On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt install qemu-system-arm qemu-efi-aarch64 qemu-utils
On macOS (Homebrew):
brew install qemu
On Windows (via Chocolatey or direct):
choco install qemu
Before diving into the Windows aspect, it is important to understand the vessel. QCOW2 is the primary disk image format used by QEMU (Quick Emulator). Unlike a raw disk image, which allocates the full size of the disk immediately (e.g., a 50GB file for a 50GB disk), QCOW2 is sparse. It only occupies space as data is written.
Key benefits of QCOW2 include:
For daily use on Apple Silicon: UTM + Windows 10 ARM Qcow2 is the most polished solution. Performance is near-native for CPU tasks (like compiling, office work), but don't expect gaming or CAD. The Qcow2 format works perfectly with snapshots and compression, making it ideal for testing ARM Windows apps without dedicating a physical disk.
To draft a feature for Windows 10 on ARM using a QCOW2 image
, you should focus on implementing a virtualization environment—typically through —that supports the ARM64 architecture. 1. Image Preparation
The primary technical requirement is creating or obtaining a compatible virtual disk image: Create Disk: qemu-img create -f qcow2 win10_arm.qcow2 80G to initialize a 64-bit ARM-compatible disk. Source ISO: windows 10 arm qcow2
You must use a specific ARM64 version of Windows 10 (Build 21390 or higher is recommended to avoid BSOD errors). 2. Virtual Hardware Requirements
To successfully boot Windows 10 on ARM, your feature must emulate a specific set of hardware components: CPU & Machine: Cortex A57 or higher using the machine type. QEMU_EFI.fd
(TianoCore EDKII) for UEFI support, as ARM Windows requires UEFI to boot. VirtIO drivers
to handle disk I/O and networking, as the standard Windows installer often lacks native ARM drivers for virtualized hardware. Setting up a Windows 10 VM with QEmu on Ubuntu 22.04 On macOS (Homebrew): brew install qemu
Before downloading or creating a Windows 10 ARM qcow2 file, gather the following:
| Component | Requirement |
|-----------|--------------|
| Host Hardware | Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3) or an ARM64 Linux machine (e.g., Raspberry Pi 5, Ampere Altra) |
| Host Software | QEMU (version 7.0 or newer), UTM (a GUI wrapper for QEMU on macOS), or virt-manager (Linux) |
| Windows License | Windows 10 ARM64 requires a license. You can use an unactivated copy for 90 days or purchase a volume license. |
| Install Media | Windows 10 on ARM .iso or .vhd file from Microsoft’s official download center (requires a free Insider account) |
| Hardware Resources | Minimum 4GB RAM for the VM, 4 CPU cores, and 20GB free host storage |
Important: Do not download random
qcow2files from file-sharing sites. Malicious actors package pre-activated images with backdoors. Always build your own.