Parallels Desktop

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Virtual machine

Developer(s)	Parallels
Initial release	June 15, 2006; 16 years ago (2006-06-15)
Stable release	18.0.2 / September 19, 2022; 16 days ago (2022-09-19)[1]
Operating system	macOS
Platform
Available in	English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Polish, Czech
Type	Hypervisor
License	Proprietary
Website	www.parallels.com/products/desktop/

Parallels Desktop for Mac is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors, and since version 16.5 also for Apple silicon-based Macintosh computers. It is developed by Parallels, since 2018 a subsidiary of Corel.

Overview[edit]

Parallels, Inc. is a developer of desktop and server virtualization software.

History[edit]

Released on June 15, 2006, it was the first software product to bring mainstream virtualization to Macintosh computers utilizing the Apple–Intel architecture (earlier software products ran PC software in an emulated environment).

Its name initially was 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X', which was consistent with the company's corresponding Linux and Windows products. This name was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we've got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product...”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.^[2]

On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.^[3]

Technical[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a hardware emulation virtualization software, using hypervisor technology that works by mapping the host computer's hardware resources directly to the virtual machine's resources. Each virtual machine thus operates identically to a standalone computer, with virtually all the resources of a physical computer.^[4] Because all guest virtual machines use the same hardware drivers irrespective of the actual hardware on the host computer, virtual machine instances are highly portable between computers. For example, a running virtual machine can be stopped, copied to another physical computer, and restarted.

Parallels Desktop for Mac is able to virtualize a full set of standard PC hardware, including^[5]

• A virtualized CPU of the same type as the host's physical processor,
• ACPI compliance system,
• A generic motherboard compatible with the Intel i965 chipset,
• Up to 64 GB of RAM for guest virtual machines,
• Up to 2 GB of video RAM (VRAM),
• VGA and SVGAvideo adapter with VESA 3.0 support and OpenGL and DirectX 10.1 acceleration,
• A 1.44 MB floppy drive, which can be mapped to a physical drive or to an image file,
• Up to four IDE devices. This includes virtual hard drives ranging in size from 20 MB to 2 TB each and CD/DVD-ROM drives. Virtual CD/DVD-ROM drives can be mapped to either physical drives or ISO image files.
• DVD/CD-ROM “pass-through” access,
• Up to four serial ports that can be mapped to a pipe or to an output file,
• Up to three bi-directional parallel ports, each of which can be mapped to a real port, to a real printer, or to an output file,
• An Ethernet virtual network card compatible with Realtek RTL8029(AS), capable of up to 16 network interface connections,
• Up to eight USB 2.0 devices and two USB 1.1 devices,
• An AC'97-compatible sound card.
• A 104-key Windows enhanced keyboard and a PS/2 wheel mouse.

Version history[edit]

Version 2.5[edit]

The first official release of version 2.5 was on February 27, 2007, as build 3186.

Version 2.5 brought support for USB 2.0 devices, which expanded the number of USB devices supported at native speed, including support for built-in iSight USB webcams. The amount of video RAM allocated to the guest OS was made adjustable, up to 32MB. Full featured CD/DVD drives arrived in this version, which allowed the user to burn disks directly in the virtual environment, and play any copy-protected CD or DVD as one would in Mac OS X. In addition, a shared clipboard and drag-drop support between Mac OS X and the guest OS was implemented. This version brought the ability for users with a Windows XP installation to upgrade to Windows Vista from within the VM environment.^[6] A new feature known as Coherence was added, which removed the Windows chrome, desktop, and the virtualization frames to create a more seamless desktop environment between Windows and Mac OS X applications. This version also allowed users to boot their existing Boot Camp Windows XP partitions, which eliminated the need to have multiple Windows installations on their Mac. A tool called Parallels Transporter was included to allow users to migrate their Windows PC, or existing VMware or Virtual PC VMs to Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Netsys lawsuit[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2015)

In 2007, the German company Netsys GmbH sued Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for copyright violation, claiming that Parallels Desktop and Parallels Workstation are directly based on a line of products called “twoOStwo” that Parallels developed on paid commission for Netsys, of which it says, Netsys has been assigned all copyrights. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Parallels Desktop 2.5's compatibility with “twoOStwo” showed that the two software products are run by essentially the same functional core.^[7] When Netsys lost its initial urgency proceeding, it filed a new suit, in which it requested a temporary injunction from the Landgericht district court of Berlin.^[8]

Version 3.0[edit]

On June 7, 2007 build 4124 was released as the first publicly available version of Desktop 3.0.

Version 3.0 retained all of the functionality from previous versions and added new features and tools. Support for DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL^[9] was added, allowing Mac users to play some Windows games without the need to boot into Windows with Boot Camp.^[10] A new feature called SmartSelect offers cross OS file and application integration by allowing the user to open Windows files with Mac OS X programs and vice versa. Parallels Explorer was introduced, which allows the user to browse their Windows system files in Mac OS X without actually launching Windows. A new snapshot feature was included, allowing one to restore their virtual machine environment to a previous state in case of issues. Further, Parallels added a security manager to limit the amount of interaction between the Windows and Mac OS X installations. This version included a long-awaited complete “Parallels tools'” driver suite for Linux guest operating systems. Therefore, integration between Mac OS X and Linux guest-OS's was greatly improved.^[11]

Despite the addition of numerous new features, tools and added functionality, the first iteration of Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 was missing some of the features that Parallels had planned for it. A Parallels, Inc. representative stated at MacWorld in January 2007 that version 3.0 would bring accelerated graphics, “multi-core virtual machines/virtual SMP, some SCSI support, a more Mac-like feel, as well as a more sophisticated coherence mode, dubbed Coherence 2.0”.^[12] While accelerated graphics have materialised, Coherence, as well as the overall look and feel of Parallels Desktop for Mac has only changed slightly. Also, SCSI support has not been implemented.^[13]

It is currently unknown if these features have been abandoned altogether, or if they will show up in a later build of version 3.0.

Build 4560, released on July 17, 2007,^[14] added an imaging tool which allowed users to add capacity to their virtual disks.

Feature update[edit]

Parallels Coherence in Exposé

Build 5160, released on September 11, 2007,^[15] added some new features and updated some current features.

The release focused on updates to Coherence, with support for Exposé, window shadows, transparent windows, and the ability to overlap several Windows and Mac windows. Further, Parallels' Image Tool was updated to allow one to change their virtual hard disk format between plain and expanding. Parallels Explorer was updated to allow for one to automatically mount an offline VM hard drive to the Mac desktop. Some new features added are iPhone support in Windows, allowing iTunes in Windows to sync with it.^[16] Users can now mirror desktops or other folders. Further, Mac drives can now be mapped by Windows and sound devices can now be changed ‘on the fly’. Up to 2 GB of RAM can be allocated to a virtual machine, with a total of 4 GB of RAM available.^[17]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Build 5608 added support for guest Parallels Tools for Linux in the latest Linux distributions (including Ubuntu 8). It also added support for running 3D graphics in Windows virtual machines on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.3.

Use of code from the Wine project[edit]

According to Parallels' Licensing page, Desktop for Mac version 3.0 contains Direct3D code that was originally developed by the Wineopen-source project.^[18] Wine software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which required Parallels to release the source code. Parallels released the modified source code on July 2, 2007, about 2 weeks after the promised release date.^[19] A Parallels spokesman explained the reasons for the delay in a message on the official company blog.^[20]

Version 4.0[edit]

Version 4.0, released November 11, 2008,^[21] updates its GUI, adds some new features, enhances its performance by up to 50%^[22] and consumes 15–30% less power than previous versions.^[23] Version 4.0 is the first version that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac's 3D support includes DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0^[24] as well as 256 MB video memory. It also adds support for 8 GB RAM in a virtual machine and 8-way SMP. Parallels Desktop 4.0 introduces an adaptive hypervisor, which allows users to focus the host computer's resources towards either host or the guest operating system.^[25]

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac adds some new features such as:

• A fourth viewing mode called Modality,^[21] which allows users to scale the size of an active guest operating system on the Mac's desktop
• A new screenshot utility called Clips, which lets users take and share screenshots between the host and the guest operating systems.
• Start Menu integration and Automatic Windows Notifications on the Apple Menu Bar.
• The ability to use select voice commands^[26] to remotely control the virtual machine.
• The ability to start and stop a virtual machine via the iPhone. (Requires installing an iPhone application from Apple's AppStore.)

Starting with the Version 4.0 release, Parallels Desktop for Mac has a new logo, which resembles an aluminum iMac, with what appears to be Windows XP on the screen and 2 parallel red lines overlaid on the right side.

Feature update[edit]

Build 3810, released January 9, 2009,^[27] includes performance enhancements and features, such as DirectX 9.0 Shaders Model 2 and Vertex Shader support for additional 3D support Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE4) for better media applications performance. Build 3810 also adds support for running Windows 7 in a VM and for running Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server as either a host or as a guest OS.^[28]

Also included are usability features such as the ability to share Windows files by dragging them directly to a Mac application in the Mac Dock. Windows can now also automatically start in the background when a user opens a Windows application on the Mac desktop. Version 4.0 drew criticism for problems upgrading from Version 3.0 shortly after its initial release.^[29] Build 3810 also addresses installation and upgrade issues previously experienced with Version 4.0 and introduces the option to enroll in the company's new Customer Experience Program, which lets customers provide information about their preferences and user priorities.

Version 5[edit]

Officially released on November 4, 2009, Parallels Desktop 5 adds several new features, mainly to improve integration with the host OS.

New features include:

• 3D graphics and speed improvements
• Optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
• Support for Windows 7
• Theming of Windows applications to make them look like native applications
• Support for Multi-Touch gestures (from a trackpad or Magic Mouse) and the Apple Remote
• The ability to drag and drop formatted text and images between Windows, Linux, and Mac applications,
• The ability for a system administrator to lock down a virtual machine so that users can't change the state of the virtual machine,
• Support for OpenGL 2.1 for Linux guest virtual machines.
• Support for DirectX 9c with Shader Model 3.

