Create a VMware Windows 11 machine x86 and ARM

Set up the virtual machine with Software TPM (without a persistent password prompt). Create a VMware Windows 11 machine.

Prerequisite

VMware Fusion is installed (free for personal use).

Step 1: Get the Windows 11 ISO

Download the ISO from the official Microsoft website:
https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

Important: Make sure to download the correct version for your Mac/PC. Not every ISO works on every Mac or PC.

Step 2: Create a new VM

1. Open VMware Fusion
2. File → New → Continue
3. Select the downloaded ISO file → Continue
4. As operating system, select “Windows 11” → Continue
5. Firmware: Select UEFI → Continue

Step 3: Set up encryption for vTPM

Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module). VMware Fusion provides this via a virtual TPM (vTPM), which requires encryption of the VM.

Here’s the crucial point: You can configure encryption so that the password is saved in the macOS keychain. You won’t be prompted at every startup.

Procedure when creating the VM:

1. In the “Choose Encryption” dialog, select “Only the files needed to support a vTPM device” (faster performance, as only the necessary files are encrypted)
2. Important: Enable the “Remember encryption password” option (save password in keychain)
3. You can either:

• Select “Auto Generate Password” (VMware generates a password and saves it in the keychain)
• Or set your own password and enable the save option

Encryption is technically necessary for vTPM, but by saving it in the keychain, you won’t need to enter the password every time you start the VM.

Step 4: Customize hardware

• Processors: 4 cores → Continue
• Memory: at least 8192 MB (8 GB) → Continue
• Hard disk: 80 GB → Continue

Step 5: Finalize VM and install Windows

1. Click “Finish”
2. The VM starts automatically
3. In Windows Setup:

• Choose language → Next → Install now
• Select “Custom: Install Windows only”
• Select Drive 0 (unallocated space) → Next

1. Windows installs automatically (multiple restarts)

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Network settings: NAT vs. Bridged

After installing the VM, you can adjust the network mode in the VM settings.

Mode	Description	Recommendation
NAT (default)	The VM shares the Mac’s IP address. The Mac acts as a router.	Sufficient for internet access, but file shares aren’t visible on the home network.
Bridged	The VM gets its own IP address in the same network as the Mac.	Recommended if the VM should be reachable by other devices on the network.

Switching from NAT to Bridged

1. Shut down the VM
2. VM → Settings → Network Adapter
3. Change from “Share with my Mac (NAT)” to “Bridged Networking”
4. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet as the target network (depending on the Mac’s connection)
5. Restart the VM

Current note: With macOS Sequoia 15.4 and newer, there may be issues with NAT (DNS resolution fails). Use Bridged in this case.

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Error: No driver for the network card

The problem

If you manually downloaded the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft (not via VMware Fusion), the VMware network driver is sometimes missing. The Windows installation then gets stuck at this screen:

“Let’s connect you to a network”

No network card is detected, and you cannot proceed.

Solution 1: Download ISO via VMware Fusion (recommended)

The ISO downloaded via VMware Fusion already contains all necessary drivers:

1. Open VMware Fusion
2. File → New → “Get Windows 11 from Microsoft”
3. Select edition → “Download Windows”
4. With this ISO, network detection works immediately.

Solution 2: Bypass installation without network

If you are already using the manual ISO:

1. At the network prompt, press SHIFT + F10 (opens the command prompt)
2. Type taskmgr and confirm with Enter
3. In Task Manager, find the process “OOBE Network Connection Flow”
4. Right-click → End Task

The installation then continues without network. After installation, you need to install VMware Tools (see next section) to get the network driver.

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After installation: Setting up VMware Tools

VMware Tools are essential for:

• A working network adapter (if installation was bypassed without network)
• Better graphics resolution and mouse integration
• Shared clipboard (copy & paste between Mac and VM)

Installation

1. Start the VM (Windows is running)
2. In the VMware menu: VM → Install VMware Tools
3. An AutoPlay prompt appears in the Windows guest → “Run Setup64.exe”
4. The installation wizard starts → Next → Typical installation → Install
5. After installation, restart the VM (will be requested automatically)

Note: Installation can take a few minutes as a virtual CD drive with the drivers is created.

After the restart

• Network should now work
• Screen resolution adjusts automatically
• Copy & paste between Mac and VM is possible
• Folder sharing can be set up (VM → Settings → Sharing)

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Conclusion

Following these instructions should allow Windows 11 to run as a VM. By saving the encryption password in a password manager, you won’t have to enter it every time you start the VM—the most convenient solution for vTPM in VMware Fusion.

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