UPDATE 2: A non-public (not on their main website) release of the arm64 Desktop version is now available on the daily-live folder: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jammy/daily-live/current/jammy-desktop-arm64.iso

Your mileage may vary, but it could perhaps work outright as this other user has indicated.


Some were confused, here's a complete screencast of the process outlined below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56n2q6-MXX8

  1. Download the ARM64 Server edition from: https://ubuntu.com/download/server/arm
  2. Install with the ISO when creating a new guest/vm in Parallels 17
  3. Update System sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade then sudo reboot
  4. Login and install: sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
  5. Reboot (sudo reboot)
  6. Parallels Tools Installation: two options
  • Use Menubar:

    1. Menubar → Actions → Install Parallels Tools
    2. Install via shell:
      cd /media/USERNAME/Parallels\ Tools
      sudo ./install
      sudo reboot
      
  • Use ISO: mount Parallels ARM64 tools ISO and install:

    • Note: initially I installed Parallels Tools before installing the graphical user interface, but if you install it after the installation of ubuntu-desktop or even kde-standard/full/whatever then copy paste, etc. functionality will also be installed.
    1. CD-ROM: "Connect image..."
    2. Navigate to /Applications/ and change to List view
    3. Expand Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/
    4. Select and Open prl-tools-lin-arm.iso
    5. Execute:
      sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/
      cd /media/
      sudo ./install
      # allow it to install appropriate tools
      sudo reboot
      
  1. Success:

DOCKER:

There was a question below about whether or not Docker can work with Ubuntu 22.04 on Apple Silicon. The answer is YES. The catch or hang up that people are hitting is when they try to use "Docker Desktop" on Ubuntu (instead of directly on macOS). This tries to run a nested virtualization scenario and Apple does not have this instruction set available on the M1 series of Apple Silicon devices. The key, however, is to just use Docker itself with something like a tutorial from here: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-use-docker-on-ubuntu-22-04

You'll then notice that after you successfully set it up and run docker run hello-world that it does work. Furthermore you can do install distributions like Alpine and run them:

$ docker pull alpine
$ docker run -it alpine
/ # ls
bin    dev    etc    home   lib    media  mnt    opt    proc   root   run    sbin   srv    sys    tmp    usr    var
/ # exit
$ docker image ls
REPOSITORY    TAG       IMAGE ID       CREATED       SIZE
alpine        latest    3fb3c9af89a9   5 weeks ago   5.32MB
hello-world   latest    46331d942d63   7 weeks ago   9.14kB
$ docker system prune -a --volumes
WARNING! This will remove:
  - all stopped containers
  - all networks not used by at least one container
  - all volumes not used by at least one container
  - all images without at least one container associated to them
  - all build cache

Are you sure you want to continue? [y/N] y
Deleted Containers:
e02dce4144eccb4828a3775ec96c97c5741c69120981bf323732796ff2e4855f
72beba41f97505fe14532b0f700e6c1477986c35c656bac7500591194725e1ef

Deleted Images:
untagged: hello-world:latest
untagged: hello-world@sha256:80f31da1ac7b312ba29d65080fddf797dd76acfb870e677f390d5acba9741b17
deleted: sha256:46331d942d6350436f64e614d75725f6de3bb5c63e266e236e04389820a234c4
deleted: sha256:efb53921da3394806160641b72a2cbd34ca1a9a8345ac670a85a04ad3d0e3507
untagged: alpine:latest
untagged: alpine@sha256:4edbd2beb5f78b1014028f4fbb99f3237d9561100b6881aabbf5acce2c4f9454
deleted: sha256:3fb3c9af89a9178a2ab12a1f30d8df607fa46a6f176acf9448328b22d31086a2
deleted: sha256:4f4ce317c6bbf55719e49973d32d33ba456d7cb08693a6d6fb372690eacee23b

Total reclaimed space: 5.331MB
Answer from ylluminate on askubuntu.com
Top answer
1 of 4
37

UPDATE 2: A non-public (not on their main website) release of the arm64 Desktop version is now available on the daily-live folder: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jammy/daily-live/current/jammy-desktop-arm64.iso

Your mileage may vary, but it could perhaps work outright as this other user has indicated.


