To run WSL 1 inside a Windows virtual machine in Parallels Desktop you don't need to enable nested virtualization that's why it's supported on Mac computers either with M series chips or with Intel processors. We keep working together with our partners from Apple® to support nested virtualization for Mac computers with M series chips. That's why you can't run WSL 2 on these computers.

On Mac computers with M series chips, nested virtualization isn't supported yet. You can enable it as described in KB 116239. To run WSL 2 inside a Windows virtual machine in Parallels Desktop, you need to enable nested virtualization. Fortunately, the good people at Parallels released Parallels Desktop for Mac 17, and this version would allow me to run Windows 11 Arm on my M1 Pro MacBook Pro. On an M1 Mac, operating systems in Parallels Desktop virtual machines must be ARM-based operating systems, and this has led to many misconceptions. Parallels Desktop 18 Mac Windows macOS Intel Apple M Mac Windows 40 Mac Windows MacOS 13.In your computers Downloads folder, double-click the GitHub Desktop setup file. WSL 2 is currently supported in Parallels Desktop running only on Mac computers with Intel processors. Yes, you can play Windows games on an M1 Mac using Parallels Desktop Age of Empires, Overwatch and many other games play well. Below you can find information that can help you avoid confusion when dealing with WSL in Parallels Desktop.

Some of you want to use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) inside Windows virtual machines.

M1 mac windows parallels