How to install Windows 11 on M1/M2 Mac using VMware Fusion 13

Description 

This wiki will provide step-by-step instructions for installing Windows 11 onto an M1/M2 Mac. You will need to assist your user with acquiring a VMware Fusion license first, these instructions can be found on the VMware Academic Licensing wiki page. Keep in mind, Virtualization on M1/M2 only works with Fusion 13 and only Windows 11 ARM64.

The source of link is dead, here’s a different link and include steps to bypass and building an ISO that allow local account creation: 

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

How-To Steps 

Step 1: Obtaining Windows 11 ARM 

1. Connect to IGPPsoftware and navigate to the following path:

   • smb://igppsoftware.ucsd.edu/igppsoftware/Licensed/Microsoft/Windows OS/Windows 10 ARM64/Windows11.vmdk

2. Drag and drop the Windows11.vmdk file to the desktop. 

3. Make sure to open the excel file located igppsoftware/Licensed/Microsoft/Windows OS/Windows 10 x64/2017_02_21/Windows 10 Keys.xlsx and enter the hostname next to the key that you will use to license the OS. (Windows 10 keys will work with Windows 11)

4. Make sure to disconnect from igppsoftware. 

Step 2: Installing VMware Fursion13 Pro on the Host

1. Open the VMware Academic Licensing wiki and follow the steps to assign a VMware license to the user and provide the instructions to the user on how to install Fusion13 Pro.

Step 3: Installing Windows 11 ARM

1. On the Installation Method window click Create a custom virtual machine and click Continue.

2. Under Choose Operating System select Microsoft Windows > Windows 11 64-bit Arm and click Continue.

3. Keep UEFI selected on the Firmware Type window and click Continue.

4. On the Encryption Window, keep the default option — Only the files needed to support a TPM are encrypted — and click Auto Generate Password. Ensure that Remember Password and store it in Mac’s Keychain is selected and click Continue.

5. On the Choose a Virtual Disk window, click the radio button next to Use an existing virtual disk and then click Choose virtual disk…

   1. Navigate the pop-up Finder window to the desktop and select the Windows11.vmdk file created in the prior steps.

   2. You may choose the default option Make a separate copy of the virtual disk. This will copy the contents of the Windows11.vmdk container to a new location in ~/Virtual Machines.

   3. This option will take up more space, but will allow other virtual machines to use the original virtual hard disk. If you only plan on using a single virtual instance and wish to save space, you can select Share this virtual disk with the virtual machine that created it.

   4. Once you’ve selected the desired option, click Choose, followed by Continue.

6. On the Finish window, you’ll have the opportunity to customize settings. Click the Customize Settings button if you wish to configure how much memory is allocated to the virtual machine along with the number of CPU cores, etc. If you’re fine with the default settings presented, click Finish.

   1. Whether or not you click Customize Settings or Continue, you’ll next be prompted to save the virtual machine to your Mac. The default location is ~/Virtual Machines and I recommend keeping the default setting. Click Save to confirm.

   2. If you opted to make a separate copy of the virtual disk, VMware will copy the virtual hard disk to the new location, and then automatically boot into Windows setup.

   3. If you see a permission dialogue requesting Screen Recording access, you may click Deny. You can always provide permissions later via the Security & Privacy section of System Preferences if needed.

Step 4: Windows Setup 

Because the necessary VMXNet3 virtual network driver isn’t included with Windows Home or Pro for Windows on ARM, you’ll need to bypass the network enrollment during Windows setup.

1. On the Keyboard setup page, you’ll need to press Fn+Shift+F10, this will invoke the Windows Command Prompt.

2. Enter the following on the Command Prompt:

   OOBE\BYPASSNRO

   Press Return on your keyboard. This command lets you bypass network enrollment, but first it will restart Windows Setup.

3. Select your country/region and click Yes.

4. Choose your desired input method and click Yes.

5. On the second keyboard layout page, click Skip.

6. On the network page, click I don’t have Internet and click continue with limited setup.

7. Click Accept on the License Agreement page.

8. Enter your name and click Next.

9. Enter a password (optional) and click Next.

10. Disable all of the privacy settings and click Accept.
    Windows will continue with the final configuration steps, and eventually the Windows desktop will appear.

Step 5: Installing VMware Tools

Prior to installing VMware Tools, you will be unable to configure your network connection or adjust display resolution settings. In other words, instilling VMware Tools is a must.

1. Click the Windows Start menu and type PowerShell in the search box. Click Run as Administrator, and click Yes on the User Access Control prompt. (If you don’t see Run as Administrator, right click on PowerShell and select Run as Administrator).

2. Type the following inside the PowerShell prompt:
   
   

   Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

   Press Return on your keyboard to execute the command, and then type ‘Y’ and press Return to confirm the change to the execution policy. Type Exit and press Return to close the PowerShell.

3. In the menu bar click Virtual Machine → Reinstall VMware Tools and click the Install button on the prompt that appears.

4. Open Windows Explorer, navigate to the DVD drive, and ensure that VMware Tools setup is mounted. You should see a Setup.ps1 PowerShell script in the root of the DVD drive.

5. Right click on the Setup PowerShell Script and click Run with PowerShell. Click Yes on the User Account Control pop-up.

   1. VMware Tools will now install, along with the necessary VMXNet3 network drivers and SVGA display driver. After a short countdown, the PowerShell window will automatically close.

       

   2. Network functionality should now be operational, and you will also be able to configure display settings via Start → Settings → Display. There should be no need to restart in order to enable this functionality.