A developer has successfully emulated Windows 11 ARM on an M2 iPad Air, and it’s all thanks to new EU regulations that have made sideloading apps on iOS and iPadOS much easier.
EU Rules Make Sideloading Possible
The project was spotted by Windows Latest, who highlighted a demo by developer NTDev. With the help of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), users can now install third-party app stores like AltStore Classic, which was key to making this work.
AltStore lets users install apps like UTM, a virtualization tool that uses Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation to run Windows code on Apple’s ARM-based devices. Normally, iPadOS doesn’t allow full virtualization from third-party apps, but JIT gives UTM just enough flexibility to boot Windows 11 without requiring a jailbreak.
Runs Pretty Decently (But Don’t Expect PC-Level Performance)
NTDev used a lightweight version of Windows 11 called Tiny11, which strips out unnecessary features and reduces system requirements. That helped improve performance, but don’t expect blazing speed. While the OS boots and works, it’s still far from replacing a proper PC setup. NTDev described the experience as running “quite decently,” and based on the demo video, that seems fair — it’s more of a proof of concept than a practical setup for daily use.
Still, it’s a pretty cool milestone, especially since iPadOS has traditionally been locked down. Windows 11 has been emulated on Android tablets before but seeing it on Apple hardware is new territory.
Want to Try It?
If you’re curious to try this out on your own iPad, Windows Latest has a guide on how to get started with AltStore, UTM, and the required settings. Just know that it’s a bit technical, and performance won’t match native apps.
But hey, Windows 11 on an iPad? That’s a fun flex.
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