Windows 10 Arm Qcow2 [repack]
Running Windows 10 on ARM64 hardware (such as Apple Silicon Macs, Raspberry Pi 4/5, or ARM-based servers) via virtualization is a powerful way to leverage x86 application compatibility and native ARM performance. The most flexible way to do this on Linux or macOS is through QEMU, utilizing the (QEMU Copy On Write) virtual disk format.
This article covers setting up Windows 10 ARM, creating a dedicated qcow2 image, and running it efficiently. What is a windows 10 arm qcow2 Image?
QCOW2 stands for "QEMU Copy On Write version 2." It is the standard storage format for QEMU and KVM virtual disks.
: The format natively supports snapshots, allowing users to save VM states and roll back changes easily.
With your windows10_arm.qcow2 disk image and the VirtIO drivers ready, you can launch the virtual machine using QEMU. windows 10 arm qcow2
qemu-system-aarch64 \ -M virt,highmem=off \ -accel hvf (or kvm) \ -cpu host \ -smp 6 \ -m 8192 \ -drive file=win10-arm64.qcow2,if=virtio,aio=native,cache=none,discard=unmap \ -netdev user,id=net0 \ -device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0 \ -device virtio-gpu-pci \ -display gtk,gl=on \ -machine vmport=off
: Bypasses the host OS cache, writing directly to physical storage.
Running Windows 10 ARM out of a QCOW2 container requires a few final adjustments to unlock smooth graphical performance and stability. Install the Remaining VirtIO Drivers
Once installed, optimizing your qcow2 image is essential for usability. 1. Install VirtIO Drivers Running Windows 10 on ARM64 hardware (such as
Replace virtio-arm64.iso with Fedora’s virtio-win ARM64 drivers.
The QCOW2 format is highly efficient for virtual machines. It supports features like , which let you save and restore your VM's state, and sparse allocation , meaning the file only takes up as much space as the data it contains. Step 1: Gather Your Tools To get started, you'll need the following essentials:
Once Windows boots, you must complete the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE). If you used VirtIO devices, the installer may claim it cannot find a disk or a network connection. Loading Drivers During Setup When prompted for a disk selection, click . Browse the attached virtio-win.iso CD-ROM drive.
qemu-img convert -f vhdx -O qcow2 Windows10_InsiderPreview_Arm64.vhdx windows10_arm.qcow2 Use code with caution. Step 3: Sourcing the Required VirtIO Drivers What is a windows 10 arm qcow2 Image
choco install qemu
Running windows 10 arm qcow2 allows you to have a portable, snapshot-capable virtual machine. It is ideal for developers testing ARM software, IT professionals, or users on Apple Silicon needing Windows compatibility.
qemu-system-aarch64 \ -cpu host \ -enable-kvm \ -smp 4 \ -m 4096 \ -M virt,highmem=on \ -bios /usr/share/qemu-efi-aarch64/BL31_AP_UEFI.fd \ -device virtio-gpu-pci \ -display default,show-cursor=on \ -device qemu-xhci \ -device usb-kbd \ -device usb-tablet \ -drive if=virtio,file=windows10_arm.qcow2,format=qcow2 \ -netdev user,id=net0 \ -device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0 Use code with caution. Post-Installation: Drivers and Performance Tuning