Feature update[edit]

Build 9308, released on December 21, 2009, added some new features.^[30]

Linux guest operating systems[edit]

• Parallels Tools support Xorg 1.7 in Fedora 12 virtual machines (experimental)
• Parallels Tools support Mandriva 2010 (experimental)
• OpenSUSE 11.1 installation media auto detection

Virtualization[edit]

• Improved performance for USB mass storage.

Windows guest operating systems[edit]

• Improved resume from suspend in virtual machines with multiple monitors assigned.
• Improved performance for file access via Shared Folders.

3D and video[edit]

• Improved performance for video playback in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• Windows Aero is not available by default for machines with Intel GMA X3100 and GMA 950 graphic adapters (some MacBook and Mac Mini models). It is available on MacBooks with NVIDIA 9400M graphics cards.^[31]
• Vertical synchronization is now configurable. You can configure these settings using the corresponding option in the virtual machine video configuration page.
• Improved 3D performance for the video game Mirror's Edge.

macOS Server guest operating system[edit]

• The ability to pass kernel options to the macOS Server guest OS has been added. To do so, enable the "Select boot device on startup" option in the virtual machine configuration, which will enable you to specify the necessary kernel options in the 5-second timeout before booting the kernel.

Version 6[edit]

Officially announced on September 9, 2010 and launched on September 14, 2010, Parallel 6 has full 64-bit support for the first time. Parallels claims that Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac "[has] over 80 new and improved features, including speed 40% above the previous version." Specific new features include:

• An all-new 64-bit engine
• 5.1 Surround Sound support
• Better import implementation of VMware, Virtual PC virtual machines and Boot Camp partitions
• Improved network, hard drive and Transporter performance
• Windows program Spotlight integration
• Faster Windows launch time
• Enhanced 3D graphics that are 40% better than previous versions
• Ability to extend Mac OS X Parental Controls to Windows applications
• Ability to use Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts in Windows applications
• Enhanced Spaces and Exposé support

Version 7[edit]

Officially announced on September 1, 2011 and released on September 6, 2011, Parallels Desktop 7 adds many new features. These include:

• Integration with OS X 10.7.4 "Lion":
  • Full-screen support
  • Use of Launchpad for Windows apps
  • Mission Control support
  • Lion as a guest OS
  • Lion animations support
• Improved user interface
• New standard help and documentation
• Shared devices with Mac OS X
• Longer battery life
• Mac OS X parental controls support
• Support for Intel AES-NI encryption
• Enhanced performance and 3D graphics
• Support for up to 1GB video memory in virtual machine
• Enhanced audio support - up to 192 kHz
• Surround sound 7.1
• Added support for Windows 7

Version 8[edit]

Officially announced August 22, 2012 and released September 4, 2012, Parallels Desktop 8 adds many new features:

• OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" as a guest OS
• Retina resolution can be passed to virtual machines
• Windows 7 and Windows 8 automatically optimised for best experience on Retina
• Parallels Desktop notifications
• Notification Center support for Windows 8 toast notifications
• Mountain Lion Dictation in Windows apps
• Full screen on demand for Windows applications in Coherence
• Presentation Wizard
• Open in Internet Explorer button for Safari
• Drag & drop file to Outlook in the Dock opens new email with attachment
• Multi-language Keyboard Sync in Mac and Windows
• Full support for new Modern UI Windows 8 applications (Dock, Mission Control, Launchpad)
• Reworked Keyboard shortcuts preferences
• Use the standard OS X system preferences to set Parallels Desktop application shortcuts.
• Resources (CPU/RAM) monitoring
• Indication for VM hard drive space usage
• Shared Bluetooth
• Improved Virtual Machine boot time/Windows boots time are up to 25% faster than previous version
• Pause & resume Windows up to 25% faster than previous version
• Input/output (I/O) operations are up to 35% faster than previous version
• Games run up to 30% faster than previous version
• DirectX 10 support
• Full USB 3.0 support for faster connections to peripheral devices for Virtual Machines starting from Parallels Desktop 8.0.18305^[32]

Version 9[edit]

Officially announced on August 29, 2013 and released on September 5, 2013, Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac includes these new features and enhancements:

• Brings back the "real" Start menu for Windows 8 and enables Modern apps in separate windows instead of full screen
• Power Nap support, so applications stay up-to-date on Retina Display Mac and MacBook Air computers
• Thunderbolt and Firewire storage devices are designated to connect to Windows virtual machine
• Sticky Multi-monitor setup remembers settings and puts Windows virtual machines back into Full Screen mode on the remote monitor
• Sync iCloud, SkyDrive, Dropbox and more without unnecessary duplication of files
• Windows apps can launch the OS X Mountain Lion Dictionary with Dictionary gesture
• Enhanced integration with MacOS for Linux users
• Enhanced New Virtual Machine Wizard makes it easier to set up a new virtual machine, especially on computers without hard drives
• PDF printer for Windows to print from any Windows application to a PDF on the Mac desktop, even if the application doesn't have that functionality
• Compatibility with OS X 10.9 "Mavericks"
• Easily install and access complimentary security software subscriptions from one location
• Up to 40% better disk performance than previous versions
• Virtual machines shut down up to 25% faster and suspend up to 20% faster than with Parallels Desktop 8
• 3D graphics and web browsing are 15% faster than in Parallels Desktop 8

Enterprise version:

• Set an expiration date for the virtual machine.
• Run virtual machines in headless mode.
• Start virtual machines on Mac boot.

Version 9 is the last version to support Snow Leopard.

Version 10[edit]

Released August 20, 2014, Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac includes support for OS X 10.10 "Yosemite", and ends support for Snow Leopard.^[33]

Less than a year after release of its release, Parallels spokesperson John Uppendahl confirmed version 10 will not be fully compatible with Windows 10. The coherence mode, which integrates the Windows user interface with OS X, will not be updated and users will need to purchase and upgrade to version 11 to continue using this feature.^[34]

Version 11[edit]

Released August 19, 2015, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac includes support for Windows 10 and is ready for OS X 10.11 "El Capitan".^[35]

Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is available as a one-time purchase of $79.99 for the Desktop edition, and as an annual subscription of $99.99 for Pro edition.^[36] Version 11 has multiple issues with macOS 10.13, High Sierra. The website currently offers a full price upgrade to Version 13 as a correction, effectively making this version obsolete with the macOS upgrades.^[37]

Version 12[edit]

Released August 18, 2016.^[38]

Version 13[edit]

Released August 22, 2017,^[39] Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac provides macOS High Sierra readiness and support for upcoming Windows 10 features. According to Parallels, the new version makes it simple for MacBook Pro users to add Windows applications to the Touch Bar, and to use the Touch Bar within Windows applications. It is also the first solution to bring the upcoming Windows 10 People Bar feature to the Mac, including integration with the Mac Dock and Spotlight. The new version also features up to 100 percent performance improvements for completing certain tasks. The update also brings in a slightly refreshed UI to better match macOS and visual improvements for Windows users on Retina displays.^[40]

Version 14[edit]

Released August 21, 2018, Parallels Desktop 14 supports macOS 10.14 "Mojave".^[41]

Version 15[edit]

Released August 13, 2019.

Version 16[edit]

Released August 11, 2020.,^[42] Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Is ready for the new macOS Big Sur architecture
• In Windows and Linux VMs, DirectX 11 is 20 percent faster and there are improvements for the OpenGL 3 graphics
• The battery life when users activate “Travel Mode” in Windows is up to 10 percent longer
• In Windows apps users can now use zoom and rotate with Trackpad in Windows apps
• More printing options: Print on both sides and paper sizes from A0 to envelope.

New features are added to Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition:

• Easier export a virtual machine in a compressed format and prepare it for transfer to another Mac or an SSD
• Give custom networks an individual name

^[43]

On April 14, 2021, Parallels updated the software to version 16.5, notably adding support for Apple silicon-based Macs. On such Macs, only ARM-compatible OSes can be run in VMs; Parallels does not emulate the x86 architecture.^[44] Supported guest OSes include Windows Insider builds of Windows 10 (as no retail ARM versions of Windows 10 nor installation disk images for such versions are publicly available), as well as ARM builds of various Linux distributions.

Version 17[edit]

Released August 10, 2021, Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Optimized for Apple M1 chip.
• Added support for USB 3.1 devices.
• Added multi-monitor support for Linux.
• Added drag-and-drop support for text or graphics between Mac and Windows applications.
• Version 17.1, released October 14, 2021, is fully compatible with macOS Monterey and adds support for Windows 11 as a guest OS.^[45]

Version 18[edit]

Released August 9, 2022, Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Brings full support for the ProMotion displays in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
• Easier Windows 11 setup.
• Enhanced Windows game-play experience on a Mac.

Supported operating systems[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business, Home and Pro Editions requires these versions of MacOS:^[46]

Parallels Desktop 11 and 12 only partially support macOS High Sierra:

^A Coherence Mode windows may appear under MacOS windows, and some graphics artifacts may occur.

^B Neither Parallels Desktop 11 nor 12 fully support Apple File System (APFS) disks, including virtual disks and Boot Camp partitions. Therefore, a High Sierra guest machine must be installed 'manually' by passing the "--converttoapfs NO" command line switch, and cannot use the automated Parallels virtual machine creation process.

^C Versions are partially compatible with the corresponding macOS versions and may not work correctly.

