Tip: Install Windows 11 25H2 in Mac VM

I would like to keep my Windows 11 running in a virtual machine in Parallels Desktop up to date, also for security reasons. However, the latest version, 25H2, simply does not appear in the Windows update.

This has already happened to us, especially with Windows 11 Home for ARM, i.e. Apple Silicon machines.

Although Parallels Desktop 26 supports the current Windows 25H2 without any problems, according to the manufacturer, it must first be integrated into an existing virtual machine. Unfortunately, we don’t know why it sometimes doesn’t seem to get through the update function – but it can be installed directly as a new VM.

Fortunately, there is a way to fix the problem and get Windows to update after all: a trip to the notorious Windows registry with the application RegEdit.

To do this, type “RegEdit” in the Windows 11 search field (next to the Start button) and press Enter. Confirm the following dialog as to whether you want to allow changes to your device with “Yes”, after all, you are fiddling with the registry.

In RegEdit, open the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”, “Policies”, “Microsoft” and “Windows” sections. If there is already the entry “WindowsUpdate”, select it, because this is where the keys to be entered must be entered. If the entry does not exist, you have to create it via the edit menu and “New” and “Key” while you have selected “Windows”.

Then enter three new keys (via “New”) – these are strings. First, it’s the string “ProductVersion” that you set to “Windows 11”, then the string “TargetReleaseVersionInfo” that gets the value “25H2”. Finally, a DWORD key is added: “TargetReleaseVersion”. Here, select “Decimal” and enter “1”.

Finally, the new registry entry must look like this:

It may take a while to roll in, depending on how long you haven’t updated your Windows 11.

Remember to update the Parallels tools after the Windows 11 update (the system will report and ask for a restart).