Some were confused, here's a complete screencast of the process outlined below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56n2q6-MXX8

  1. Download the ARM64 Server edition from: https://ubuntu.com/download/server/arm
  2. Install with the ISO when creating a new guest/vm in Parallels 17
  3. Update System sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade then sudo reboot
  4. Login and install: sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
  5. Reboot (sudo reboot)
  6. Parallels Tools Installation: two options
  • Use Menubar:

    1. Menubar → Actions → Install Parallels Tools
    2. Install via shell:
      cd /media/USERNAME/Parallels\ Tools
      sudo ./install
      sudo reboot
      
  • Use ISO: mount Parallels ARM64 tools ISO and install:

    • Note: initially I installed Parallels Tools before installing the graphical user interface, but if you install it after the installation of ubuntu-desktop or even kde-standard/full/whatever then copy paste, etc. functionality will also be installed.
    1. CD-ROM: "Connect image..."
    2. Navigate to /Applications/ and change to List view
    3. Expand Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/
    4. Select and Open prl-tools-lin-arm.iso
    5. Execute:
      sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/
      cd /media/
      sudo ./install
      # allow it to install appropriate tools
      sudo reboot
      
  1. Success:

DOCKER:

There was a question below about whether or not Docker can work with Ubuntu 22.04 on Apple Silicon. The answer is YES. The catch or hang up that people are hitting is when they try to use "Docker Desktop" on Ubuntu (instead of directly on macOS). This tries to run a nested virtualization scenario and Apple does not have this instruction set available on the M1 series of Apple Silicon devices. The key, however, is to just use Docker itself with something like a tutorial from here: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-use-docker-on-ubuntu-22-04

You'll then notice that after you successfully set it up and run docker run hello-world that it does work. Furthermore you can do install distributions like Alpine and run them:

$ docker pull alpine
$ docker run -it alpine
/ # ls
bin    dev    etc    home   lib    media  mnt    opt    proc   root   run    sbin   srv    sys    tmp    usr    var
/ # exit
$ docker image ls
REPOSITORY    TAG       IMAGE ID       CREATED       SIZE
alpine        latest    3fb3c9af89a9   5 weeks ago   5.32MB
hello-world   latest    46331d942d63   7 weeks ago   9.14kB
$ docker system prune -a --volumes
WARNING! This will remove:
  - all stopped containers
  - all networks not used by at least one container
  - all volumes not used by at least one container
  - all images without at least one container associated to them
  - all build cache

Are you sure you want to continue? [y/N] y
Deleted Containers:
e02dce4144eccb4828a3775ec96c97c5741c69120981bf323732796ff2e4855f
72beba41f97505fe14532b0f700e6c1477986c35c656bac7500591194725e1ef

Deleted Images:
untagged: hello-world:latest
untagged: hello-world@sha256:80f31da1ac7b312ba29d65080fddf797dd76acfb870e677f390d5acba9741b17
deleted: sha256:46331d942d6350436f64e614d75725f6de3bb5c63e266e236e04389820a234c4
deleted: sha256:efb53921da3394806160641b72a2cbd34ca1a9a8345ac670a85a04ad3d0e3507
untagged: alpine:latest
untagged: alpine@sha256:4edbd2beb5f78b1014028f4fbb99f3237d9561100b6881aabbf5acce2c4f9454
deleted: sha256:3fb3c9af89a9178a2ab12a1f30d8df607fa46a6f176acf9448328b22d31086a2
deleted: sha256:4f4ce317c6bbf55719e49973d32d33ba456d7cb08693a6d6fb372690eacee23b

Total reclaimed space: 5.331MB
2 of 4
5
  1. Be on a M1 Mac - I'm using a Pro with 16gb RAM.
  2. Have Parallels Desktop installed - not from Mac app store in my case. I don't think the version downloaded from the Parallels site matters, I have the one above basic, but I think that just gets you more RAM.
  3. Download the Jammy Jellyfish Daily Build:
    • Direct: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jammy/daily-live/current/jammy-desktop-arm64.iso
    • Parent directory: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jammy/daily-live/current/
  4. Create new vm using the iso.
  5. I didn't go with the automatic install option from Parallels. Not sure if it works the other way. Installed, rebooted, boot sequence froze after it couldn't find cd/dvd. I think I hit enter and it worked, or I restarted it somehow.
  6. Performed the following that I saw from the another post on this page:
  • CD-ROM: "Connect image..."
  • Navigate to /Applications/ and change to List view
  • Expand Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/
  • Select and Open prl-tools-lin-arm.iso
  • Execute: sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/ cd /media/ sudo ./install
  • allow it to install appropriate tools sudo reboot
  1. Worked for me!
  2. Now where are all the arm apps? Hopefully, they get ported over time.
  3. Side note, I tried really hard to get this working for Fedora 36, but couldn't get Parallels Tools to work.
  4. Bonus note, the speed of the system is much much faster using a M1 Mac vs 2020 mac mini with 32gb of RAM on x86 architecture. I figured they would be similar, but I was wrong. M1 is crushing it. Best of luck!
🌐
Ubuntu
ubuntu.com › download › server › arm
Ubuntu for ARM | Download | Ubuntu
Download Ubuntu Server for ARM with support for the very latest ARM-based server systems powered by certified 64-bit processors.
Discussions