Guest[edit]

Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac includes support for a variety of different guest operating systems:^[47]

• Several versions of Windows: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 (SP0-SP1), Windows Server 2008 R2 (SP0-SP2), Windows Vista Home, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise (SP0-SP2), Windows Server 2003 R2 (SP0-SP2), Windows XP (SP0-SP3), Windows 2000 Professional SP4, Windows 2000 Server SP4
• Linux distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8, 7 and 6, CentOS Linux 8, 7 and 6, Fedora Linux 32, 31, 30 and 29, Ubuntu 20.04, 19.10, 19.04, 18.04 LTS and 16.04 LTS, Debian GNU/Linux 10, 9 and 8, Suse Linux Enterprise 15, OpenSUSE Linux 15.2, 15.1 and 15, Linux Mint 20, 19 and 18, Kali 2020.2, 2019 and 2018, elementary OS 5.0, Manjaro 18, Mageia 7 and 6 and more
• Android (only when users download the version with the Installation Assistant with Parallels Desktop)
• It is also possible to install macOS versions in a VM: macOS Big Sur 11, macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12, OS X El Capitan 10.11, OS X Yosemite 10.10, OS X Mavericks 10.9, OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, OS X Lion 10.7, OS X Lion Server 10.7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6, Mac OS X Leopard Server 10.5

In Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, support for guest operating systems includes a variety of 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including:^[46]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

as of July 12, 2021, the info on this page is seriously out of date and incomplete. Here's what you need to know. The latest release is 16.5. It runs on both Intel and M1 Macs. It is ONE product, shipped as an Universal app; you don't have to worry about ordering the Intel or M1 version of Parallels separately. On Intel Macs it runs basically unchanged as it has for the past few years. you can install Intel versions of Windows, macOS and Linux. On M1 Macs, you can ONLY install ARM-based operating systems. This includes Windows ARM (which you have to get from Microsoft by signing up with the Windows Insider program. ) There are various ARM based flavors of Linux. At this time, Parallels does NOT support installing a guest version of Big Sur on M1 Macs. So if you have an M1 Mac and wanted to run macOS guest virtual machines, not possible at this time; stick with an Intel Mac. As for Windows on M1, it is not the Windows Intel version everyone is familiar with, it is Windows ARM. It will run ARM based versions of Windows software fine; it can also run Intel Windows apps, but does so in emulation mode. In other words, if you are trying to run an old Windows Intel app, you would be running this in emulation, on Windows ARM, which is running virtualized under Big Sur, on a M1 Mac. The reviews I have read all say that amazingly, because the M1 is so fast and efficient, running Windows Intel apps under Windows ARM emulation, then virtualized, is not that bad, no worse than say running it on a ARM based Surface Pro. My personal opinion (I've been using Parallels, VMWare Fusion since the early 2000's.). If running a Windows app is mission critical for your business, go buy a used, refurbished Intel PC for under $500. And in many cases, if you're a business, you already have old Windows boxes lying around. I have Windows 10 running on 10 year old laptop with 4 GB of RAM just fine, just be sure to replace the old hard drive with an SSD. Then log into the PC remotely from your Mac using any of a dozen Mac based Remote Desktop apps. Microsoft can provide arm based versions of their Windows apps if they want, but IMO, running Microsoft apps is not the main reason Mac users want/need to run Windows ...it's that 10 year old accounting program, or custom built app that your company runs on that needs to be supported. Most current, popular business software (like Office, Adobe, Quickbooks) already comes in Mac and Windows versions which are basically feature identical. No, that's not the problem, it's the old software that's discontinued, no longer supported or upgraded, running on Windows 7 or XP that so many businesses still use. Until Microsoft makes clear what the road map for Windows ARM is, AND until Qualcomm can actually make an ARM chip that can compete with Apple Silicon, I would avoid investing any more $$ into Parallels. The licensing is an all together separate issue; for now you can get Windows ARM for free by signing up as an Insider. If Microsoft and Qualcomm get serious about ARM, you can bet eventually Windows ARM will no longer be free, so when you start adding up Total Cost of Ownership, using an old PC box and spare Windows license you have already lying around, looks very attractive. The fact that Parallels has even come this far supporting Windows ARM is impressive technical, no doubt, but the company had no choice; once Apple discontinues Intel versions of macOS (probably the os that comes after Monterey will be the last Intel release), Parallels would be out of business unless they came up with an answer to Apple Silicon. the question is whether the demand to run Windows and Linux ARM based, on Apple Silicon is strong enough to maintain the business once Intel Macs disappear? VMWare, the company, is in a different position, its business model isn't dependent on selling Fusion, in fact Fusion at best breaks even or makes a modest profit. Parallels is desperate and should be; if there is no sustainable business model for ARM based virtualization of Windows and Linux, the company is done once Apple macOS stops supporting Intel Macs.

What does Parallels Desktop do?

It’s an app that allows you to run Windows apps on your Mac. It does this by allowing you to install Windows on a virtual machine — a computer emulated in software. Your virtual computer is assigned a portion of the RAM, processor and disk space of your real computer, so it will be slower and have fewer resources.

Other operating systems will also run on Parallels Desktop, including Linux, Android, and macOS — even older versions of macOS and OS X (El Capitan or earlier).

Is Parallels Desktop Safe?

Yes, it is. I ran and installed the app on my iMac and scanned it for viruses. Parallels Desktop doesn’t contain any viruses or malicious processes.

Be aware that when you install Windows in Parallels, you become vulnerable to Windows viruses (on the virtual machine and the files it can access), so make sure you protect yourself. A trial version of Kaspersky Internet Security is included, or install your security software of choice.

During my use of the app, my mouse froze once when switching between Windows and Mac. This required a reboot to fix. Your mileage may vary.

Is Parallels Desktop Free?

No, it isn’t freeware though a full-featured 14-day trial is available. There are three versions of the app to consider. You’ll also have to pay for Microsoft Windows and your Windows applications if you don’t already own them.

• Parallels Desktop for Mac ($79.99 for students): Designed for home or student use.
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for developers and power users who need the best performance.
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for IT departments, it includes centralized administration and volume licensing.

What’s New in Parallels Desktop 17?

Parallels has added a number of new features to version 17. According to the release notes from Parallels, those include optimized performance for macOS Monterey, Intel, and Apple M1 chip, better graphics, and faster Windows resume time.

How to Install Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Here is an overview of the full process of getting the app up and running:

1. Download and install Parallels Desktop for Mac.
2. You’ll be asked to choose an operating system for your new virtual machine. To install Windows, you have three choices: purchase it online, install it from a US stick, or transfer it from a PC. Enter the Windows product key when prompted.
3. Windows will be installed along with some Parallels tools. This will take some time.
4. Your new Windows desktop will be displayed. Install any Windows application software you need.

Why Trust Me for This Parallels Desktop Review?

My name is Adrian Try. After using Microsoft Windows for over a decade, I made a deliberate move away from the operating system in 2003. I enjoyed the change, but still needed certain Windows apps on a regular basis. So I found myself using a combination of dual boot, virtualization (using VMware and VirtualBox) and Wine. See the Alternatives section of this Parallels Desktop review.

I hadn’t tried Parallels before. I was provided a review license and installed an earlier version on my iMac. For the last week, I’ve been putting it through its paces, installing Windows 10 (purchased just for this review) and several other operating systems, and trying just about every feature in the program.

The new version was released, so I immediately upgraded. This review reflects my use of both versions. In this Parallels Desktop review, I’ll share what I like and dislike about Parallels Desktop. The content in the quick summary box above serves as a short version of my findings and conclusions.

Read on for the details!

Parallels Desktop Review: What’s In It for You?

Since Parallels Desktop is all about running Windows apps (and more) on your Mac, I’m going to list all its features by putting them into the following five sections. In each subsection, I’ll first explore what the app offers and then share my personal take.

1. Turn Your Mac Into Several Computers with Virtualization

Parallels Desktop is virtualization software — it emulates a new computer in software. On that virtual computer, you can run any operating system you like, including Windows, and any software that runs on that operating system. That’s very convenient if you need non-Mac software.

A virtual machine will run slower than your real computer, but Parallels has worked hard to optimize performance. But why run a slower virtual machine when you can install Windows on your actual computer using Bootcamp? Because having to restart your machine to change operating systems is slow, inconvenient, and incredibly frustrating. Virtualization is an excellent alternative.

My personal take: Virtualization technology provides a convenient way of accessing non-Mac software while using macOS. If you need regular access to Windows apps, Parallel’s implementation is superb.

2. Run Windows on Your Mac Without Rebooting

You may need to run Windows on your Mac for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples:

• Developers can test their software on Windows and other operating systems
• Web developers can test their websites on a variety of Windows browsers
• Writers can create documentation and reviews about Windows software.

Parallels provides the virtual machine, you need to supply Microsoft Windows. There are three options:

1. Purchase it directly from Microsoft and download it.
2. Purchase it from a store and install from a USB stick.
3. Transfer Windows from your PC or Bootcamp.

Transferring a previously-installed version of Windows is the least-recommended option, as it can lead to licensing issues or driver problems. In my case, I purchased a shrink-wrapped version of Windows 10 Home from a store. The price was the same as downloading from Microsoft: $179 Aussie dollars.

I started up Parallels Desktop, inserted my USB stick, and Windows was installed without fuss.

Once installed, Windows feels snappy and responsive. Moving from Windows to Mac and back again is fast and seamless. I’ll explain how that’s done in the next section.

My personal take: For those needing access to Windows while using macOS, Parallels Desktop is a godsend. They have obviously worked hard to optimize their software for Windows, as it is incredibly responsive.

3. Switch Conveniently between Mac and Windows

How easy is switching between Mac and Windows using Parallels Desktop? You don’t even notice it. By default, it runs inside a window like this.

When my mouse is outside of that window, it is the black Mac mouse cursor. Once it moves inside the window, it becomes the white Windows mouse cursor automatically and instantly.

For some uses that can feel a little cramped. Pressing the green Maximize button will make Windows run full screen. The screen resolution adjusts automatically. You can switch to and from Windows using a four-finger swipe.

Very fast, very easy, very intuitive. Switching between Mac and Windows couldn’t be easier. Here’s another bonus. For convenience, I found myself leaving Windows open even when I wasn’t using it. When not in use, Parallels pauses the virtual machine to reduce the load on your computer.

Once your mouse enters the Windows environment again, Windows is up and running again within about three seconds.

My personal take: Whether running Windows full-screen or in a window, switching to it is simple and seamless. It’s no harder than switching to a native Mac app.

When I first moved away from Windows, I found myself still relying on a few key apps. You might be the same:

• You switched to Mac, but still have a number of Windows apps you rely on — perhaps the Windows versions of Word and Excel, the Xbox Streaming app, or a Windows-only game.
• You may still absolutely depend on a legacy app that no longer works on modern operating systems.

