You can install it on Snapdragon X machines with no extra steps.
Credit: MicrosoftMicrosoft has tried a few times to make Windows work on the Arm architecture, and it might finally be onto something with the latest incarnation. Windows 11 Arm machines are proliferating, and they're not terrible. However, Microsoft has dragged its feet releasing a Windows disk image for these machines. The wait is finally over today—the Windows 11 Arm ISO is now available.
For years, Microsoft has offered ISO downloads, allowing users to create their own installation media. Some PCs come with recovery images that can be used to restore a system should it become corrupted. For Arm laptops that don't, you could be in for a world of pain if something goes wrong. The arrival of the Arm image is a necessary step in making Arm laptops mainstream.
Previously, Microsoft only offered Windows 11 Arm downloads to those in the Windows Insider program. Additionally, the ISOs were only offered as VHDX files, which run in virtual machines like Hyper-V. That's not of much use to average users who just want a system image that runs on their shiny new Arm computers. Now, you can get a regular ISO file that can be installed on hardware. However, it won't work on all Arm hardware.
Microsoft notes that you will need proper drivers for Windows 11 Arm to work, and the Arm build requires drivers to be signed. So, for all intents and purposes, this image is for Qualcomm chips like the Snapdragon X Elite. Microsoft says you can install from the ISO on bootable media with a basic set of drivers. However, you'll have to connect to Windows Update to download the rest for full functionality. For older Snapdragon Arm chips, like the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, you will have to manually add drivers to the offline image, which is fairly complicated.
Credit: MicrosoftThe availability of this ISO could also lead to better support on non-Windows machines. For example, Apple users may be able to eke out better Windows performance running the Arm version on their Apple Silicon machines versus the x86 version. Low-power Arm devices like the Raspberry Pi might be able to benefit as well, but you're sure to encounter issues with drivers that will scare away casual tinkerers.
If you have use for the Arm ISO, you can download it
directly from Microsoft. Simply select the version and language, and the 5.1GB file will be yours. Naturally, you will need a license to run this OS with full functionality.
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