Ubuntu Desktop on ARM64: History, Benefits, and What’s Next
By Jean-Baptiste Lallement and Tobias Heider Introduction ARM64, the 64-bit architecture behind the chips in our smartphones, smart home devices or newer laptops, is rapidly reshaping the computing world. With tech giants like Apple switching to ARM-based silicon and Qualcomm rolling out laptop ... More on discourse.ubuntu.com
🌐 discourse.ubuntu.com
0
18
March 24, 2025
Ubuntu on ARM (M1 Mac)
Are you using the regular ARM version or the Asahi version? For Apple Silicon there is Asahi Linux. While the Fedora Asahi Remix is pretty stable and has been used by Linus Torvalds himself, I don't know much about the status of Ubuntu Asahi aside from that it exists, but this looks quite good and is probably a far better option than a usual arm build: https://ubuntuasahi.org/ More info: https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2023/10/ubuntu-ashai-for-apple-silicon/ More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Ubuntu
6
0
July 25, 2024
No Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO for Arm64 (Desktop)?
Those ISOs are for specific devices. What device are you after? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Ubuntu
43
18
June 8, 2024
I’m trying to run the latest version if ubuntu through virtual box on my M1 Air, but this message pop up every time after I power the VM up, anyone know what could the problem be?
Log: 00:00:04.446553 HM: HMR3Init: Falling back on IEM 00:00:04.446590 CPUM: No hardware-virtualization capability detected 00:00:04.446596 CPUM: fXStateHostMask=0x0; initial: 0x0; host XCR0=0x0 00:00:04.447626 CPUM: Using CPU DB entry 'Intel Core i7-6700K' (INTEL 0x6/0x5e/0x3 Intel_Core7_Skylake) You're most likely using the x86 version of Ubuntu instead of the arm64. You can't run x86 on arm64. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/mac
20
1
April 13, 2023
🌐
Ubuntu Community Hub
discourse.ubuntu.com › project discussion › desktop
Ubuntu Desktop on ARM64: History, Benefits, and What’s Next - Desktop - Ubuntu Community Hub
March 24, 2025 - By Jean-Baptiste Lallement and Tobias Heider Introduction ARM64, the 64-bit architecture behind the chips in our smartphones, smart home devices or newer laptops, is rapidly reshaping the computing world. With tech giants like Apple switching to ARM-based silicon and Qualcomm rolling out laptop chips, it’s clear why ARM64 matters: it delivers a massive boost in performance, astonishing battery life and efficiency, as well as strong security features (like pointer authentication and memory tagg...
🌐
UTM
mac.getutm.app › gallery › ubuntu-20-04
Ubuntu 22.04 | UTM
April 14, 2025 - Architecture: ARM64 · Memory: 4 GiB · Disk: 64 GiB · Display: GPU Accelerated · SPICE tools: Installed · Username: ubuntu · Password: ubuntu ·
🌐
Cornell Computer Science
cs.cornell.edu › courses › cs2043 › 2021sp › styled › styled-5
Macintosh M1 Installation | CS2043 -- Spring 2021
Begin by going to the following URL to download a Ubuntu distribution for ARM: https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/focal/daily-live/current/ You'll see the following image: Click on the "64-bit ARM (ARMv8/AArch64) desktop image" link.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Vizeit
vizeit.com › home › ubuntu 22.04 on mac m1
Ubuntu 22.04 on Mac M1 - Vizeit
September 26, 2022 - Mac M1 is ARM based system. So, go to the link https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jammy/daily-live/current/ and download jammy-desktop-arm64.iso
🌐
Xanzhu
xanzhu.com › home › blog › ubuntu 26.04 lts on apple silicon with utm
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on Apple Silicon with UTM - Xanzhu
April 25, 2026 - ISO: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Desktop (ARM64). Hardware: Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5).
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @paulrobu › how-to-run-ubuntu-22-04-vms-on-apple-m1-arm-based-systems-for-free-c8283fb38309
How to run Ubuntu 22.04 VMs on Apple M1 ARM-based systems for free | by Paul Robu | Medium