It’s surprising how reliant businesses can become on out-of-date software that is no longer updated or supported. Parallels Desktop provides a Coherence Mode which lets you work with Windows apps without dealing with the Windows interface. David Ludlow sums it up: “Coherence turns your Windows apps into Mac ones.”

Coherence Mode hides the Windows interface altogether. You launch the Start Menu by clicking the Windows 10 icon on your dock.

You can search for and run the Windows Paint program from Spotlight.

Paint runs right on your Mac desktop, no Windows in sight.

And the Mac’s right-click Open With menu even lists Windows apps.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop allows you to use Windows apps almost as if they were Mac apps. You can start the apps from your Mac’s Dock, Spotlight, or a context menu.

5. Run Other Operating Systems on Your Mac

The convenience of Parallels Desktop doesn’t stop with Windows. You can run a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Android, and macOS. Why would someone want to do that? Here are some examples:

• A developer working on an app that runs on multiple platforms can use virtual computers to run Windows, Linux, and Android to test the software on.
• Mac developers can run older versions of macOS and OS X to test compatibility.
• A Linux enthusiast can run and compare multiple distros at once.

You can install macOS from your recovery partition or a disk image. You can also install older versions of OS X if you still have the installation DVDs or disk images. I chose to install macOS from my recovery partition.

I found macOS significantly less responsive than Windows — I assume Parallel’s main priority is Windows performance. It was definitely usable, though.

Installing Linux is similar. You can either choose to have Parallels Desktop download a number of Linux distros (including Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, Debian and Linux Mint), or install from a disk image.

Like macOS, Linux seems less responsive than Windows. Once you have a few operating systems installed, the Parallels Desktop Control Panel is a handy way to start and stop them.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop can run macOS or Linux on a virtual machine, though not with the same speed as Windows, or with as many integration features. But the software is stable and usable all the same.

Reasons Behind My Ratings

Effectiveness: 5/5

Parallels Desktop does exactly what it promises: it runs Windows apps alongside my Mac apps. Running Windows in a virtual machine was convenient and responsive and allowed me to access Windows apps that I rely on. Windows paused when not in use, so unnecessary resources were not being wasted.

Price: 4.5/5

Although there are free virtualization options, $79.99 is a reasonable price to pay for the amount of work Parallels has put into optimizing performance and integration.

Ease of Use: 5/5

I found launching Windows and switching between Mac and Windows absolutely intuitive. The integrated approach of displaying Windows software in Spotlight searches, context menus and the Dock is brilliant.

Support: 4.5/5

Free support is available via Twitter, chat, Skype, phone (Click-to-Call) and email for the first 30 days after registering. Email support is available for up to two years from the product release date, though you can purchase phone support when required for $19.95. A comprehensive knowledge base, FAQ, Getting Started guide and User’s Guide are available.

Alternatives to Parallels Desktop

• VMware Fusion: VMware Fusion is Parallel Desktop’s closest competitor, and is a little slower and more technical. A major upgrade is about to be released.
• Veertu Desktop: Veertu (free, $39.95 for premium) is a lightweight alternative. It’s almost as quick as Parallels, but has fewer features.
• VirtualBox: VirtualBox is Oracle’s free and open-source alternative. Not as polished or responsive as Parallels Desktop, it’s a good alternative when performance is not at a premium.
• Boot Camp: Boot Camp comes installed with macOS, and allows you to run Windows alongside macOS in a dual-boot setup — to switch you need to restart your computer. That’s less convenient but has performance benefits.
• Wine: Wine is a way of running Windows apps on your Mac without needing Windows at all. It can’t run all Windows apps, and many require significant configuration. It’s a free (open source) solution that just might work for you.
• CrossOver Mac: CodeWeavers CrossOver ($59.95) is a commercial version of Wine that is easier to use and configure.

Conclusion

Parallels Desktop lets you run Windows apps on your Mac. That can be very handy if you rely on certain Windows apps for your business, or have switched to Mac and can’t find alternatives for everything you need.

Is it worth it? If you have Mac apps for everything you need you won’t need Parallels, and if you need just a few non-critical Windows apps a free alternative may meet your needs. But if you rely on Windows apps to get your work done, you’ll need the premium Windows performance that Parallels Desktop provides.

So, how do you like this Parallels Desktop review? Leave a comment below.

P.S. don’t forget to use this coupon code: 9HA-NTS-JLH to save a bit if you decide to purchase the software.

Since Apple switched to making its own in-house ARM processors (M1 and M2), getting Windows running on a Mac hasn’t been so straightforward. Fortunately, Parallels Desktop 18 makes running the latest version of Microsoft’s OS easier than ever.

What You Need to Know About Windows 11 on ARM and Apple Silicon

Parallels Desktop 18 lets you create virtual machines that run on top of macOS so you can run operating systems like Windows as if they were native applications. This software cannot be used to create x86 or Intel-based virtual machines at all when used on an Apple Silicon Mac (and you wouldn’t want to, considering how poor performance would be).

We tested Parallels Desktop 18 (Pro Edition) on a 16-inch 2021 MacBook Pro with an M1 Max processor, so everything you read below is relevant to the new ARM-based Apple Silicon processors. Our test machine has 32GB of RAM and is running the (at the time of writing) latest version of macOS Monterey.

Apple Silicon ditches the 64-bit x86 architecture that Windows has traditionally used, so running Microsoft’s operating system on your Mac using Parallels Desktop 18 uses the experimental Windows on ARM release. Fortunately, this version of Windows has come a long way since it first appeared in the days of Windows 10.

Because of the inherent differences in the way different processor architectures work, Windows must use an emulation later to enable compatibility on ARM. Windows 10 on ARM had support for 32-bit applications written for x86, and now Windows 11 on ARM adds support for modern 64-bit applications. Theoretically, most software that runs on the standard “retail” version of Windows should also run on the ARM version.

This means that running Windows on an Apple Silicon processor is viable from both a performance and compatibility standpoint. You can also use Parallels Desktop to run other ARM-based operating systems on your Mac in just the same manner, opening up the world of Linux virtualization too.

Parallels Takes Care of Everything

Parallels Desktop 18 handles the setup process quickly and easily, getting you up and running in record time. The self-contained installer downloads everything you need and walks you through the various macOS permissions you’ll need to enable to get the most out of the software. How long the process takes largely depends on how fast your internet speed is.

As soon as Parallels Desktop finishes installing, you’re invited to download and set up Windows right away. You can choose between Home and Pro versions of Windows on ARM, with the installation process taking care of itself.

Once Windows 11 finishes downloading, Parallels installs it to a preconfigured virtual machine without any input from you. The installer will even create a Windows account using the same username as macOS.

It can be easy to forget that you still (technically) need to pay for Windows 11 too. While Windows on ARM isn’t available in retail form, you can register the ARM-based version of Microsoft’s OS using a standard Windows license (make sure the versions match, since a Windows 11 Home key won’t activate a Windows 11 Pro installation).

Activating Windows 11 gets rid of the annoying watermark and lets you customize your desktop, but core functionality isn’t affected if you don’t activate.

When you finally get into Windows, you’ll see that most things have been taken care of for you. In our case, Parallels configured a virtual machine with 6 CPU cores and 16GB of RAM, chose a sensible (scaled) resolution for our high DPI MacBook Pro display, shared our existing network connection, and even made macOS files available in Windows.

Parallels Desktop 17 and above includes virtual Trusted Module Platform (vTPM) support, which satisfies Microsoft’s requirements for a TPM chip for Windows 11. This means that if you want to transfer your virtual machine to another Mac, you’ll have to transfer the encrypted vTPM data, which is stored in the macOS keychain (Parallels has an article explaining how to do this).

Parallels takes care of your virtual machine’s disk space with a capacity limit, starting at 256GB. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all of that space at once, and Parallels will only use what it needs (up to your capacity limit). There’s also a handy “Free Up Disk Space” tool that lets you recover free space if things get a little tight.

We tested this by downloading a 27GB application, observing that our macOS available free space reflected the download, then uninstalling it. Upon restarting the Windows 11 on ARM VM, we saw the 27GB we’d lost appear again in the main macOS volume.

Virtual Machine Management Made Easy

Parallels lets you manage all aspects of virtualization using the “Control Center,” which lists your current virtual machines. Just click on the little “cog” icon next to a machine to see a full list of properties. This can be as easy or complicated as you like.

You can choose from a set of pre-defined configurations with labels like “Productivity” and “Games only,” which takes the sting out of configuring your machine manually. Many users will prefer to get their hands dirty using the “Options” tab to set preferences like system resource allocation, which folders are shared, and to manually schedule Windows maintenance (for software updates).

You can even share folders in real-time without having to restart Windows by right-clicking on your Windows virtual machine in the Mac dock and then navigating to Devices > Sharing > Add a Folder.

Further, you can use the “Hardware” tab to change CPU core and RAM allocation, choose how your network connection is shared (and set bandwidth limits), change your storage drive capacity, and even modify the boot order of your virtual machine.

You can get away with never visiting this menu if all you want is a one-size-fits-all setup, but it’s nice to have options if you’re a power user.

Setting a password for your virtual machine on the “Security” tab lets you stop other users from using it (important if you want to protect accounts used in your VM).

Parallels also comes with a custom backup solution on the “Backup” tab known as SmartGuard which takes a snapshot of your current setup so that you can quickly restore it in the future. The feature takes up a fair chunk of disk space, so you might want to rely on Time Machine backups instead (your Parallels VMs are included by default).

Setting up a new virtual machine is a case of hitting the plus “+” icon in Parallels’ Control Center or File > New and choosing an OS. If you already have a disk image that you’ve downloaded, you can use that, otherwise use the quick links to get started setting up ARM-flavored versions of Windows, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and Kali (or a guest macOS install).

Why Bother With Windows on Your Mac?

Parallels does an excellent job of allowing you to run Windows 11 and its associated software on your Mac. But unless you’ve got a good use case in mind, the novelty of virtualization alone probably isn’t going to convince you.

