Run Alternative OS on Apple Silicon with a VM

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Running an alternative operating system on Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3, etc.) is now practical thanks to virtual machine software. This guide shows you how to set up a VM to run Linux, Windows, or another OS alongside macOS, without needing to reboot. You’ll need a Mac with Apple silicon, a virtual machine app, and an installer image (ISO) of the OS you want to run.

What You’ll Need

An Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) with at least 8GB of RAM (16GB recommended for smoother performance).
A virtual machine app. Popular choices include UTM (free, open-source), VMware Fusion (free for personal use), and Parallels Desktop (paid). This guide uses UTM as an example because it’s free and works well.
An ISO or disk image of the OS you want to install. For Linux, download a distribution like Ubuntu (ARM64 version). For Windows, you’ll need the ARM64 version of Windows 11 (available from Microsoft’s insider program or as a paid license).
Enough free disk space (at least 20GB for the VM’s virtual disk).

Step-by-Step

Install the VM software. Download UTM from its official website (getutm.app) and drag it to your Applications folder. Open it—macOS may ask for permission; go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and allow it if needed.
Download the OS installer. For Linux, go to the distribution’s site and download the ARM64 (or arm64) ISO. For Windows, get the ARM64 ISO from Microsoft’s website (requires a valid license).
Create a new virtual machine. In UTM, click the “+” button and choose “Virtualize.” Then pick the type: “Linux” for Linux, “Windows” for Windows, or “Other” for other OSes.
Select the installer image. In the “Boot” section, click “Browse” and select the ISO file you downloaded. UTM will use it as the boot drive.
Allocate resources. In the “System” section, set the amount of memory (RAM) and CPU cores. A good starting point is half your Mac’s RAM (e.g., 4GB if you have 8GB, 8GB if you have 16GB) and 2-4 CPU cores. Don’t allocate all cores—leave some for macOS.
Create a virtual disk. In the “Drives” section, click “New Drive” and set a size (e.g., 20GB). Choose the interface (IDE or NVMe) and format (raw or qcow2). The defaults are fine for most users.
Configure display and networking. Under “Display,” select “virtio-gpu” or “virtio-ramfb” for better graphics. Under “Network,” choose “virtio-net” for faster networking. These are usually set by default.
Start the VM. Click the play button to boot the VM. It will boot from the ISO you selected. You’ll see a window with the OS installer.
Install the OS. Follow the on-screen installer. When it asks for disk partitioning, choose the virtual disk (e.g., /dev/vda) and let it use the whole disk. The installer will copy files and ask you to reboot.
After reboot, remove the ISO. In UTM, stop the VM, go to the VM’s settings, and in the “Drives” section, delete or detach the ISO drive (the one that was the installer). Then start the VM again; it should boot from the virtual disk.
Install guest tools (optional). For better performance and screen resolution, install UTM’s guest tools. In UTM, after the OS is running, go to the VM menu and select “Install Guest Tools.” This mounts a disk with drivers; run the installer inside the VM.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong architecture ISO. Apple silicon is ARM64, so you must download the ARM64 version of the OS. An x86_64 (Intel) ISO will not boot.
Allocating too much RAM. If you give the VM all your RAM, macOS will slow down and the VM may crash. Leave at least 2-4GB for macOS.
Not removing the ISO after installation. If you leave the ISO attached, the VM will boot from it again instead of the installed OS, and you’ll see the installer each time. Remove it after the first reboot.
Ignoring the display type. Some OSes don’t work well with default graphics. If the screen is blank or distorted, try changing the display to “virtio-ramfb” or “virtio-gpu” in settings.

Tips

Use a lightweight Linux distribution if you’re new to VMs. Ubuntu with the ARM64 ISO is a good balance, but Xubuntu or Lubuntu are lighter and faster.
Enable hardware acceleration. In UTM, under “System,” make sure “Enable hardware acceleration (HVF)” is checked. This uses Apple’s Hypervisor framework for near-native speed.
Use snapshots. Before installing major updates or trying risky changes, take a snapshot in UTM (VM > Snapshot). You can revert to that state if something goes wrong.
Share files easily. Set up a shared folder in UTM (VM > Shared Directory) to transfer files between macOS and the VM without using a USB drive.

Troubleshooting

VM won’t boot or shows a black screen. Check that the ISO is ARM64. If it is, try changing the display type to “virtio-ramfb” or “virtio-gpu.” Also, ensure you’ve allocated enough RAM (at least 2GB).
Very slow performance. Make sure hardware acceleration is enabled. Also, close other apps on macOS to free up resources. If you allocated too few CPU cores, increase them (but leave at least 1 for macOS).
Network doesn’t work. In the VM’s settings, under “Network,” ensure “virtio-net” is selected. If you’re using a VPN or firewall on macOS, try disabling it temporarily to see if it’s blocking the VM.
Can’t install guest tools. Guest tools may not be available for all OSes (e.g., some BSDs). If the installer doesn’t run, try manually mounting the guest tools ISO from the UTM app bundle (right-click UTM > Show Package Contents > Contents > Resources > guest-tools.iso).
Windows VM won’t activate or install. Windows on ARM is only available through specific channels. Ensure you have a valid license and the correct ARM64 ISO. If installation fails, try a different build from the Windows Insider Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Intel-only software inside the VM?

Yes, but it depends. If you run an ARM64 OS (like Linux ARM), you can use an emulator like QEMU (which UTM uses) to emulate x86, but it’s slow. Windows on ARM can run x86 and x64 apps via its built-in emulation, but performance varies.

Is it better to use a VM or dual-boot (like Asahi Linux)?

VMs are easier to set up and don’t require partitioning your disk. Dual-booting gives better performance but is riskier and only supports Linux (not Windows) on Apple silicon. For most users, VMs are the safer choice.

How much storage do I need?

The virtual disk size you set is the maximum the VM can use. A 20GB disk is enough for a basic Linux install; Windows will need at least 30GB. The actual file on your Mac will grow as you use it.

Can I run macOS in a VM on Apple silicon?

Yes, but it’s not officially supported. UTM can virtualize macOS, but you need to download the macOS IPSW file from Apple’s servers. However, it’s against Apple’s license to run macOS on non-Apple hardware, but running it on a Mac is generally allowed. Performance is decent but not as good as native.

Will the VM drain my battery faster?

Yes, running a VM uses more CPU and memory, which increases power consumption. On a MacBook, expect shorter battery life. Closing the VM when not in use helps.

Can I use USB devices like a webcam or printer in the VM?

Yes, UTM allows you to pass through USB devices. In the VM’s settings, under “USB,” you can add a device. However, some devices may not work perfectly due to driver limitations.

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