Parallels Desktop

What's new in
Parallels Desktop 16

Packed with 30+ new features. Get the most out of your Mac.

Future Ready

Optimized for the latest Windows 10 updates and macOS Big Sur, with a refreshed design, easier setup and much more. Parallels Desktop continues to stay up to date so you can keep working without interruption—even when a new macOS, Windows or Linux release pops up.

Native macOS Virtualization

In macOS Big Sur, Parallels Desktop offers an easier onboarding experience by using the native macOS system extensions instead of the deprecated kernel ones.

Support for macOS 11.0

Parallels Desktop 16 supports macOS Big Sur 11.0, macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14, and macOS High Sierra 10.13.

New! Parallels Desktop 16 Features

Faster. Less Distractions. Enhanced Integration. Improved Graphics.

Stay Focused

If you enable Do Not Disturb in macOS, the Windows equivalent known as Focus Assist will automatically turn on in Windows 10 for a distraction-free, popup-free experience.

Disk Space

On the General tab of the virtual machine configuration, Windows may be set to automatically return all unused disk space to the Mac upon shutdown.

Longer Battery Life

Parallels Desktop helps to save battery life when your Mac is not plugged in.

In the improved Travel Mode, Windows consumes fewer computing and network resources, which results in up to 10% longer battery life.

Run More Applications

Parallels Desktop 16 delivers full support for OpenGL 3.3 Compatibility Profile to support more applications, including DIALux EVO 9, SAMSON Connect, ProPresenter 6, CLIN Check Pro, Rhino 6 and more.

Trackpad Gestures

Experience added support for the two-finger pinch gesture to rotate content in Windows 10 applications, such as Maps, Photos, Edge, and more. Zoom gesture has also improved to provide a smoother experience.

Graphics

Up to 20% faster DirectX 11 graphics on Macs equipped with AMD Radeon graphics cards.

Get the world’s first Metal graphics support for macOS virtual machines. Run Mac apps like Maps, Pages, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, and many others. Note: Metal graphics is supported for macOS Big Sur (and later) virtual machines if Parallels Desktop 16 is installed in macOS Big Sur (and later) as well.

Up to
2x
faster

Parallels Desktop application startup

Up to
20%
faster

Windows resume and quit

Linux

In one click, use and download the latest Linux distributives, including Ubuntu 20.04, CentOS 8, Fedora 32, and Debian 10. In Linux, you may now use more applications, including Steam, Firefox Quantum web browser, and enjoy better multimonitor support for the KDE window manager.

(Pro and Business editions)
For those who use Parallels virtual machines for software development, executing “git status” for Git repositories located in Linux shared folders has become up to 75% faster.

Configurable timer for auto pause

Now, in the Startup & Shutdown pane of virtual machine configuration, you may choose a time period of inactivity, after which Windows will pause.

Select Windows edition before installation

Installing Windows from an ISO image with multiple Windows editions is now fully automated. Parallels Desktop 16 will offer to select the desired Windows edition before the start of installation to eliminate manual entry of information related to edition, license key, etc.

Prepare virtual machines for transfer

Pro and Business editions only
Simply right-click the virtual machine in the Control Center and select Prepare for Transfer. Parallels Desktop 16 will pack the virtual machine to a single file and reduce its size for easier and faster upload. Parallels Desktop 16 uses a reliable in-place packing algorithm and, unlike zipping, does not require extra disk space to pack the virtual machine.

Corporate virtual machine provisioning

Business edition only
System administrators may create pre-configured Windows virtual machines with all the necessary applications installed, prepare a package, upload to cloud storage, and specify a download link and description in Parallels My Account.

When Business users first open Parallels Desktop, they will be offered to download this virtual machine. The process is simple and secure—users will get the ready-for-use virtual machine in one click.