Thanks to support for 64-bit x86 applications, you can now run almost any Windows app on your Mac. Performance is excellent, with things happening at what feels like native speed. Windows is snappy and responsive, applications load almost immediately, and the Windows desktop feels more like an extension of macOS than a layer running on top of it.

Parallels also has a mode known as “Coherence” which lets you run Windows apps in windows alongside macOS software. This lets you run software without worrying about managing a standard Windows desktop environment. It’s ideal for users who have a specific application in mind and who are comfortable using macOS for the vast majority of tasks.

You can also choose to run Windows in full-screen mode, in which it appears as another space. You can quickly flick back and forth between macOS and Windows using a four-finger swipe on a trackpad or set up Windows on an external display. Users with more than one monitor could have macOS and Windows running on separate displays and use both simultaneously.

It’s startling how “native” Windows on ARM feels running via Parallels Desktop 18 on an Apple Silicon processor. MacBook users need to be aware of the additional battery drain introduced by running Windows alongside macOS. On our MacBook Pro, we barely noticed much of a drain on system resources. It’s easy to forget you have Windows running at all.

The main impact we saw was in 3D applications like games, some of which would produce a fair bit of heat. Ironically, this was the first time I’ve heard the fans spin up to audible levels on my 2021 MacBook Pro, but even when used on a lap the heat output never reached uncomfortable levels.

This might be worth keeping in mind if you have a MacBook Air which lacks an integrated cooling solution since your machine may hit its thermal throttling threshold quickly in some applications and that will limit overall performance.

Parallels for Gaming

One of the most (pleasantly) surprising aspects of Parallels Desktop 18 is how well it works in 3D applications like games. This is handy since Windows still receives the lion’s share of games, and many older games that have Mac versions no longer work for one reason or another. Parallels can help bridge that gap and get Mac users gaming again.

Not everything works, and there are a few reasons for that. Modern titles like Halo: Infinite and DOOM: Eternal don’t work, nor do titles like Valorant which rely on hardware-level anti-cheat software that’s incompatible with virtualization software like Parallels.

Plenty of games run perfectly like The Witcher 3, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Inscryption, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and Titanfall 2. Many other games are also playable like Grand Theft Auto V, Valheim, and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

You’ll have even more success with older games, many of which have Mac versions that are incompatible with modern hardware. Let’s take Half-Life and Half-Life 2 as examples. These Valve classics are only available as 32-bit applications, even if you own the Mac versions. That means you can’t run either game (or derivatives like Counter-Strike or Team Fortress 2) on a modern Mac, since Apple has abandoned support for 32-bit applications.

On Parallels, these games work perfectly well. Older games with Windows 11 compatibility are ideal since the less demanding a title, the better performance you’re likely to see. We tested oddball indie games that use Unreal Engine 4, old PC games that use the Quake II engine, newer titles that use Unity, and pretty much everything worked at playable frame rates.

Is Parallels Better Than Boot Camp?

With the move from Intel-based chips to ARM-based Apple Silicon, installing Windows natively on your Mac is not (yet) possible. Even if it was, for many users it would be hard to recommend taking the long road when Parallels Desktop 18 works so well.

The experience isn’t quite perfect, but it’s damn close. We did experience a small amount of unpredictability while running in full-screen mode where Windows would occasionally not respond to input. Thankfully, a quick Command+Tab normally resolved that. Windows was very stable, with only one hang while shutting down (and no real crashes to speak of).

The future is bright for Windows on ARM, with performance and compatibility only set to improve as time goes on. Paired with a fast new Mac, Parallels and Windows on ARM lets you use Microsoft’s desktop OS, native Windows apps, and even play many games.

It’s not your only option, since you can also run Windows 11 on ARM in a VM using UTM. However, just like installing Linux via UTM on Apple Silicon, this requires more work than using Parallels.

Thankfully, you can try Parallels Desktop 18 out for 14-days before buying to see if it lives up to your expectations. There are three different versions to suit a range of users, starting with the standard version that will work for most home users. If you need more RAM, CPU cores, networking options, and support for Visual Studio, check out the Pro or Business version.

as of July 12, 2021, parallels desktop for mac, the parallels desktop for mac on this page is seriously out of date and incomplete. Here's what you need to know. The latest release is 16.5. It runs on both Intel and M1 Macs. It is ONE product, shipped as an Universal app; you don't have to worry about ordering the Intel or M1 version of Parallels separately. On Intel Macs it runs basically unchanged as it has for the past few years. you can install Intel versions of Windows, macOS and Linux. On M1 Macs, you can ONLY install ARM-based operating systems. This includes Windows ARM (which you have to get from Microsoft by signing up with the Windows Insider program. ) There are various ARM based flavors of Linux. At this time, Parallels does NOT support installing a guest version of Big Sur on M1 Macs. So if you have an M1 Mac and wanted to run macOS guest virtual machines, not possible at this time; stick with an Intel Mac. As for Windows on M1, it is not the Windows Intel version everyone is familiar with, it is Windows ARM. It will run ARM based versions of Windows software fine; it can also run Intel Windows apps, but does so in emulation mode. In other words, if you are trying to run an old Windows Intel app, you would be running this in emulation, on Windows ARM, which is running virtualized under Big Sur, on a M1 Mac. The reviews I have read all say that amazingly, because the M1 is so fast and efficient, running Windows Intel apps under Windows ARM emulation, then virtualized, is not that bad, no worse than say running it on a ARM based Surface Pro. My personal opinion (I've been using Parallels, VMWare Fusion since the early 2000's.). If running a Windows app is mission critical for your business, go buy a used, refurbished Intel PC for under $500. And in many cases, if you're a business, you already have old Windows boxes lying around. I have Windows 10 running on 10 year old laptop with 4 GB of RAM just fine, just be sure to replace the old hard drive with an SSD. Then log into the PC remotely from your Mac using any of a dozen Mac based Remote Desktop apps. Microsoft can provide arm based versions of their Windows apps if they want, but IMO, parallels desktop for mac Microsoft apps is not the main reason Mac users want/need to run Windows .it's that 10 year old accounting program, or custom built app that your company runs on that needs to be supported. Most current, popular business software (like Office, Adobe, Quickbooks) already comes in Mac and Windows versions which are basically feature identical. No, that's not the problem, it's the old software that's discontinued, no longer supported or upgraded, running on Windows 7 or XP that so many businesses still use. Until Microsoft makes clear what the road map for Windows ARM is, AND until Qualcomm can actually make an ARM chip that can compete with Apple Silicon, I would avoid investing any more $$ into Parallels. The licensing is an all together separate issue; for now you can get Windows ARM for free by signing up as an Insider. If Microsoft and Qualcomm get serious about ARM, you can bet eventually Windows ARM will no longer be free, so when you start adding up Total Cost of Ownership, parallels desktop for mac, using an old PC box and spare Windows license you have already lying around, looks very attractive. The fact that Parallels has even come this far supporting Windows ARM is impressive technical, no doubt, but the company had no choice; once Apple discontinues Intel versions of macOS (probably the os that comes after Monterey will be the last Intel release), Parallels would be out of business unless they came up with an answer to Apple Silicon. the question is whether the demand to run Windows and Linux ARM based, on Apple Silicon is strong enough to maintain the business once Intel Macs disappear? VMWare, the company, is in a different position, its business model isn't dependent on selling Fusion, in fact Fusion at best breaks even or makes a modest profit. Parallels is desperate and should be; if there is no sustainable business model for ARM based virtualization of Windows and Linux, the company is done once Apple macOS stops supporting Intel Macs.

Virtual machine

Developer(s)	Parallels
Initial release	June 15, 2006; 16 years ago (2006-06-15)
Stable release	18.0.2 / September 19, 2022; 16 days ago (2022-09-19)[1]
Operating system	macOS
Platform
Available in	English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, German, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, parallels desktop for mac, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Polish, Czech
Type	Hypervisor
License	Proprietary
Website	www.parallels.com/products/desktop/

Parallels Desktop for Mac is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors, and since version 16.5 also for Apple silicon-based Macintosh computers. It is developed by Parallels, since 2018 a subsidiary of Corel.

Overview[edit]

Parallels, Inc. is a developer of desktop and server virtualization software.

History[edit]

Released on June 15, 2006, it was the first software product to bring mainstream virtualization to Macintosh computers utilizing the Apple–Intel architecture (earlier software products ran PC software in an emulated environment).

Its name initially was 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X', which was consistent with the company's corresponding Linux and Windows products. This name was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we've got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product.”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.^[2]

On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.^[3]

Technical[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a hardware emulation virtualization software, using hypervisor technology that works by mapping the host computer's hardware resources directly to the virtual machine's resources. Each virtual machine thus operates identically to a standalone computer, with virtually all the resources of a physical computer.^[4] Because all guest virtual machines use the same hardware drivers irrespective of the actual hardware on the host computer, virtual machine instances are highly portable between computers. For example, a running virtual machine can be stopped, copied to another physical computer, and restarted.

Parallels Desktop for Mac is able to virtualize a full set of standard PC hardware, including^[5]

• A virtualized CPU of the same type as the host's physical processor,
• ACPI compliance system,
• A generic motherboard compatible with the Intel i965 chipset,
• Up to 64 GB of RAM for guest virtual machines,
• Up to 2 GB of video RAM (VRAM),
• VGA and SVGAvideo adapter with VESA 3.0 support and OpenGL and DirectX 10.1 acceleration,
• A 1.44 MB floppy drive, which can be mapped to a physical drive or to an image file,
• Up to four IDE devices. This includes virtual hard drives ranging in size from 20 MB to 2 TB each and CD/DVD-ROM drives. Virtual CD/DVD-ROM drives can be mapped to either physical drives or ISO image files.
• DVD/CD-ROM “pass-through” access,
• Up to four serial ports that can be mapped to a pipe or to an output file,
• Up to three bi-directional parallel ports, parallels desktop for mac, each of which can be mapped to a real port, to a real printer, or to an output file,
• An Ethernet virtual network card compatible with Realtek RTL8029(AS), capable of up to 16 network interface connections,
• Up to eight USB 2.0 devices and two USB 1.1 devices,
• An AC'97-compatible sound card.
• A 104-key Windows enhanced keyboard and a PS/2 wheel mouse.

