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Parallels Desktop for Mac

Run Windows apps without rebooting.

$99.99
In English
4.0
Based on 1359 user rates

Parallels Desktop overview

Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows and Mac applications side by side. Choose your view to make Windows invisible while still using its applications, or keep the familiar Windows background and controls on your Mac.

Works with Boot Camp®
  • Reuse your existing Boot Camp installation. Converting a virtual machine from Boot Camp is now much easier and more intuitive than ever.
Not just for Windows
  • Run a wide array of operating systems including OS X, Windows 10, 8.1 & 7, Linux, and Google ChromeTM. You can run just about anything on your Mac!
One-click tuning
  • Select productivity, games, design, or development, and Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac will optimize your virtual machine settings and performance for you.
Robust Performance
  • Parallels Desktop Pro Edition gives your virtual machines more processing power. Up to 64 GB vRAM and 16 vCPUs per virtual machine lets you run even the most demanding applications with ease.
Business Class Software
  • Keep IT in control of end user licenses and Windows virtual machines with a Unified Volume License Key, centralized license management, and advanced security features available in Parallels Desktop Business Edition.

Compare Parallels Desktop Pro and Business Edition you can here.

What’s new in version 20.1.1

  • Overall stability and performance issues.
  • Fixes the issue that led to Parallels Desktop crashing when attempting to use Apple Writing Tools in Windows;
  • Fixes the virtual machine memory leak issue;
  • Resolves the issue that prevented Parallels Desktop from launching on Macs with Kaspersky Anti-Virus installed and configured in a certain way.
View older Parallels Desktop versions

Parallels Desktop for Mac

$99.99
In English
Version 20.1.1

What users say about Parallels Desktop

Mr.Ash
By Mr.Ash on Jul 7 2021 for v.16.1.3

Value: 1.0

Since version 16 and MacOS Big Sur, Parallels Desktop no longer works properly. To be precise, network and Internet connections are no longer possible.

Customer support: 1.0

The worst point of all. Paralles' customer service doesn't seem to care about customer complaints. The Internet and the official support forums are full of the aforementioned errors and complaints, but the customer service offers no solutions to the problem. Even worse, they don't respond at all in the meantime.

Other user ratings:

Ease of use | 5.0
Features | 4.0
Reliability | 1.0
Write a detailed review about Parallels Desktop

What customer like

Design

What needs improvements

Value
Support
Bug fixing

Parallels Desktop qualities

Value
1.0
Ease of use
5.0
Features
4.0
Reliability
1.0
Customer support
1.0

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

MacUpdate Comment Policy. We strongly recommend leaving comments, however comments with abusive words, bullying, personal attacks of any type will be moderated.
4.0