Standard Edition

Installation

  • Use Sign in with Apple for Parallels account registration and sign-in.
  • Download and install Windows 10 automatically in one click.
  • Activate Windows automatically by specifying a license key before installation.
  • Use Express Installation to fully automate Windows installation and user account setup.
  • Install virtual machines from an ISO image, app, USB, CD, or DVD.
  • Select automatically detected operating system installers from Downloads and Desktop folders.
  • Use automatic Parallels Tools installation for many operating systems.
  • Easily configure Windows for Productivity or Gaming.
  • Use Windows from Boot Camp in a virtual machine.
  • Import Boot Camp into a standalone virtual machine.
  • Migrate Windows from PC to a virtual machine.
  • Download Ubuntu Linux, Fedora Linux, CentOS Linux, Debian GNU/Linux, Mint Linux, and Android virtual machines.
  • Download a ready-to-go Windows 10 virtual machine with Legacy Edge app.
  • Install macOS into a virtual machine from Recovery Partition.
  • Import VMware, VirtualBox, and Hyper-V (VHD only) virtual machines.

Onboarding

  • Download a full-featured free 14-day trial of Parallels Desktop Pro Edition
  • Purchase Windows 10 directly from Parallels Desktop.
  • Learn about basic Parallels Desktop features upon completing Windows installation.
  • Learn about Coherence view mode upon first entering.
  • Learn about working with Shared Profile folders when deleting Mac files from Windows.
  • Use Parallels Desktop Help to learn more about application features.

General

  • Run Windows and other virtual machines using native macOS virtualization on macOS Big Sur and later (with no additional kernel extensions).
  • Use up to 4 CPUs and 8GB of RAM for a virtual machine.
  • Boot a virtual machine from USB, network, or external disk.
  • Manage virtual machine's boot order and devices.
  • Suspend and resume virtual machines for better productivity.
  • Create snapshots to save OS and disk states and revert to it later.
  • Save the current virtual machine state before reverting to a snapshot.
  • Automatically pause a virtual machine when it's idle to save Mac resources.
  • Configure the time when a virtual machine gets paused.
  • Configure a virtual machine to always run in the background.
  • Configure a virtual machine to start when Parallels Desktop starts.

Appearance

  • Use a virtual machine in a window, full screen, or picture-in-picture modes.
  • Use all Mac displays when in full screen.
  • Show and hide Windows spaces on all displays simultaneously.
  • Optimize full screen for games.
  • Use Windows gamma settings when in full screen.
  • Configure opacity and always-on-top for the picture-in-picture mode.
  • Use Windows applications in Coherence view mode side-by-side with macOS apps.
  • Use Parallels Desktop in a dark theme.
  • Configure the virtual machine's startup and shutdown behavior.
  • Monitor CPU, network, and disk activity on the virtual machine status bar.
  • Use Resource Monitor to track CPU and RAM usage for several virtual machines.
  • Use Free Up Disk Space wizard to manage disk space.
  • See what Mac folders are shared with Windows in File Explorer.
  • Show Windows applications in the Dock.
  • Show Dock icons in Coherence only.
  • Make Dock icons bounce to alert.

Graphics

  • Use a virtual machine with Retina-optimized high-DPI resolution.
  • Run DirectX 11 applications in Windows (powered by Apple Metal).
  • Run OpenGL 3 applications in Windows and Linux.
  • Run macOS Big Sur virtual machine with Apple Metal support (on macOS Big Sur host).
  • Use up to half of Windows RAM for video memory (hardware dependent).
  • Toggle high-performance graphics usage (discrete graphics card).

