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sabine_7179
Participant
January 5, 2025
Question

InDesign and Illustrator in Parallells VM Win 11 on MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chips?

  • January 5, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 601 views

I need to replace my old MacBook and wonder if ID and IL will be available and work in a Parallells VM with Windows 11. I need both the macOS and Windows versions for my work (which includes screenshots and screen video). Getting a cheap Windows laptop is not an option because I do not want to drag two laptops around. Therefore, a MacBook and a Windows VM was the perfect solution for me. I tried it in summer 2023 on a MacBook with M2 Pro, but ID and IL were not available in CC for download.

Does anyone have such a set-up on a MacBook with M4 Pro chips? If so, what configuration is needed for the MacBook?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

    3 replies

    Javier Gómez Laínez
    Javier Gómez Laínez
    Inspiring
    October 22, 2025

    I'm in the same boat and am still waiting for Adobe to allow InDesign to run on Apple Silicon Macs via a VM. It makes no sense to have to purchase a second laptop, especially since I need to offer support to customers of both Mac and Windows platforms (not to mention Spanish and English, but that's another story...).

    D
    Daté11590586
    Known Participant
    August 12, 2025

    Hi,

    i face exactly the same issue with a MacBook Pro M1 Max where i have installed the last version of Parallel Desktop and Windows 11 pro.  In creative Cloud desktop app, illustrator is only available for IPad. But why is it possible to install all bêta apps (incluses illustrator bêta) without any issue and not the official app ? 

    Anubhav M
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 6, 2025

    Hello @sabine_7179,

    Thanks for reaching out. When you install Windows on a Mac with an M2 chip, it will install the ARM version of Windows. Currently, Illustrator and InDesign are only compatible with Copilot+ Windows systems that have Snapdragon X Series processors. Consequently, you won't be able to run Illustrator/InDesign on a Virtual Machine on Apple Silicon Macs at this time.

    You can still use Illustrator and InDesign on supported devices: (https://adobe.ly/4a4t5TI) (https://adobe.ly/4j2SqBk).

    Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have further questions or need help. We are here to help.

     

    Anubhav

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