format external ssd as Windows 11

I have a 2024 mac mini m4 with 512GB ssd running Sequoia. I also have an external 512GB ssd running Sequoia.

Can I reformat the external ssd with Microsoft windows 11 to run Office 2019 ?


Mac mini, macOS 15.7

Posted on Oct 19, 2025 2:15 AM

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Posted on Oct 19, 2025 3:55 AM

no,


you will need to use a virtual machine like parallels or vmware or virtualbox to run the arm version of windows 11 on an arm based mac computer

Options for using Windows 11 with Mac® computers with Apple® M1®, M2™, and M3™ chips - Microsoft Support


older macs had intel cpus so one could use bootcamp to run windows directly on the hardware, but with apple moving to arm cpus and microsoft not selling their arm windows 11 version to end users that put an end to bootcamp


you can also get ms office for mac computers, though I think ms pref people rent their office 365

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 19, 2025 3:55 AM in response to werner38

no,


you will need to use a virtual machine like parallels or vmware or virtualbox to run the arm version of windows 11 on an arm based mac computer

Options for using Windows 11 with Mac® computers with Apple® M1®, M2™, and M3™ chips - Microsoft Support


older macs had intel cpus so one could use bootcamp to run windows directly on the hardware, but with apple moving to arm cpus and microsoft not selling their arm windows 11 version to end users that put an end to bootcamp


you can also get ms office for mac computers, though I think ms pref people rent their office 365

Oct 19, 2025 8:07 AM in response to werner38

not, really no


the new cpu from apple used the ARM cpu architecture where the version of

windows microsoft sells rely on the intel/amd x86/x64 cpu architecture


the fact that you install it on an external hd does not make any change to the fact that the 0's and 1's in the binary sequense on the x86 windows on the external hd would be gibberish for the arm cpu in your mac


only way to make it work would be an x86 emulator for apple arm platform which could perform fast enough, maybe you can find an emulator which would run windows 95, would not run office 2019 of cause


if you want to know more


What apple say:

Apple: It's Really Up to Microsoft to Make Windows Work on M1-Based Macs | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

 

Oct 19, 2025 7:47 AM in response to Rudegar

Thank you for your feedback. It confirms what the Apple dealer said.

While browsing for an alternative, I came across a Google quote "Facebook - Apple Mac Mini 2024 M4 - M4 Pro" '7 months ago', saying "Can we install Windows 11 on external SSD and run it ..."

Yes format it in exfat format and make it bootable. Before booting press option key hen select the external HDD windows will pop up.

Do you think that this is worth trying?

Rgds, Werner38

format external ssd as Windows 11

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