Integration

  • Use Windows in Travel Mode to extend MacBook battery life.
  • Schedule Windows maintenance for installing Windows updates.
  • Control Windows applications with special Touch Bar options.
  • Open Mac files using Windows applications.
  • Make Windows applications default for opening macOS files.
  • Use native Windows icons in macOS for executable files.
  • Open Windows applications from macOS.
  • Open macOS applications from Windows.
  • Drag and drop files and images between macOS and a virtual machine (Windows, Linux, macOS).
  • Drag and drop macOS screenshot preview to Windows apps.
  • Copy and Paste formatted text and files between macOS and a virtual machine (Windows, Linux, macOS).
  • Open web links from Windows in macOS browsers.
  • Use Windows email client as default on Mac.
  • Share macOS folders and disks with Windows.
  • Share Windows folders and disks with macOS.
  • Use macOS user profile folders as Windows user profile folders (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.).
  • Share macOS network locations and volumes with Windows.
  • Use Windows apps on iPad with Sidecar using Apple Pencil.
  • Use synchronized time and time zones between Mac and Windows.
  • Use synchronized macOS location with Windows.
  • Use notification badge for the Outlook Dock icon to track unread emails.
  • Use Outlook notifications in macOS.
  • Attach recently- created Mac files to Outlook emails.
  • Open Microsoft Office files from the macOS browser in Windows Desktop apps.
  • Show Windows notification area on the Mac menu bar.
  • Allow Windows applications to enter the full screen automatically when running in the Coherence mode.
  • Share iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Drive macOS folders with Windows.
  • Use macOS Dictionary in Windows.
  • Use macOS Dictation in Windows.
  • Use macOS Quick Look in Windows.
  • Use macOS Special Characters in Windows.
  • Pin your contacts from Windows People Bar to macOS Dock.
  • Share Windows files using the macOS Share menu embedded in the Windows context menu.
  • Insert photos and documents from iPhone to Windows.
  • Send files from Finder to Windows email client.
  • Use synchronized macOS Do Not Disturb with Windows 10 Focus Assist.

Devices

  • Use all your Mac keyboard layouts in Windows automatically.
  • Use synchronized keyboard layout selection between macOS and Windows.
  • Customize keyboard shortcuts for virtual machines.
  • Use the mouse with seamless switching between macOS and Windows.
  • Optimize mouse and keyboard for games.
  • Use the smooth scrolling with Trackpad.
  • Use the smooth zoom and rotate gestures with TrackPad.
  • Use Trackpad with Force Touch and Pressure Sensitivity in Windows.
  • Use drawing tablets in Windows with full pen support (pressure, tilt, twist, erase).
  • Print from Windows using Mac printers with duplex printing and up to A0 paper size.
  • Synchronize the default printer between Mac and Windows.
  • Show macOS printing settings before printing from Windows.
  • Connect USB devices directly to a virtual machine.
  • Manage USB devices' automatic connection to a running virtual machine.
  • Use a Mac web camera in Windows up to 4K resolution.
  • Use VoIP phones in Windows.
  • Use high-definition audio input/output in virtual machines.
  • Synchronize sound volume between macOS and Windows.
  • Share Bluetooth devices with Windows.
  • Connect Bluetooth devices to Windows using Simple Pairing.
  • Use expanding virtual disks to occupy as much disk space as the virtual machine uses.
  • Use real-time disk space optimization for Windows to optimize Mac disk space usage.
  • Automatically reclaim disk space on a virtual machine shutdown.
  • Resize virtual hard disks up to 2TB.
  • Add a virtual floppy device to a virtual machine.
  • Add a serial port device to a virtual machine.

Network

  • Use Shared network mode to share the Internet with a virtual machine.
  • Use Bridged network mode to connect any network adapter to a virtual machine.
  • Use Host-Only network mode to interconnect virtual machines in isolated networks.
  • Generate MAC address for Windows.

Security

  • Use the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 device in Windows 10.
  • Isolate a virtual machine from macOS.
  • Encrypt a virtual machine.
  • Restrict changing virtual machine state with the macOS admin password.
  • Restrict changing virtual machine configuration with the macOS admin password.
  • Restrict changing view mode with the macOS admin password.
  • Restrict managing snapshots with the macOS admin password.
  • Use Touch ID instead of manual passwords.

