You can now run Windows 10 on Apple’s M1 MacBooks
You can now marry the beautiful hardware of Apple’s M1 Macs with Windows 10.
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What you need to know
Parallels released a new version of its flagship software today that allows you to run Windows 10 on Apple’s M1 MacBooks. Parallels Desktop 16.5 is more energy efficient and delivers better performance than Parallels Desktop on Intel-based MacBooks. The new version also delivers better virtual machine performance than running a Windows 10 VM on an Intel-based MacBook Pro.
With native support for Apple’s M1 chips, you can bring Windows 10 to Apple’s popular MacBook hardware.
Here are some highlights from Parallels on the new version:
Parallels made sure that the best features of Parallels Desktop work with Apple’s M1 chips, including coherence mode, shared profiles, Touch Bar controls, and the ability to customize your keyboard menu and shortcuts.
If you already have a license for Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac, you can upgrade to Parallels Desktop 16.5 at no additional cost. A new subscription costs $80 per year and a new perpetual license costs $100. There are also discounts for people upgrading from Parallels Desktop 14 or 15.
Parallels Desktop 16.5 allows you to run Windows 10 on your Mac computer. The latest update brings native support for Apple’s M1 chips.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
