Powering on Windows 11 VM on VMware Fusion fails with error "This virtual machine cannot be powered on because it requires the x86 machine architecture, which is incompatible with this Arm Machine architecture host"

Products

• VMware Fusion

Issue/Introduction

When powering on a Windows 11 virtual machine (VM) on VMware Fusion, the process fails with the following error:

“This virtual machine cannot be powered on because it requires the x86 machine architecture, which is incompatible with this Arm Machine architecture host. See KB -84273”

Environment

Apple Silicon (M1/M2) with VMware Fusion 13.5

Cause

This error indicates a fundamental hardware conflict when attempting to run an Intel/AMD-based (x86) operating system on a host computer utilizing Apple Silicon (Arm architecture). Virtualization requires the guest operating system to match the host's CPU architecture.

Resolution

To resolve this, download and install the Windows 11 Arm64 ISO. Follow the three phases below to correctly provision the virtual machine.

 

Phase 1: Download and Configuration

Instead of manually sourcing an ISO, use VMware Fusion’s built-in utility to ensure the correct architecture is selected.

1. Initiate the Download: Open VMware Fusion and navigate to File > New (or select "Create New Virtual Machine"). Choose Get Windows from Microsoft and click Continue.
2. Select Edition: Choose "Windows 11 Pro" from the dropdown menu and select Download Windows. Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as the file is several gigabytes.
3. Configure Firmware: Once the download concludes, proceed by selecting UEFI as the boot firmware.
4. Encryption: Windows 11 requires a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which necessitates VM encryption. Set a custom password or use the Auto Generate Password feature. Note: Store this password globally in your keychain for ease of access.
5. Finalize Hardware: Select "Create a new virtual disk," review the summary, and save the VM to your desired location.

Phase 2: Windows Installation and Setup

Once the VM powers on, you must act quickly to boot from the ISO.

1. Boot Sequence: When the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" prompt appears, click inside the VM window and press a key immediately to launch the installer.
2. Installation Wizard:
   • Select your Language and Input format, then click Install Now.
   • If prompted for a product key, select "I don’t have a product key" (activation can be handled later).
   • Select Windows 11 Pro, accept the license terms, and choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
   • Select the virtual drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) and click Next to begin file copying.
3. Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE):
   • After the automatic restart, select your region and keyboard layout.
   • Connect to your network and log in with a valid Microsoft Account.
   • Select Set up as a new PC, create a login PIN, and review your privacy settings.
   • Once the setup completes, you will arrive at the Windows 11 desktop.

Phase 3: Installing VMware Tools

Installing VMware Tools is critical for enabling graphics acceleration (DirectX 11), proper display resolution scaling, and host-guest integration.

1. Mount the Installer: With the VM running, go to the Mac menu bar, select Virtual Machine, and click Install VMware Tools.
2. Execute Setup: If the installer does not autorun, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the DVD drive, and launch setup.exe.
3. Complete Installation: Select the Typical installation type. Click Next through the prompts and finally click Install.
4. Restart: Once finished, restart the virtual machine to apply the video drivers and performance enhancements.