Support

  • Use a large variety of Knowledge Base articles to get quick help.
  • Use Facebook Messenger or Twitter to get quick help.
  • Use Parallels Forums to connect with other users.
  • Get 24/7/365 chat, phone, and email support.
  • Authorize in Support Center automatically when using the in-product Help option.

Bonus Software

  • Includes a three-month complimentary subscription for Parallels Access™, the easiest way to access your computer from anywhere remotely.
  • Includes a three-month complimentary subscription for Parallels® Toolbox with over 30 one-touch tools. Clean your drive, take screenshots, and more.

Pro Edition

Note: Parallels Desktop Pro Edition includes all features of the Standard Edition.

General

  • Use up to 32 CPUs and 128GB of RAM for a virtual machine (VM).
  • Enable Nested Virtualization to install and work in WSL 2, Docker for Windows, Android emulator for Visual Studio, iPhone emulator for Visual Studio, Xamarin.Android, Android Studio, Embarcadero RAD Studio, and more.
  • Configure a startup delay for a VM.
  • Optimize VM settings and performance with Software Development, Software Testing, and Design profiles.
  • Download a ready-to-go Windows 10 virtual machine with Visual Studio.
  • Switch a virtual machine to a pre-defined resolution.
  • Use Linked Clones for convenient testing and development.
  • Start Windows in Rollback Mode if you don't want Windows to store the changes you made to it during the working session.
  • Use NetBoot for macOS VMs.
  • Archive/unarchive VMs in Control Center to save disk space.
  • Limit VM resource usage.
  • Use 8.3 filenames for Shared Folders.
  • Support for mmap() in Linux Shared Folders.
  • Use EFI Secure Boot.
  • Create and use VM templates.
  • Share smart card readers with Windows.
  • Prepare VM for transfer to another Mac or cloud storage.

Appearance

  • Run VMs as background processes without the GUI displayed on the Mac desktop (Headless mode).
  • Color code VMs from the Context menu to distinguish them from one another.
  • Set a custom icon for every VM.
  • Sort VMs in the Control Center.
  • Use Linked Clone indication in the Control Center.

Network

  • Test different connectivity issues with an enhanced network editor; simulate 3G, Edge, or an unstable network connection or limit network bandwidth in a VM.
  • Check and copy the virtual machine's IP address using the Network icon on the VM status bar.
  • Quickly start the SSH session with your VM.
  • Open your website hosted in a VM in one click for testing with the "Open in Browser" menu.
  • Resolve DNS requests from VM using the info in /etc/resolver from the host macOS.
  • Use port forwarding to pass traffic from a Mac port to a VM or IP address and desired port.
  • Use VM names as their DNS names.
  • Use tcpdump with virtual networks.
  • Create custom host-only networks.
  • Specify names for custom host-only networks.
  • Use DNS requests over TCP in Shared Network.

Develop

  • Use Microsoft Visual Studio plugin to debug in a separate virtual machine.
  • Use the Parallels Vagrant plugin to work with reproducible and portable work environments.
  • Use linked clones in the Vagrant plugin to create new boxes fast and use disk space efficiently.
  • Use Jenkins to run a build server on Mac.
  • Natively manage your Docker VMs, manipulate your VM with SSH or the command line, and support linked clones and VM templates.
  • Generate a VM memory dump using Parallels Desktop UI controls.
  • Start a debugging session in Terminal using Parallels Desktop UI controls.
  • Access Pro tools from the menu: SSH, WEB, DBG, DUMP.
  • Use the Parallels SDK with Python 3.0 support.

Command Line Interface

  • Use Command Line Interface tools to control Parallels Desktop and manage VMs, including their settings and configuration.
  • Use bash (zsh) autocompletion for the Parallels CLI tools.
  • Pass arguments to virtual machine applications.

Bonus Software

  • Includes a complimentary subscription for Parallels Access™, the easiest way to access your computer from anywhere remotely.
  • Includes a complimentary subscription for Parallels® Toolbox with over 30 one-touch tools. Clean your drive, take screenshots, and more.