Version history[edit]

Version 2.5[edit]

The first official release of version 2.5 was on February 27, 2007, as build 3186.

Version 2.5 brought support for USB 2.0 devices, which expanded the number of USB devices supported at native speed, including support for built-in iSight USB webcams, parallels desktop for mac. The amount of video RAM allocated to the guest OS was made adjustable, up to 32MB. Full featured CD/DVD drives arrived in this version, which allowed the user to burn disks directly in the virtual environment, and play any copy-protected CD or DVD as one would in Mac OS X. In addition, a shared clipboard and drag-drop support between Mac OS X and the guest OS was implemented. This version brought the ability for users with a Windows XP installation to upgrade to Windows Vista from within the VM environment.^[6] A new feature known as Coherence was added, which removed the Windows chrome, desktop, and the virtualization frames to create a more seamless desktop environment between Windows and Mac OS X applications. This version also allowed users to boot their existing Boot Camp Windows XP partitions, which eliminated the need to have multiple Windows installations on their Mac. A tool called Parallels Transporter was included to allow users to migrate their Windows PC, or existing VMware or Virtual PC VMs to Parallels Desktop for Mac.

Netsys lawsuit[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2015)

In 2007, the German company Netsys GmbH sued Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for copyright violation, claiming that Parallels Desktop and Parallels Workstation are directly based on a line of products called “twoOStwo” that Parallels developed on paid commission for Netsys, of which it says, Netsys has been assigned all copyrights. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Parallels Desktop 2.5's compatibility with “twoOStwo” showed that the two software products are run by essentially the same functional core.^[7] When Netsys lost its initial urgency proceeding, it filed a new suit, in which it requested a temporary injunction from the Landgericht district court of Berlin.^[8]

Version 3.0[edit]

On June 7, 2007 build 4124 was released as parallels desktop for mac first publicly available version of Desktop 3.0.

Version 3.0 retained all of the functionality from previous versions and added new features and tools. Support for DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL^[9] was parallels desktop for mac, allowing Mac users to play some Windows games without the need to boot into Windows with Boot Camp.^[10] A new feature called SmartSelect offers cross OS file and application integration by allowing the user to open Windows files with Mac OS X programs and vice versa. Parallels Explorer was introduced, which allows the user to browse their Windows system files in Mac OS X without actually launching Windows. A new snapshot feature was included, allowing one to restore their virtual machine environment to a previous state in case of issues. Further, Parallels added a security manager to limit the amount of interaction between the Windows and Mac OS X installations. This version included a long-awaited complete “Parallels tools'” driver suite for Linux guest operating systems. Therefore, integration between Mac OS X and Linux guest-OS's was greatly improved.^[11]

Despite the addition of numerous new features, tools and added functionality, the first iteration of Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 was missing some of the features that Parallels had planned for it. A Parallels, Inc. representative stated at MacWorld in January 2007 that version 3.0 would bring accelerated graphics, “multi-core virtual parallels desktop for mac SMP, some SCSI support, a more Mac-like feel, as well as a more sophisticated coherence mode, dubbed Coherence 2.0”.^[12] While accelerated graphics have materialised, Coherence, as well as the overall look and feel of Parallels Desktop for Mac has only changed slightly. Also, SCSI support has not been implemented.^[13]

It is currently unknown if these features have been abandoned altogether, or if they will parallels desktop for mac up in a later build of version 3.0.

Build 4560, released on July 17, 2007,^[14] added an imaging tool which allowed users to add capacity to their virtual disks.

Feature update[edit]

Parallels Coherence in Exposé

Build 5160, released on September 11, 2007,^[15] added some new features and updated some current features.

The release focused on updates to Coherence, with support for Exposé, window shadows, transparent windows, and the ability to overlap several Windows and Mac windows. Further, Parallels' Image Tool was updated to allow one to change their virtual hard disk format between plain and expanding. Parallels Explorer was updated to allow for one to automatically mount an offline VM hard drive to the Mac desktop. Some new features added are iPhone support in Windows, allowing iTunes in Windows to sync with it.^[16] Users can now mirror desktops or other folders. Further, Mac drives can now be mapped by Windows and sound devices can now be changed ‘on the fly’. Up to 2 GB of RAM can be allocated to a virtual machine, with a total of 4 GB of RAM available.^[17]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Build 5608 added support for guest Parallels Tools for Linux in the latest Linux distributions (including Ubuntu 8). It also added support for running 3D graphics in Windows virtual machines on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.3.

Use of code from the Wine project[edit]

According to Parallels' Licensing page, Desktop for Mac version 3.0 contains Direct3D code that was originally developed by the Wineopen-source project.^[18] Wine software is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License, which required Parallels to release the source code. Parallels released the modified source code on July 2, 2007, about 2 weeks after the promised release date.^[19] A Parallels spokesman explained the reasons for the delay in a message on the official company blog.^[20]

Version 4.0[edit]

Version 4.0, released November 11, 2008,^[21] updates its GUI, adds some new features, enhances its performance by up to 50%^[22] and consumes 15–30% less power than previous versions.^[23] Version 4.0 is the first version that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac's 3D support includes DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0^[24] as well as 256 MB video memory. It also adds support for 8 GB RAM in a virtual machine and 8-way SMP. Parallels Desktop 4.0 introduces an adaptive hypervisor, which allows users to focus the host computer's resources towards either host or the guest operating system.^[25]

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac adds some new features such as:

• A fourth viewing mode called Modality,^[21] which allows users to scale parallels desktop for mac size of an active guest operating system on the Mac's desktop
• A new screenshot utility called Clips, parallels desktop for mac, which lets users take and share screenshots between the host and the guest operating systems.
• Start Menu integration and Automatic Windows Notifications on the Apple Menu Bar.
• The ability to use select voice commands^[26] to remotely control the virtual machine.
• The ability to start and stop a virtual machine via the iPhone. (Requires installing an iPhone application from Apple's AppStore.)

Starting with the Version 4.0 release, parallels desktop for mac, Parallels Desktop for Mac has a new logo, which resembles an aluminum iMac, with what appears to be Windows XP on the screen and 2 parallel red lines overlaid on the right side.

Feature update[edit]

Build 3810, released January 9, 2009,^[27] includes performance enhancements and features, such as DirectX 9.0 Shaders Model 2 and Vertex Shader support for additional 3D support Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE4) for better media applications performance. Build 3810 also adds support for running Windows 7 in a VM and for running Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server as either a host or as a guest OS.^[28]

Also included are usability features such as the ability to share Windows files by dragging them directly to a Mac application in the Mac Dock. Windows can now also automatically start in the background when a user opens a Windows application on the Mac desktop. Version 4.0 drew criticism for problems upgrading from Version 3.0 shortly after its initial release.^[29] Build 3810 also addresses installation and upgrade issues previously experienced with Version 4.0 and introduces the option to enroll in the company's new Customer Experience Program, which lets customers provide information about their preferences and user priorities.

Version 5[edit]

Officially released on November 4, 2009, parallels desktop for mac, Parallels Desktop 5 adds several new features, mainly to improve integration with the host OS.

New features include:

• 3D graphics and speed improvements
• Optimized for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
• Support for Windows 7
• Theming of Windows applications to make them look like native applications
• Support for Multi-Touch gestures (from a trackpad or Magic Mouse) and the Apple Remote
• The ability to drag and drop formatted text and images between Windows, Linux, and Mac applications,
• The ability for a system administrator to lock down a virtual machine so that users can't change the state of the virtual machine,
• Support parallels desktop for mac OpenGL 2.1 for Linux guest virtual machines.
• Support for DirectX 9c with Shader Model 3.

Feature update[edit]

Build 9308, released on December 21, 2009, added some new features.^[30]

Linux guest operating systems[edit]

• Parallels Tools support Xorg 1.7 in Fedora 12 virtual machines (experimental)
• Parallels Tools support Mandriva 2010 (experimental)
• OpenSUSE 11.1 installation media auto detection

Virtualization[edit]

• Improved performance for USB mass storage.

Windows guest operating systems[edit]

• Improved resume from suspend in virtual machines with multiple monitors assigned.
• Improved performance for file access via Shared Folders.

3D and video[edit]

• Improved performance for video playback in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
• Windows Aero is not available by default for machines with Intel GMA X3100 and GMA 950 graphic adapters (some MacBook and Mac Mini models). It is available on MacBooks with NVIDIA 9400M graphics cards.^[31]
• Vertical synchronization is now configurable. You can configure these settings using the corresponding option in the virtual machine video configuration page.
• Improved 3D performance for the video game Mirror's Edge.

macOS Server guest operating system[edit]

• The ability to pass kernel options to the macOS Server guest OS has been added. To do so, enable the "Select boot device on startup" option in the virtual machine configuration, which will enable you to specify the necessary kernel options in the 5-second timeout before booting the kernel.

