How to install Windows 11 (retail version) [read post #48 first]

This step by step guide explains how you can install the retail version of Windows 11.

Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't make the retail version available for download. The only download Microsoft offers is via the Insider Program and only for the Dev Channel. While access to these versions can be useful for developers and curious people, they can be unstable and require frequent updates. The Insider Program also requires you to give Microsoft access to a lot of data which you might not want to do.

To get an installation file for the retail version of Windows 11 we need to build the iso ourselves. Fortunately that is not too difficult.

Open your browser and go to uupdump.net.
Currently the quick options are outdated and the latest public release build only contains Windows 10 versions that won't work on an M1 Mac.
But right under the search bar are convenient search options for different versions of Windows. At the time of writing the current version of Windows 11 is 21H2. So click on „Windows 11 21H2."

 

That narrows our search down to 51 builds. Ignore all the Intel x64 builds and look for the arm64 architecture. At the time of writing the latest build is 22000.282. Choose „Cumulative Update for Windows 11 (22000.282) arm64".
(„Upgrade to Windows 11 (22000.282) arm64" would also work, but that is a Release Preview Channel build.)

 

Next we can see some information about the build and choose the language we want Windows to be in.
Under Information we see the build number and that this build is from the Retail Channel and not an Insider Preview.
After you choose your language click Next.

 

In the next step we can choose the Windows edition. Home and Pro are the default.
Choose your edition and click Next.

 

Now it's time for the download options.
Make sure to choose „Download and convert to ISO" and „Include updates". Then click „Create download package".

 

After a very quick download you can find a zip-file that begins with the build number in your downloads folder. Unzip it.

 

In the unzipped folder you can find scripts to build an iso with Windows, macOS and Linux. Since it is easier to do in Windows, double-click „uup_download_windows.cmd".
(If you don't have the option to build the iso in Windows, look here for additional instructions for macOS.)

 

You'll probably get a Windows Defender warning that the app is unknown. Click on „More information".

 

Choose to run the app.

 

Allow the app to make changes.

 

Now a new window opens and several files will be downloaded.

 

Next another window opens and the process of creating the iso begins. This will take a while and occasionally it might look like nothing is happening. Don't worry and have patience.

 

Eventually you'll be prompted to press „0". Do that and the window will close.

 

Go back to the folder we downloaded earlier. There are a lot more files in it now. The only one that is interesting is the iso we just created.
In this case it has the easy to remember name „22000.282.211006-1742.CO_RELEASE_SVC_PROD2_CLIENTMULTI_A64FRE_DE-DE.ISO". (The name will be different depending on your chosen options.)
Copy this file to your macOS downloads folder.

 

Now open the Parallels Control Center and click the „+" in the top right corner to create a new virtual machine.



First you will see a message that you need to install an ARM-based OS. Click continue.

 

Click continue again

 

Parallels automatically finds the available iso or VHDX files. In this case there is only the one we just built. If there are multiple files shown, make sure to choose the right one. Click continue.

 

Choose the Windows edition to install. In this case we can choose between Windows Home and Windows Pro. For some reason Windows Home is displayed as a blank option.
If you choose to only build an iso for Windows Pro or Windows Home there will only be a blank option. Don't worry, clicking the blank option works. The only problem is that you have to remember which version it actually is. Next click „Done".



After this you're in the normal process of creating a Parallels VM. Just choose the options that best fit you and wait for the installation to complete.

End of original thread. I might post updates if necessary.

 

Brilliant! I blundered my way through process (with several dead ends and starting all over) a few weeks ago. Would have been so good to have had this.

 

These were the instructions you gave me. It worked but I didn't realize the Home edition displayed as a blank space so I ended up with the Pro edition. Just had to purchase a Pro key to activate it. But it worked perfectly and is still going strong. Getting updates from MS and no error or warnings yet. thanks again Michael.