I used to daily drive Linux when I first ditched Windows, before I got my first Mac. I turned to using lightweight Linux distros on old MacBooks in the pre-Apple silicon era, but these days, most of my Linux dabbling takes place via virtualization.
Thankfully, you don’t have to give up your Linux habit altogether just because you bought a Mac.
Parallels Desktop Is Pricey, but Easy
Parallels Desktopis premium virtualization software that goes out of its way to justify the $99 yearly price tag. The primary reason I have a Parallels Desktop subscription is for Windows 11, which offers near-native performance when running the ARM version of Microsoft’s OS.
I’ve tried running Windows 11 in free virtualization apps, but they can’t hold a candle to the sort ofperformance and ease of use I get from Parallels. On top of being fast and responsive, Parallels makes it easy to download and set up guest operating systems. This was so tempting that when it came to quickly creating an Ubuntu environment for work purposes, I immediately turned to Parallels to get everything set up.
Parallels can download and create virtual machines for Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and Kali in just a few clicks. You don’t even need to oversee the installation process, since Parallels will chug away in the background until the process is complete. Alternatively, you can configure and install your own virtual machines manually instead.
Parallels takes care of most of the headaches for you, instead asking basic questions like what OS you’re installing (with an auto-detection process), then allowing you to make changes to the hardware as you need to. I downloaded openSUSE and Parallels detected the OS, booted the ISO, then let me install the distro manually.
With Parallels, things tend to “just work” out of the box, including keyboard shortcuts, media keys, and a bridged network connection. Parallels will always work best when running ARM native Linux distros, but it’s also capable of emulating x86-64 architectures too.
UTM Makes QEMU Straightforward
UTMis free virtualization software for your Mac. It’s built on the incredibly powerful open-source projectQEMU, and manages to simplify the process of getting virtual machines up and running. We’ve covered the process ofrunning Linux virtual machines in UTM before, with the software making an ideal starting place for any Linux-curious Mac user.
Though UTM isn’t quite as user-friendly as Parallels, it generally makes things a lot easier and more straightforward than using QEMU on its own. It supports booting ARM versions usinghypervisor virtualizationfor near-native performance or the far slower emulation method for running distros designed for x86-64 and other processor architectures.
Unfortunately, UTM can be far more temperamental than a premium package like Parallels. For example, I was tinkering with openSUSE while writing this article, and I simply couldn’t get the operating system to boot. I found the solution in athreadon the project’s GitHub page, which required removing the default display device in favor of something else in order to complete the installation (and then reversing the process after setup).
This isn’t the first time I’ve run into an issue like this, but with a bit of sleuthing, you’ll likely be able to fix most problems. The question is whether or not you want to spend your time solving problems. To this, I’d add: if you don’t want to spend your time solving problems, why are you playing with Linux VMs in the first place?
One benefit exclusive to UTM is theUTM Gallery, which features ready-to-go virtual machine configurations that you may download, alongside any additional instructions required to get everything working smoothly. Some noteworthy inclusions are Arch Linux, several flavors of Debian, Fedora, and even Windows XP.
I Also Use VirtualBox for Home Assistant
I also have to mentionVirtualBox, another free solution that lacked an Apple silicon version until June 2025, when it wasadded as a long-overdue update. It’s still early days for VirtualBox on Apple silicon, so you’re probably better off picking UTM if you need a free virtualization app for now. Even so, Linux support is surprisingly good (unlike Windows 11 support, which is non-existent).
I’m currently using VirtualBox for aHome Assistant OS installation on my Mac mini server. After trying to get HAOS running in UTM and hitting several roadblocks, I turned to VirtualBox instead. The setup was surprisingly straightforward, and the configuration has given me no issues so far. Home Assistant is a Linux-based OS designed for embedded devices, and it works great in a VM environment on a Mac.
Setting up virtual machines is pretty straightforward, with presets for Linux and BSD operating systems, subtypes (like Ubuntu or Debian), and version-specific settings. Once you’ve nominated installation media and picked your settings, it’s a case of hitting Finish to complete the installation. You can then edit the VM to switch up the hardware setup, adding more RAM, CPU cores, and defining a virtual storage medium.
The big drawback right now to picking VirtualBox is that it only supports ARM-based virtual machines on Apple silicon. You can’t use this software to emulate different architectures, like the more common x86-64. This is something that Parallels and UTM can do, though it could be argued that the performance penalties for doing so are enough to put most people off anyway.
As a result, VirtualBox is still a solid choice for testing Linux distros (I personally prefer it to UTM since, anecdotally, I’ve run into fewer problems), as long as you’re happy with strictly hypervisor-based virtualization rather than hardware emulation.
Don’t Forget About Asahi Linux Either
If you’re really keen about Linux and are looking at taking things a step further, theAsahi Linuxproject is well worth a look. Rather than virtualizing a Linux installation, with Asahi you’re able to install Linux natively on your Apple silicon Mac. This allows you to completely replace macOS with a version of Linux that runs on bare metal.
There are some big benefits to doing this. First of all, there’s no performance penalty since you aren’t running two operating systems at the same time. Secondly, you’re able to skirt some of the limitations that crop up when you opt for the virtualization model.
For example, I want to connect Bluetooth devices to my Home Assistant server that’s running in a VirtualBox VM, but macOS won’t pass through the built-in Bluetooth controller. In order to add a Bluetooth device, I’ll need a Bluetooth dongle (and to fiddle with some settings). Blogger Rory Gallaghernotesthat the Mac mini’s Bluetooth 5.0 chip works just fine in Asahi with Home Assistant running natively.
There are also some promising developments to come in the future. Right now, Gaming-focused Linux desktop OSBazziteis having a moment. Thanks to the Proton compatibility layer and a proof of concept laid out by Valve’s SteamOS, many gamers are able to ditch Windows and not look back.
Though Bazzite doesn’t yet have a native Apple silicon version available, eagle-eyed gamers may have noticed that Apple silicon is listed in the download drop-down box with a tantalizing “coming soon” message. This is incredibly exciting for anyone who wants to turn an old M1 or M2 Mac into a gaming machine, where squeezing every bit of performance out of a native OS is key to the best experience.
While running Linux in a VM can present problems, whichever route you go, so too can running Linux natively on hardware. If you’re not afraid of a little troubleshooting and are seeking to broaden your understanding of the platform in general, it’s well worth taking the time to tinker.
