How to update windows 10 to windows 11 on mac?

For Macs with Apple Silicon, Boot Camp isn't available, so you can't directly upgrade an Intel-based Windows 10 to Windows 11. Instead, you'll need to install Windows 11 ARM edition in Parallels or another virtualization tool.

To update Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac, download the Windows 11 ARM VHDX from Microsoft's Insider Preview or the official evaluation site, then create a new VM in Parallels and import the VHDX. If you have files from your Windows 10 VM, you can migrate them manually after the installation. This is currently the only stable way to run Windows 11 on Apple Silicon.

P.S. For Windows 10 in Parallels, upgrading to Windows 11 is straightforward once you enable the virtual TPM chip. Shut down the VM, open Parallels → Hardware → Security, and add a TPM chip. Then ensure the boot mode is UEFI with Secure Boot enabled.

Once that’s set, Windows 10 will pass Microsoft's checks, and you can update to Windows 11 through Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update, or by running the Windows 11 ISO upgrade. This method works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, but you'll need the correct Windows edition (x64 for Intel, ARM for Apple Silicon).

Since Microsoft enforces strict hardware requirements like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and CPU compatibility, most Mac, especially Intel Macs running Boot Camp don’t meet these out of the box. The good news is that there are safe, well-tested methods to bypass these checks or use virtualization features to make Windows 11 install without losing your data.

If you have an Intel Mac using Boot Camp, you can still upgrade to Windows 11 on Mac from Windows 10 even without TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot by using a registry edit during the setup process.

First, download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft. Boot into Windows 10, mount the ISO, and run setup.exe.

When the "This PC can't run Windows 11" message appears, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt, type regedit and create the keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig 

add BypassTPMCheck, BypassSecureBootCheck, and BypassRAMCheck (all as DWORD 32-bit, set to 1).

Close Registry Editor, then continue setup.

This lets you keep your files, apps, and settings without hardware checks blocking you. This is one of the best free ways to update Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac.

Updating Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac (using Boot Camp, virtualization, or other methods) can introduce some potential risks and challenges. Windows 11 has specific hardware requirements (e.g., TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, certain CPU models). Macs may not meet these requirements, especially older models, leading to installation failures or unstable system behavior.

About updating Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac. Mac hardware drivers (graphics, Wi-Fi, keyboard, trackpad, etc.) may not be fully compatible with Windows 11. This can cause hardware malfunctions, reduced performance, or missing features. Boot Camp on older Macs may not officially support Windows 11. Apple’s Boot Camp drivers may not be updated for Windows 11, leading to issues with hardware functionality. If running Windows 11 via virtualization (e.g., Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion), ensure the software supports Windows 11. Some virtualization tools may require updates or specific configurations.

If you're running Windows 10 on a Mac through Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop, or another virtualization apps, there are a few common reasons you can't upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10.

1. Your Mac hardware doesn't meet Windows 11's strict requirements
Microsoft enforces checks for:

• TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
• Secure Boot support
• CPU compatibility list

Most Intel Macs don't have a hardware TPM, and Boot Camp does not provide one by default. Parallels can emulate a virtual TPM, but it has to be enabled manually.

2. Boot Camp drivers aren’t updated for Windows 11

Boot Camp Assistant drivers on Mac are mostly made for Windows 10. If you try to update to Windows 11 from Windows 10 on Mac, the Windows 11 installer may block the process if it detects missing or outdated drivers.

3. Apple Silicon Macs can't use Boot Camp

If you’re on an M1/M2/M3 Mac, Boot Camp isn't available at all. The only way to run Windows is through virtualization (e.g., Parallels), and in that case you must install Windows 11 ARM edition from scratch, there's no direct upgrade path from Windows 10 x86.

Microsoft officially requires certain hardware features (like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot) to update Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac. Since your MacBook Pro running Windows 10 via Boot Camp doesn't meet these hardware requirements

1. Use a Virtual Machine (VM) to Run Windows 11
Instead of upgrading your existing Windows 10 installation, you can run Windows 11 inside a VM.

Advantages:
No hardware compatibility issues.
No need to modify your existing setup.

Considerations:
Performance may be lower than a native install.
Paralllels Desktop supports Windows 11 on unsupported Macs by using workarounds.
Virtualization can bypass hardware checks since VM environments are different from physical hardware.

2. Use Microsoft's Official Media Creation Tool with a Workaround
Microsoft sometimes allows installation without TPM/ Secure Boot prompts if you choose the "I don't have a product key" and proceed with the setup.
Note: This is not guaranteed and may still block the installation on unsupported hardware.

How to update Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac? For the most straightforward and supported experience, consider using virtualization, which can run Windows 11 seamlessly on unsupported Macs and doesn't require hardware modifications. If you want detailed guidance on setting up Windows 11 in a VM, I can help with that.

The following are the most common methods for updating Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac.

1. Visit the Microsoft Windows 11 download page.
2. Download the Installation Assistant or create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 ISO.
3. Use Boot Camp Assistant (on Mac) for creating bootable media.
4. For Macs, you can also use diskutil and bless commands in Terminal to prepare the USB.
5. If using the Installation Assistant: Launch it from Windows 10 / Follow the prompts to update Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac.
6. If doing a clean install: Boot from the Windows 11 USB drive / Follow on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.
7. Install all necessary drivers. For Boot Camp, download the latest Boot Camp drivers from Apple or use Windows Update.
8. Activate Windows and check for updates.

By the way. Apple’s Boot Camp officially supports Windows 10, not Windows 11. Installing Windows 11 on Boot Camp may require workarounds and isn't officially supported. If you're running Windows via Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, you can update Windows 10 within the VM to Windows 11 more straightforwardly.