Bought new Mac computer since old Windows one couldn't be updated with Windows 11. Installed Parallels .

Question

My old desktop needed upgrading, but couldn't accept Windows 11. Recently purchased a Mac but because I also wanted Windows, I installed Parallels. Not realizing Windows 11 would be installed with Parallels, I now have the dilemma of an unauthentic copy of Windows 11 that will not sync with my Microsoft account because it doesn't recognize the new computer, nor that I still have Windows 10 on the old computer it does recognize.

Answer 1

Windows running in Parallels on a Mac is treated as a separate device and requires its own valid Windows 11 license and activation. A license tied to the old physical Windows 10 PC cannot be transferred to a new virtual machine in Parallels unless it is a retail license that is not in use elsewhere and is eligible for transfer.

For Windows 11 in Parallels on an M‑series Mac:

1. Parallels Desktop 18, 19, and 20 are authorized solutions for running Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise on Apple M1, M2, and M3 Macs.
2. Each Windows 11 installation (physical PC or VM) requires its own product key and activation. A unique license is required for each instance of Windows 11 Pro, whether on hardware or in a virtual machine.
3. To make the Windows 11 installation in Parallels genuine and able to fully use Microsoft account features, a valid Windows 11 license must be purchased and the product key entered in the VM to activate it.
4. Windows 11 Pro product keys are platform‑agnostic (x64 vs Arm), so a standard Windows 11 Pro key can be used to activate the Arm version in Parallels.

If continued use of Windows is required and the old PC cannot run Windows 11, there are two supported options:

• Use Windows 11 in Parallels on the Mac with a properly purchased Windows 11 Pro license (and, if needed, upgrade to Enterprise via volume licensing through an IT admin).
• Alternatively, use a Windows 11 Cloud PC through the Windows 365 service, which runs Windows 11 in the cloud and is fully supported.

The existing Windows 10 installation on the old PC can continue to run, but it will not provide a valid activation for the new Windows 11 VM in Parallels; a separate license is required for that VM.

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References:

• Options for using Windows 11 with Mac® computers with Apple® M1®, M2™, and M3™ chips
• Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ
• What does it mean if Windows isn't supported?