Support

  • Get Premium 24/7/365 phone, email, and chat support.

Business Edition

Note: Parallels Desktop Business Edition includes all features of the Standard and Pro Edition.

Licensing and Support

  • Use Parallels My Account web app for administration and support.
  • Manage corporate users: download a CSV list of users, promote admins, block users.
  • Use a single license key on a selected number of computers.
  • Monitor license usage (seats left, how many in use).
  • Find information about Macs where Parallels Desktop was installed, generate reports, and manage information columns.
  • Deactivate a license on selected Macs remotely to free seats for being used on other computers.
  • Blacklist selected computers, so a user won't be able to activate Parallels Desktop on it again.
  • Send a custom message to users who will be deactivated/blacklisted.
  • Create sub-licenses from the master license to protect master license, limit usage between several offices or departments, easily control license deactivation for classes and graduates.
  • Assign administrators to one license or sub-license.
  • Get extended 30-day grace period to have more time for license renewal.
  • Rename computers and leave notes in their description.

Deployment

  • Use deployment package to configure and deploy Parallels Desktop and virtual machines to Macs using ARD, Jamf, Parallels Mac Management, Munki, and other Mac Management tools.
  • Send invitation emails to users, with a build, a license key, and other instructions.
  • Prepare, upload, and enable Business users to download the VM on their Macs in one click.
  • Select Windows applications to automatically add to the Mac Dock after deployment.
  • Enable Single Application Mode to hide Parallels Desktop UI and notifications and to show specified Windows application only.
  • Deploy archived VMs.

Administration

  • Use the Business Edition Administrator's Guide with instructions describing how to use product functionalities.
  • Use advanced options in Command Line Tools to manage Parallels Desktop installations after deployment.
  • Customize Control Center appearance to include Business logo and Helpdesk references.
  • Customize the in-product "Request Support" option to route users to Helpdesk.
  • Use a local update server to manage Parallels Desktop updates and upgrades.
  • Change Windows user account password using Command Line Tools (if a user lost a password).
  • Set custom Asset ID for Windows virtual machines to mark virtual machines in management tools or to pass some information from Mac to Windows.
  • Control Parallels Desktop upgrades using the Parallels My Account web app.

Security

  • Set a custom (non-Mac-admin) password to protect VM settings.
  • Restrict Parallels Desktop users from changing VM settings, and view modes.
  • Restrict Parallels Desktop users from creating, removing, cloning, and other operations over virtual machines.
  • Create expiring virtual machines with a specified lifetime.
  • Enforce USB device policies, so the users won't be able to connect specific types of devices to Windows or another VM.
  • Lock Windows before suspending a virtual machine to protect information.

Support

  • Get Premium 24/7/365 phone and email support.
  • Share support tickets with other Business account members.
  • Escalate tickets to the Parallels Support Management team.

Compare Editions

Standard Edition
Download and install Windows 10 in one click
Optimized for macOS Big Sur (11.0)
Disk Space Optimization
Auto Video Memory
Free upgrade to the latest version *
Customize Touch Bar for Windows applications

* with Subscription

Buy NowUpgrade
Upgrade £39.99
Most Popular
Pro Edition
All the Standard Edition features PLUS:
Advanced networking tools
Free upgrades to newer versions
Integration With Chef/Ohai/Docker/Vagrant
Convert VM bundles to a single file for transfer or deployment
Convert VM bundles to a single file for deployment
Convert VM bundles to a single file for transfer
Rename custom networks
Microsoft Visual Studio plug-In
Debug, dump VM or start an SSH session from menu
Support for business cloud services
Premium 24/7 phone and email support
Buy NowUpgrade
Upgrade £39.99/yr
Business Edition
All the Standard and Pro Edition features PLUS:
Centralized administration and management
Unified Volume License Key for mass deployment
Buy Now
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