Version 6[edit]

Officially announced on September 9, 2010 and launched on September 14, parallels desktop for mac, 2010, Parallel 6 swiftshader 64 bit full 64-bit support for the first time. Parallels claims that Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac "[has] over 80 new and improved features, parallels desktop for mac, including speed 40% above the previous version." Specific new features include:

• An all-new 64-bit engine
• 5.1 Surround Sound support
• Better import implementation of VMware, Virtual PC virtual machines and Boot Camp partitions
• Improved network, hard drive and Transporter performance
• Windows program Spotlight integration
• Faster Windows launch time
• Enhanced 3D graphics that are 40% better than previous versions
• Ability to extend Mac OS X Parental Controls to Windows applications
• Ability to use Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts in Windows applications
• Enhanced Spaces and Exposé support

Version 7[edit]

Officially announced on September 1, 2011 and released on September 6, 2011, Parallels Desktop 7 adds many new features. These include:

• Integration with OS X 10.7.4 "Lion":
  • Full-screen support
  • Use of Launchpad for Windows apps
  • Mission Control support
  • Lion as a guest OS
  • Lion animations support
• Improved user interface
• New standard help and documentation
• Shared devices with Mac OS X
• Longer battery life
• Mac OS Parallels desktop for mac parental controls support
• Support for Intel AES-NI encryption
• Enhanced performance and 3D graphics
• Support for up to 1GB video memory in virtual machine
• Enhanced audio support - up to 192 kHz
• Surround sound 7.1
• Added support for Windows 7

Version 8[edit]

Officially announced August 22, 2012 and released September 4, 2012, Parallels Desktop 8 adds many new features:

• OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" as a guest OS
• Retina resolution can be passed to virtual machines
• Windows 7 and Windows 8 automatically optimised for best experience on Retina
• Parallels Desktop notifications
• Notification Center support for Windows 8 toast notifications
• Mountain Lion Dictation in Windows apps
• Full screen on demand for Windows applications in Coherence
• Presentation Wizard
• Open in Internet Explorer button for Safari
• Drag & drop file to Outlook in the Dock opens new email with attachment
• Multi-language Keyboard Sync in Mac and Windows
• Full support for new Modern UI Windows 8 applications (Dock, Mission Control, Launchpad)
• Reworked Keyboard shortcuts preferences
• Use the standard OS X system preferences to set Parallels Desktop application shortcuts.
• Resources (CPU/RAM) monitoring
• Indication for VM hard drive space usage
• Shared Bluetooth
• Improved Virtual Machine boot time/Windows boots time are up to 25% faster than previous version
• Pause & resume Windows up to 25% faster than previous version
• Input/output (I/O) operations are up to 35% faster than previous version
• Games run up to 30% faster than previous version
• DirectX 10 support
• Full USB 3.0 support for faster connections to peripheral devices for Virtual Machines starting from Parallels Desktop 8.0.18305^[32]

Version 9[edit]

Officially announced on August 29, 2013 and released on September 5, 2013, Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac includes these new features and enhancements:

• Brings back the "real" Start menu for Windows 8 and enables Modern apps in separate windows instead of full screen
• Power Nap support, so applications stay up-to-date on Retina Display Mac and MacBook Air computers
• Thunderbolt and Firewire storage devices are designated to connect to Windows virtual machine
• Sticky Multi-monitor setup remembers settings and puts Windows virtual machines back into Full Screen mode on the remote monitor
• Sync iCloud, SkyDrive, Dropbox and more without unnecessary duplication of files
• Windows apps can launch the OS X Mountain Lion Dictionary with Dictionary gesture
• Enhanced integration with MacOS for Linux users
• Enhanced New Virtual Machine Wizard makes it easier to set up a new virtual machine, parallels desktop for mac on computers without hard drives
• PDF printer for Windows to print from any Windows parallels desktop for mac to a PDF on the Mac desktop, parallels desktop for mac, even if the application doesn't have that functionality
• Compatibility with OS X 10.9 "Mavericks"
• Easily install and access complimentary security software subscriptions from one location
• Up to 40% better disk performance than previous versions
• Virtual machines shut down up to 25% faster and suspend up to 20% faster than with Parallels Desktop 8
• 3D graphics and web browsing are 15% faster than in Parallels Desktop 8

Enterprise version:

• Set an expiration date for the virtual machine.
• Run virtual machines in headless mode.
• Start virtual machines on Mac boot.

Version 9 is the last version to support Snow Leopard.

Version 10[edit]

Released August 20, 2014, Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac includes support parallels desktop for mac OS X 10.10 "Yosemite", and ends support for Snow Leopard.^[33]

Less than a year after release of its release, Parallels spokesperson John Uppendahl confirmed version 10 will not be fully compatible with Windows 10. The coherence mode, which integrates the Windows user interface with OS X, will not be updated and users will need to purchase and upgrade to version 11 to continue using this feature.^[34]

Version 11[edit]

Released August 19, 2015, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac includes support for Windows 10 and is ready for OS X 10.11 "El Capitan".^[35]

Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is available as a one-time purchase of $79.99 for the Parallels desktop for mac edition, and as an annual subscription of $99.99 for Pro edition.^[36] Version 11 has multiple issues with macOS 10.13, High Sierra. The website currently offers a full price upgrade to Version 13 parallels desktop for mac a correction, effectively making this version obsolete with the macOS upgrades.^[37]

Version 12[edit]

Released August 18, 2016.^[38]

Version 13[edit]

Released August 22, 2017,^[39] Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac provides macOS High Sierra readiness and support for upcoming Windows 10 features. According to Parallels, the new version makes it simple for MacBook Pro users to add Windows applications to the Touch Bar, and to use the Touch Bar within Windows applications. It is also the first solution to bring the upcoming Windows 10 People Bar feature to the Mac, including integration with the Mac Dock and Spotlight. The new version also features up to 100 percent performance improvements for completing certain tasks. The update also brings in a slightly refreshed UI to better match macOS and visual improvements for Windows users on Retina displays.^[40]

Version 14[edit]

Released August 21, 2018, Parallels Desktop 14 supports macOS 10.14 "Mojave".^[41]

Version 15[edit]

Released August 13, 2019.

Version 16[edit]

Released August 11, 2020.,^[42] Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Is ready for the new macOS Big Sur architecture
• In Windows and Linux VMs, DirectX 11 is 20 percent faster and there are improvements for the OpenGL 3 graphics
• The battery life when users activate “Travel Mode” in Windows is up to 10 percent longer
• In Windows apps users can now use zoom and rotate with Trackpad in Windows apps
• More printing options: Print on both sides and paper sizes from A0 to envelope.

New features are added to Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition:

• Easier export a virtual machine in a compressed format and prepare it for transfer to another Mac or an SSD
• Give custom networks an individual name

^[43]

On April 14, 2021, Parallels updated the software to version 16.5, notably adding support for Apple silicon-based Macs. On such Macs, only ARM-compatible OSes can be run in VMs; Parallels does not emulate the x86 architecture.^[44] Supported guest OSes include Windows Insider builds of Windows 10 (as no retail ARM versions of Windows 10 nor installation disk images for such versions are publicly available), as well as ARM builds of various Linux distributions.

Version 17[edit]

Released August 10, 2021, Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Optimized for Apple M1 chip.
• Added support for USB 3.1 devices.
• Added multi-monitor support for Linux.
• Added drag-and-drop support for text or graphics between Mac and Windows applications.
• Version 17.1, released October 14, 2021, is fully compatible with macOS Monterey and adds support for Windows 11 as a guest OS.^[45]

Version 18[edit]

Released August 9, 2022, Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac comes with the following highlights:

• Brings full support for the ProMotion displays in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
• Easier Windows 11 setup.
• Enhanced Windows game-play experience on a Mac.

Supported operating systems[edit]

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business, Home and Pro Editions parallels desktop for mac these versions of MacOS:^[46]

Parallels Desktop 11 and 12 only partially support macOS High Sierra:

^A Coherence Mode windows may appear under MacOS windows, and some graphics artifacts may occur.

^B Neither Parallels Desktop 11 nor 12 fully support Apple File System (APFS) disks, including virtual disks and Boot Camp partitions. Therefore, a High Sierra guest machine must be installed 'manually' by passing the "--converttoapfs NO" command line switch, and cannot use the automated Parallels virtual machine creation process.

^C Versions are partially compatible with the corresponding macOS versions and may not work correctly.

Guest[edit]

Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac includes parallels desktop for mac for a variety of different guest operating systems:^[47]

• Several versions of Windows: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 (SP0-SP1), Windows Server 2008 R2 (SP0-SP2), Windows Vista Home, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise (SP0-SP2), Windows Server 2003 R2 (SP0-SP2), Windows XP (SP0-SP3), Windows 2000 Professional SP4, Windows 2000 Server SP4
• Linux distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8, 7 and 6, CentOS Linux 8, 7 and 6, Fedora Linux 32, parallels desktop for mac, 31, 30 and 29, Ubuntu 20.04, 19.10, 19.04, 18.04 LTS and 16.04 LTS, Debian GNU/Linux 10, 9 and 8, Suse Linux Enterprise 15, OpenSUSE Linux 15.2, 15.1 and 15, Linux Mint 20, 19 and 18, Kali 2020.2, 2019 and 2018, elementary OS 5.0, Manjaro 18, Mageia 7 and 6 and more
• Android (only when users download the version with the Installation Assistant with Parallels Desktop)
• It is also possible to install macOS versions in a VM: macOS Big Sur 11, macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14, macOS High Sierra 10.13, parallels desktop for mac, macOS Sierra 10.12, OS X El Capitan 10.11, OS X Yosemite 10.10, OS X Mavericks 10.9, OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, OS X Lion 10.7, OS X Lion Server 10.7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server parallels desktop for mac, Mac OS X Leopard Server 10.5

In Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac, support for guest operating systems includes a variety of 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including:^[46]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

You can get Windows onto an Apple Silicon MacBook Air, parallels desktop for mac.

If you need to run Windows apps on Ultra Adware Killer 9.6.1.0 Free Download with Crack Apple Silicon Mac, the two best choices are Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac and VMWare Fusion. Here's what you should know about the two tools, parallels desktop for mac.

But what about Boot Camp?

Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac

VMWare Fusion

Not a close race

Where to buy

What does Parallels Desktop do?

It’s an app that allows you to run Windows apps on your Mac. It does this by allowing you to install Windows on a virtual machine — a computer emulated in software. Your virtual computer is assigned a portion of the RAM, processor and disk space of your real computer, so it will be slower and have fewer resources.

Other operating systems will also run on Parallels Desktop, including Linux, Android, parallels desktop for mac, and macOS — even older versions of macOS and OS Parallels desktop for mac (El Capitan or earlier).

Is Parallels Desktop Safe?

Yes, it is. I ran and installed the app on my iMac and scanned it for viruses, parallels desktop for mac. Parallels Desktop doesn’t contain any viruses or malicious processes.

