides an accessible and effective solution. Whether you need to run a specific application for work or are simply exploring the possibilities of a dual ecosystem, following these steps will lead you through the process without any hitches.
If you have any thoughts or experiences with running Windows 11 via VMware Fusion, feel free to share them in the comments below!
For the complete video tutorial, be sure to check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more useful guides and tips.
Source: 9to5mac.com .
