Switch from Windows to Mac without losing your essential apps

Even with corporate Mac use on the rise, it can be intimidating to migrate from Windows to Mac for business—especially if you need to access Windows apps at times.

Parallels Desktop is the bridge between your organization and a hybrid Windows/macOS infrastructure. Provision and control Windows virtual machines with a complete solution featuring tools for business needs and IT management.

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See why 60,000+ organizations use Parallels Desktop

"In my experience, Windows 10/11 is faster under macOS and Parallels than it is on the same raw machine, iMac and hackintosh."

Riley, Reddit

"Parallels Desktop is by far the most powerful and effective tool for accessing a Windows or Linux instance on your Mac."

PC Mag

"Parallels Desktop is used in my organization and with our customers to support Windows apps when there is no Mac application or the Mac application is not fully featured."

Will Goad, VP – Solutions

Switch between Windows and Mac with Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop Pro Edition

Best for a business owner or employee who needs to run Windows apps on a Mac

Authorized by Microsoft

Optimized for Mac M-series

Use 200,000+ Windows apps
Access all Windows apps and features
No need for a second Windows machine
Switch between macOS and Windows effortlessly

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Parallels Desktop for Business

Best for an IT admin or business that needs to manage corporate licenses

Authorized by Microsoft

Optimized for Mac M-series

All features of Parallels Desktop Pro
Centralized management
Integration with IT Tools
Ability to preconfigure virtual machines

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Need more licenses or admin capabilities? Parallels Desktop for Enterprise might be a good fit for you. Learn more.

Why businesses are moving from Windows to Mac

Device performance

Apple silicon devices typically deliver better battery life and performance than Windows-based devices, making them a good choice during the hardware refresh cycle.

Long-term hardware costs

Although they have a higher upfront cost, Macs tend to have longer lifespans than Windows devices, reducing long-term expenses and total cost of ownership.

Attracting talent

Mac devices are popular with incoming new hires, so having a Mac adoption strategy in place can be attractive for HR purposes.

Built-in security features

macOS devices come with corporate-level security functionality, including encryption and automatic updates.

Run Windows on Mac with Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop lets businesses and users run a full Windows 11 virtual machine (VM) on Apple silicon and Intel Mac devices. No restarts, no complicated setup, and no dual boot required.

Plus, with Coherence mode, Parallels Desktop blends macOS and Windows environments together—so whether you’re running business software, engineering tools, or Windows-only apps, you get Windows compatibility on Mac without disruptions.

What happens to my Windows apps on Mac?

Running Windows through virtual machines on Mac puts all your familiar Windows apps at your fingertips.

You can still access Windows-only software, Active Directory environments, line-of-business apps, Microsoft 365 workflows, and even legacy Windows apps as if you were using a traditional Windows device.

It’s just on a Mac device instead.

Can I switch between macOS and Windows without rebooting?

While you can always run Windows on a Mac by installing it directly through tools like Boot Camp, this will require you to reboot the device to switch between the two operating systems.

When you can run both simultaneously, there’s no rebooting to switch. You can still access all your files, run Windows and macOS apps side by side, and even carry items on your clipboard between the two systems.

Can I switch between macOS and Windows without rebooting?

Switching from Windows to Mac for business

Moving your business from Windows to Mac doesn’t need to mean disrupting processes, retraining staff, or rebuilding your IT infrastructure.

Centralized deployment for IT

With Parallels Desktop, IT teams can distribute preconfigured VMs, even at a mass provisioning scale, and maintain control with admin functionality, endpoint management, and policy enforcement.

Secure and compliant Windows environments

Each Windows VM operates in an isolated environment, with built-in features like encryption and Secure Boot support to enforce enterprise security policies.

This ensures data protection for the organization, and keeps Windows environments ready for regulatory compliance.

No downtime, no retraining

Employees can continue using the same Windows apps and workflows they rely on. Files, copy/paste functionality, and shared folders will work across both macOS and Windows environments.

Plus, with Coherence mode, Windows apps feel like native Mac apps, reducing friction for teams.

Replace Windows PCs with Macs without replacing your software

With Parallels Desktop, you can modernize your hardware strategy and preserve your business’ Windows apps at the same time.

Whether you need to support a cross-platform workforce, allow for hybrid environments, support remote work, or introduce a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, Parallels Desktop helps you migrate your workforce as gradually or as rapidly as you need.

Compare your Windows migration options

Not all Windows-on-Mac solutions are created equal. Here’s how the most common approaches stack up:

Feature	Dual boot (Boot Camp)	Windows 365	Remote desktop	Parallels Desktop
Offline access	Yes (requires reboot)	No (internet required)	No (internet required)	Yes (runs locally)
Performance	Native, but only one OS at a time	Dependent on internet speed	Dependent on network latency	High-performance local virtualization
IT control	Limited centralized management	Cloud-managed	Server-dependent	Centralized VM provisioning and policy control
Cost	No VM cost, but hidden operational costs	Ongoing subscription and cloud licensing	Infrastructure and licensing costs	Predictable licensing, no cloud infrastructure required
Hardware dependency	Requires reboot, limited on Apple silicon	Works on supported devices	Requires host Windows machine	Optimized for Apple silicon and Intel Macs

How to transition from Windows to Mac in 3 steps

1. Deploy Macs to your team

Roll out Mac hardware where it makes the most sense for your business, whether that’s new hires, specific teams, or a company-wide upgrade.

2. Install and configure Parallels Desktop

Set up Parallels Desktop on each Mac device with a Windows license key. Configure settings and deploy policies from your IT team’s centralized dashboard.

3. Provision Windows VMs centrally

Allow users to start up their preconfigured Windows environments with the right apps, permissions, and policies without needing to retrain.

FAQs: Switching Windows to Mac

Still have questions about switching a Windows-based business to Mac devices? Find answers here.

Can I switch from Windows to Mac and keep my apps?

You can. Because Parallels Desktop runs Windows in tandem with macOS, it’s easy to switch back and forth between operating systems and keep your apps open. Take a closer look at how it works in this video.

Is it hard to move from Windows PC to Mac?

It doesn’t need to be. With Parallels Desktop, you can maintain Windows functionality for users even on Mac devices, so users have a consistent and familiar environment to work with.

Can businesses replace Windows PCs with Macs?

Yes, businesses can replace Windows PCs with Macs. Even if you rely on some Windows-only apps or legacy software to run your business, Parallels Desktop lets you access those apps without interruption.

Can IT manage Windows on Mac devices centrally?

They can. Some editions of Parallels Desktop, including Parallels Desktop Business Edition, include a centralized hub for IT teams to manage updates, policies, and permissions across your virtual machine fleet. These dashboards can also control VM provisioning and deprovisioning entirely remotely.

What version of Windows works on Apple silicon Macs?

Parallels Desktop allows Apple silicon Macs to run Windows 11 without issue.

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