Be aware that when you install Windows in Parallels, you become vulnerable to Windows viruses (on the virtual machine and the files it can access), so make sure you protect yourself. A trial version of Kaspersky Internet Security is included, or install your security software of choice.

During my use of the app, my mouse froze once when switching between Windows and Mac. This required a reboot to fix. Your parallels desktop for mac may vary.

Is Parallels Parallels desktop for mac Free?

No, it isn’t freeware though a full-featured 14-day trial is available. There are three versions of the app to consider. You’ll also have to pay for Microsoft Windows and your Windows applications if you don’t already own them.

• Parallels Desktop for Mac ($79.99 for students): Designed for home or student use.
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for developers and power users who need the best performance.
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for IT departments, it includes centralized administration and volume licensing.

What’s New in Parallels Desktop 17?

Parallels has added a number of new features to version 17. According to the release notes from Parallels, those include optimized performance for macOS Monterey, Intel, and Apple M1 chip, better graphics, and faster Windows resume time.

How to Install Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Here is an overview of the full process of getting the app up and running:

1. Download and install Parallels Desktop for Mac.
2. You’ll be asked to choose an operating system for your new virtual machine. To install Windows, you have three choices: purchase it online, install it from a US stick, or transfer it from a PC. Enter the Windows product key when prompted.
3. Windows will be installed along with some Parallels tools. This will take some time.
4. Your new Windows desktop will be displayed. Install any Windows application software you need.

Why Trust Me for This Parallels Desktop Review?

My name is Adrian Try, parallels desktop for mac. After using Microsoft Windows for over a decade, I made a deliberate move away from the operating system in 2003. I enjoyed the change, but still needed certain Windows apps on a regular basis. So I found myself using a combination of dual boot, virtualization (using VMware and VirtualBox) and Wine. See the Alternatives section of this Parallels Desktop review.

I hadn’t tried Parallels before. I was provided a review license and installed an earlier version on my iMac. For the last week, I’ve been putting it through its paces, installing Windows 10 (purchased just for this review) and several other operating systems, and trying just about every feature in the program.

The new version was released, so I immediately upgraded. This review reflects my use of both versions. In this Parallels Desktop parallels desktop for mac, I’ll share what I parallels desktop for mac and dislike about Parallels Desktop. The content in the quick summary box above serves as a short version of my findings and conclusions.

Read on for the details!

Parallels Desktop Review: What’s In It for You?

Since Parallels Desktop is all about running Windows apps (and more) on your Mac, I’m going to list all its features by putting them into the following five sections. In each subsection, I’ll first explore what the app offers and then share my personal take.

1. Turn Your Mac Into Several Computers with Virtualization

Parallels Desktop is virtualization software — it emulates a new computer in software. On that virtual computer, you can run any operating system you like, including Windows, and any software that runs on that operating system. That’s very convenient if you need non-Mac software.

A virtual machine will run slower than your real computer, but Parallels has worked hard to optimize performance. But why run a slower virtual machine when you can install Windows on your actual computer using Bootcamp? Because having to restart your machine to change operating systems is slow, inconvenient, and incredibly frustrating. Virtualization is an excellent alternative.

My personal take: Virtualization technology provides a convenient way of accessing non-Mac software while using macOS. If you need regular access to Windows apps, Parallel’s implementation is superb.

2. Run Windows on Your Mac Without Rebooting

You may need to run Windows on your Mac for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples:

• Developers can test their software on Windows and other operating systems
• Web developers can test their websites on a variety of Windows browsers
• Writers can create documentation and reviews about Windows software.

Parallels provides the virtual machine, you need to supply Microsoft Windows. There are three options:

1. Purchase it directly from Microsoft and download it.
2. Purchase it from a store and install from a USB stick.
3. Transfer Windows from your PC or Bootcamp.

Transferring a previously-installed version of Windows is the least-recommended option, as it can lead to licensing issues or driver problems. In my case, I purchased a shrink-wrapped version of Windows 10 Home from a store. The price was the same as downloading from Microsoft: $179 Aussie dollars.

I started up Parallels Desktop, inserted my USB stick, and Windows was installed without fuss.

Once installed, Windows feels snappy and responsive. Moving from Windows to Mac and back again is fast and seamless. I’ll explain how that’s done in the next section.

My personal take: For those needing access to Windows while using macOS, Parallels Desktop is a godsend. They have obviously worked hard to optimize their software for Windows, as it is incredibly responsive.

3. Switch Conveniently between Mac and Windows

How easy is switching between Mac and Windows using Parallels Desktop? You don’t even notice it. By default, it runs inside a window like this.

When my mouse is outside of that window, it is the black Mac mouse cursor. Once it moves inside the window, it becomes the white Windows mouse cursor automatically and instantly.

For some uses that can feel a little cramped. Pressing the green Maximize button will make Windows run full screen. The screen resolution adjusts automatically. You can switch to and from Windows using a four-finger swipe.

Very fast, very easy, very intuitive. Switching between Mac and Windows couldn’t be easier, parallels desktop for mac. Here’s another bonus. For convenience, I found myself leaving Windows open even when I wasn’t using it. When not in use, Parallels pauses the virtual machine to reduce the load on your computer.

Once your mouse enters the Windows environment again, Windows is up and running again within about three seconds.

My personal take: Whether running Windows full-screen or in a window, switching to it is simple and seamless. It’s parallels desktop for mac harder than switching to a native Mac app.

When I first moved away from Windows, I found myself still relying on a few key apps. You might be the same:

• You switched to Mac, but still have a number of Windows apps you rely on — perhaps the Windows versions of Word and Excel, the Xbox Streaming app, parallels desktop for mac, or a Windows-only game.
• You may still absolutely depend on a legacy app that no longer works on modern operating systems.

It’s surprising how reliant businesses can become on out-of-date software that is no longer updated or supported. Parallels Desktop provides a Coherence Mode which lets you work with Windows apps without dealing with the Parallels desktop for mac interface. David Ludlow sums it up: “Coherence turns your Windows apps into Mac ones.”

Coherence Mode hides the Windows interface altogether. You launch the Start Menu by clicking the Windows 10 icon on your dock.

You can search for and run the Windows Paint program from Spotlight.

Paint runs right on your Mac desktop, no Windows in sight.

And the Mac’s right-click Open With menu even lists Windows apps.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop allows you to use Windows apps almost as if they were Mac apps. You can start the apps from your Mac’s Dock, Spotlight, or a context menu.

5. Run Other Operating Systems on Your Mac

The convenience of Parallels Desktop doesn’t stop with Windows. You can run a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Android, and macOS. Why would someone want to do that? Here are some examples:

• A developer working on an app that runs on multiple platforms can use virtual computers to run Windows, Linux, and Android to test the software on.
• Mac developers can run older versions of macOS and OS X to test compatibility.
• A Linux enthusiast can run and compare multiple distros at once.

You can install macOS from your recovery partition or a disk image. You can also install older versions of OS X if you still have the installation DVDs or disk images. I chose to install macOS from my recovery partition.

I found macOS significantly less responsive than Windows — I assume Parallel’s main priority is Windows performance. It was definitely usable, though.

Installing Linux is similar. You can either choose to have Parallels Desktop download a number of Linux distros (including Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, Debian and Linux Mint), or install from a disk image.

Like macOS, Linux seems less responsive than Windows. Once you have a few operating systems installed, the Parallels Desktop Control Panel is a handy way to start and stop them.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop can run macOS or Linux on a virtual machine, though not with the same speed as Windows, or with as many integration features. But the software is stable and usable all the same.

Reasons Behind My Ratings

Effectiveness: 5/5

Parallels Desktop does exactly what it promises: it runs Windows apps alongside my Mac apps. Running Windows in a virtual machine was convenient and responsive and allowed me to access Windows apps that I rely on. Windows paused when not in use, so unnecessary resources were not being wasted.

Price: 4.5/5

Although there are free virtualization options, $79.99 is a reasonable price to pay for the amount of work Parallels has put into optimizing performance and integration.

Ease of Use: 5/5

I found launching Windows and switching between Mac and Windows absolutely intuitive. The integrated approach of displaying Windows software in Spotlight searches, context menus and the Dock is brilliant.

Support: 4.5/5

Free support is available via Twitter, chat, Skype, phone (Click-to-Call) and email for the first 30 days after registering. Email support is available for up to two years from the product release date, parallels desktop for mac, though you can purchase phone support when required for $19.95. A comprehensive knowledge base, FAQ, Getting Started guide and User’s Guide are available.

Alternatives to Parallels Desktop

• VMware Fusion: VMware Fusion is Parallel Desktop’s closest competitor, and is a little slower and more technical. A major upgrade is about to be released.
• Veertu Desktop: Veertu (free, $39.95 for premium) is parallels desktop for mac lightweight alternative. It’s almost as quick as Parallels, but has fewer features.
• VirtualBox: VirtualBox is Oracle’s free and open-source alternative. Not as polished or responsive as Parallels Desktop, it’s a good alternative when performance is not at a premium.
• Boot Camp: Boot Camp comes installed with macOS, and allows you to run Windows alongside macOS in a dual-boot setup — to switch you need to restart your computer. That’s less convenient but has performance benefits.
• Wine: Wine is a way of running Windows apps on your Mac without needing Windows at all. It can’t run all Windows apps, and many require significant configuration. It’s a free (open source) solution that just might work for you.
• CrossOver Mac: CodeWeavers CrossOver ($59.95) is a commercial version of Wine that is easier to use and configure.

Conclusion

Parallels Parallels desktop for mac you run Windows apps on your Mac. That can be very handy if you rely on certain Windows apps for your business, or have switched to Mac and can’t find alternatives for everything you need.

Is it worth it? If you have Mac apps for everything you need you won’t need Parallels, and if you need just a few non-critical Windows apps a free alternative may meet your needs. But if you rely on Windows apps to get your work done, you’ll need the premium Windows performance that Parallels Desktop provides.

So, how do you like this Parallels Desktop review? Leave a comment below.

P.S. don’t forget to use this coupon code: 9HA-NTS-JLH to save a bit if you decide to purchase the software.