New Parallels on new Mac only allows windows11

J

JosseB

Bit poster
Hi, I used to run Windows 10 on an old MacBook. Now I installed Parallels on a ew MacBook and it forces me towards windows 11. I downloaded windows 10 installation file (Win10_22H2_Dutch_x64v1.iso). But Parallels refuses:
"The specified image cannot be used because your Mac is equipped with the Apple M series chip and Parallels Desktop doesn't support this operating systems version and(or) architecture."

The thing is that I don't know how tu use my Windows 10 key on a newly installed Windows 11. So my idea was to install Windows 10 first on the new MacBook, to upgrade towards Windows 11 thereafter. Who can help with this or another solution ?
 
Your Apple Silicon chip cannot run Windows 10 (Intel). You need Win 11 (arm).
I believe Microsoft has eliminated the free Win 10 --> Win 11 key upgrade, so you need to purchase a license for Win 11 arm.
 
Was your old MBP an intel based Mac? That Windows version will not work on a Mac Mx. Here you need an ARM version of Windows. A long time ago there was a W10 ARM version, but that is no longer available, thus, your only option is to install W11 ARM, which you can download directly from within Parallels. The W11 ARM version will already be the latest 24H2 version. I assume you use at least P19 or the newer P20.
Once you have installed W11 ARM just try to activate it with your W10 license key. It probably will work (I seem to remember such posts here in the forum).
 
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