Boot Camp is dead on Apple Silicon — use Parallels or CrossOver.

No, the new MacBook Airs can’t run Windows via Boot Camp, but there are workable alternatives.

Intel MacBooks (pre-2020) could dual-boot Windows through Boot Camp because the processor was the same x86 architecture. Apple Silicon Macs use ARM chips, and Windows for ARM exists, but it’s a different beast. Microsoft doesn’t sell it retail — only to OEMs — and Apple never enabled Boot Camp for ARM.

Parallels Desktop is the most practical option. It runs Windows 11 for ARM in a virtual machine. Performance is solid, but battery life takes a hit and some x86 apps run poorly (or not at all) through emulation. CrossOver is cheaper and better for gaming — it translates Windows API calls without needing a Windows license. For specific software you must run, CrossOver’s free trial will tell you if it works.

If you absolutely need full native Windows, buy a used Intel Mac or a cheap PC. The virtual machine route works for most people, but it’s not the same as booting into Windows directly.

I wouldn’t try to run Windows on Apple Silicon for anything heavy like CAD or AAA gaming. Stick with macOS or buy a separate Windows machine.