March 27, 2023 - Use the IP address to connect using applications like “Microsoft Remote Desktop”, that can be downloaded from App Store for free and you will be greeted with the Ubuntu 22.04 welcome page. ... As pointed out in a recent comment (thanks @Sashanavai), another option is to use UTM. Follow the steps at https://docs.getutm.app/guides/ubuntu/ Under the hood of UTM is QEMU, hence in addition to ARM64 architecture it can also emulate (lower performance) x86_64 operating systems: https://mac.getutm.app/gallery/
🌐
LinuxVox
linuxvox.com › blog › ubuntu-arm64-desktop
Unveiling the Ubuntu ARM64 Desktop: A Comprehensive Guide — linuxvox.com
ARM64 Hardware: You need a device with an ARM64 processor, such as a Raspberry Pi 4 or other compatible single-board computers. For devices like the NVIDIA Jetson Nano, you will need to use NVIDIA's custom Ubuntu images (available through JetPack) ...
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/ubuntu › finally, we have ubuntu arm for desktop image!
r/Ubuntu on Reddit: Finally, we have Ubuntu ARM for desktop image!
October 28, 2024 - I tried all of them; Fedora is the flagship, so everything works out of the box. Debian needs more manual settings. Ubuntu also works seamlessly so far for me. But now only m1 and m2 are supported. Now you can even play x86 Steam games on Linux thanks to new FEX and muvm emulations on ARM64, similar to Rosetta on macOS!
🌐
Ask Ubuntu
askubuntu.com › questions › 1538084 › is-there-an-arm-version-of-ubuntu-desktop-latest-version
arm64 - Is there an ARM version of Ubuntu Desktop (latest version)? - Ask Ubuntu
January 14, 2025 - The latest or current release right now is Ubuntu 24.10 or the 2024-October release. ... Find the answer to your question by asking. Ask question ... See similar questions with these tags. ... Code isn’t the only thing causing your production... Paging Charity! How can engineering leaders avoid becoming Bond... ... 0 Why are Chromium and Firefox arm64/armhf latest versions only available in Ubuntu 18.04 bionic-updates repository?
🌐
DEV Community
dev.to › andrewbaisden › how-to-install-ubuntu-linux-on-apple-silicon-macbooks-1nia
How to Install Ubuntu Linux on Apple Silicon MacBooks - DEV Community
December 30, 2022 - There are 3 good virtualisation tools available on Macs and we will be using two of them to install Ubuntu Linux. The list of 3 is: UTM (FREE) Parallels Desktop for Mac (Paid but has a FREE trial) VirtualBox (FREE) We won't be using VirtualBox because as of writing it does not have good support for Apple Silicon MacBooks although it should work if you have an older Intel model. UTM is a virtualisation tool for ARM64 operating systems to operate on Apple Silicon at close to native speeds, UTM uses Apple's Hypervisor virtualization technology.
🌐
Medium
techblog.shippio.io › how-to-run-an-ubuntu-22-04-vm-on-m1-m2-apple-silicon-9554adf4fda1
How to run an Ubuntu 22.04 VM on M1/M2 Apple Silicon | by Anditto Heristyo | Shippio
April 6, 2023 - How to run an Ubuntu 22.04 VM on M1/M2 Apple Silicon I have enjoyed my Mac upgrade to the Apple Silicons since the M1 chip, and now to the newer M2. Well, mainly for the keyboard upgrades really, but …
🌐
Ubuntu
ubuntu.fan › en › docs › ref › hardware › arm64
ARM64 Devices - Ubuntu.Fan
April 23, 2026 - # Confirm the SD card device name lsblk # Write the image (replace sdX with the actual device name) sudo dd if=ubuntu-26.04-preinstalled-desktop-arm64+raspi.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress sync · The boot configuration is located on the system-boot partition of the SD card: # Common settings in config.txt sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt · Common configuration options: # Enable USB boot program_usb_boot_mode=1 # GPU memory allocation (MB) gpu_mem=256 # Overclocking (Pi 5) arm_freq=2800 over_voltage=4 · Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4): Run via the Asahi Linux project or UTM virtual machine ·
🌐
Ubuntu
ubuntu.com › desktop › docs › en › latest › tutorial › try-ubuntu-desktop
Try Ubuntu Desktop - Ubuntu Desktop documentation
May 25, 2026 - For example, Ubuntu Asahi 25.10 only runs on systems with M1 and M2 CPUs. You can also install Ubuntu in a virtual machine on top of your current system using Multipass. For guidance on installing Ubuntu on platforms based on architectures other ...