One is to partition your main drive using the built-in Bootcamp Assistant and then install Windows on the partition that doesn’t house macOS. Users for virtualizing other operating systems atop MacOS, like Windows 10 or Ubuntu Linux.If you want to run Windows on your Mac there are two ways to do it. Since VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac, the process for setting up a virtual machine is pretty much the same in each operating system.VirtualBox for Mac is not available from the App Store. It allows users to virtually install many operating systems on virtual drives, including Windows, BSD, Linux, Solaris, and more. VirtualBox is an open source Virtual Machine program from Oracle.
![]() You’ll also need at least 16-20GB of hard drive space, and that’s before you start installing applications and saving files. However, running a virtual machine alongside macOS needs lots of memory (at least 8GB in total, and more if you want to run more than one virtual machine) and at least two processor cores. Can I run a virtual machine on my Mac?As long as your Mac has an Intel processor (and it will have unless it’s more than 12 years old), in theory it can run a virtual machine. Parallels Desktop 13The latest version of Parallels Desktop has support for features in the latest Macs, like the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. We’ll discuss Virtual Box in the next section. Best virtual machine software for MacThere are three contenders here: Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, and VirtualBox. Virtual machine applications don’t come with Windows installers, so you’ll need to supply your own, along with a licence key. If you’ve previously installed Windows on a Boot Camp partition, you can use that partition as a virtual machine, allowing you to boot into it from within Parallels without re-booting your Mac.Touch Bar support includes functions in Microsoft Office apps, as well as Windows Task Bar.When it comes to performance, Parallels Desktop is about as good as it gets for virtual machines. Parallels Desktop allows you to install Linux, or a different version of macOS, say a beta of the next version if you don’t want to install it on your Mac. Or, if you prefer, you can shrink Windows desktop down to a thumbnail preview, so it doesn’t get in the way but you can keep an eye on what it’s doing.Of course, virtual machines aren’t just about running Windows on your Mac. That means you can run Windows and Mac apps alongside each other and switch between them seamlessly. Like its rival, Fusion allows you to choose between running Windows inside a window on your Mac (or full-screen if you prefer) and in what it calls Unity mode, where the operating system disappears and Windows apps look like they’re running natively on the Mac. It comes in two versions, Fusion 10, which costs about the same as Parallels Desktop, and Fusion 10 Pro, which is more expensive but adds feature aimed at enterprise customers, such as support for managing virtual servers.In terms of features, there’s little to choose between Parallels Desktop and Fusion. VMWare FusionThe other main contender when it comes to running a virtual machine on your Mac is VMWare Fusion. If you want to run those in Windows, you’re still better off using Boot Camp. Is Virtualbox And Windows Different Download Each OneBest free virtual machine software for MacIf you want to run a virtual machine on your Mac but can’t stretch to the $70 for Parallels or Fusion, there is a third option — VirtualBox. Fortunately, both offer free trials — Parallels for 14 days and Fusion for 30 days — so you can download each one and try them out before making a decision on which to buy. They have very similar features, and cost almost the same. But, as with Parallels, performance in the latest games lags behind Boot Camp and may prove frustrating.The latest version of Fusion adds support for the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar.Choosing between Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion may be as much a matter of a preference for one or the other’s user interface. And remember, while VirtualBox itself is free, you’ll still need to supply your own copy of Windows. And while there is help available online from other users, there’s no official support if you run into problems. While it does the basics competently, it’s much less user friendly and much less easy to use than the other two. The bad news is that VirtualBox, because it’s open source and free lacks all of the polish of Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion. Android emulator react native macIf space is tight, don’t worry, there’s plenty you can do to make room. How to make space for a virtual machine on your MacDepending on how many applications you plan to install on your virtual machine and what you plan to use it for, you may need tens of gigabytes of free space on your Mac. Partitioning a drive is not quite major surgery, but it definitely carries the risk of losing data. That means, of course, that you won’t be able to copy and paste between Mac and Windows, and you won’t be able to use external storage that’s formatted in APFS or Mac OS Extended, but Windows will run faster than it does on a virtual machine.If you plan to use Boot Camp Assistant to partition your main drive, remember to back it up first. You can then install Windows or Linux, or another version on macOS, on the other partition.Boot Camp Assistant is very easy to use and once you’ve set it up, booting into, say, Windows, is just like using it natively on a PC. Alternatives to a virtual machineAs we mentioned earlier, the alternative to running a virtual machine on your Mac is to partition your main drive using the built-in Boot Camp Assistant (it’s in the Utilities folder). ![]() The ones we have highlighted here are the best VMs for Mac, so download one and give it a go. You’ll be surprised about how much space you can free up.Virtual machines are the most convenient way of running a second operating system on your Mac.
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