(744 Reviews of Parallels Desktop)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Oct 25 2024
20.1.0
5.0
Oct 25 2024
5.0
Version: 20.1.0
v20.1.1 is out. "This update for Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac 20.1.1 (55740) addresses overall stability and performance issues. • Fixes the issue that led to Parallels Desktop crashing when attempting to use Apple Writing Tools in Windows; • Fixes the virtual machine memory leak issue; • Resolves the issue that prevented Parallels Desktop from launching on Macs with Kaspersky Anti-Virus installed and configured in a certain way."
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Mar 10 2024
19.2.1
5.0
Mar 10 2024
5.0
Version: 19.2.1
v19.3.0 is out. "Parallels Desktop for Mac 19.3.0 (54924) update addresses the overall stability and security issues and includes the following additions and improvements: --General • Fixes the issue with Parallels Desktop failing to launch on Apple Silicon Macs with a Virtual Machine Monitor error. • Enables Parallels Desktop Pro users and Parallels Desktop for Business administrators to control the direction of copy/paste clipboard sharing between macOS and virtual machines, allowing clipboard data to be shared not only in both directions, but also only from the Mac to the virtual machine, or only in reverse. • Fixes the issue of Parallels Desktop for Business mass deploy package returning an error when installing with specific authentication options. • Fixes the issue where users could not initiate the Parallels Toolbox installation process from the Settings panel. --Windows 11 • Fixes the issue where Windows would get stuck at booting after a Parallels Tools update. • Fixes a graphic rendering issue in Dark Souls 2. • Fixes a graphic rendering issue in Rise of Kingdoms. • Fixes various graphic rendering issues in Genshin Impact. • Fixes various graphic rendering issues in Edificus 3D modelling software. --Linux • Adds support for express installation of Arm versions of Ubuntu Desktop 21 & 22. • Fixes the issue of Parallels Tools failing to install on Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS for amd64 architecture. • Fixes the vector type 28 error occurring when creating a Kali Linux 2023.3 machine and enabling Rosetta. • Improves the trackpad scrolling sensitivity and enables manual scrolling speed adjustments. To adjust sensitivity, execute the following command in macOS Terminal: $ defaults write "com.parallels.Parallels Desktop" "HID Host Hook.Scroll Sensitivity" X Where X < 120 (20 = the default value, 120 = the lowest sensivity) --macOS (virtual machines on Macs with Apple silicon) • Enables macOS virtual machine parameters (e.g., CPU cores, RAM size, disk size, etc.) to be configured graphically, just like with Windows and Linux virtual machines. • The default virtual disk size is now set to 128GB. • Enables Cmd+Tab, Cmd+Space system shortcuts and Fn button to be sent to a macOS virtual machine. • Fixes the issue where an active OpenVPN connection on your Mac would prevent a macOS virtual machine from maintaining an internet connection while in Shared network mode. • Fixes the issue where a macOS virtual machine could not access the Internet when zScaler VPN software was being run on the Mac. • Fixes the issue where a virtual machine with a public beta version of macOS Sonoma 14.4 (23E5191e) installed from a recovery partition or .app would not respond to the keyboard. --What Will Be Deprecated or Removed from Parallels Desktop Soon - According to the statistics from the users who participate in the Parallels Customer Experience program, some product features are used very seldom or not at all. We have decided to either stop supporting them or completely remove them from Parallels Desktop and focus on frequently used features and further enhancements. - Below is the list of features that are no longer supported and will be removed – not in version 19.3.0, but in the next major version of Parallels Desktop for Mac. None of the features mentioned below are business-critical, so these changes will have little to no effect on your workflow. -- On all Mac computers, the following things are no longer supported: • Travel Mode • The option to launch a virtual machine when your Mac starts • Parallels Virtualization SDK (see details here) • The 32-bit version of Parallels Tools for Windows and Linux • The resource usage slider in the virtual machine’s Optimization settings tab • The option to download Parallels Access from the Parallels Desktop preferences panel --On Mac computers with Intel processors, the following things are no longer supported: • The "Extended memory limit” option in the virtual machine’s CPU & Memory > Advanced settings tab • Resource Monitor • Support for macOS 10.5 to 10.8 virtual machines • Support for the Visual Studio plugin for remote debugging • Network boot for macOS virtual machines"
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Dec 27 2023
19.2.0
5.0
Dec 27 2023
5.0
Version: 19.2.0
v19.2.1 is out. "This update for Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac 19.2.1 (54832) addresses overall stability and performance issues."
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Dec 14 2023
19.1.1
5.0
Dec 14 2023
5.0
Version: 19.1.1
v19.2.0-54827 is out. Release Notes: "Parallels Desktop for Mac 19.2.0 (54827) update addresses the overall stability and security issues and includes the following additions and improvements: - General • Introduces a new approach to VM cloning using native APFS mechanisms that drastically improves cloning operation speed; • Introduces a new approach to the “Sign in with Apple” option for signing into a Parallels account that supports Apple IDs with hardware security keys added as a second authentication factor; • Fixes an issue where a VM window becomes half transparent while running on a Mac with multiple displays; • Fixes an issue where Parallels Desktop loses network communication in an IPv6-only network. - Windows 11 • Fixes an issue where the Windows context menu appears behind the application window in Coherence mode; • Fixes an issue where Windows VM fails with BSOD while running on an external drive with macOS Sonoma as a primary OS; • Fixes an issue where a video timeline was not displayed correctly in the VIRBE video editor; • Sets A4 as a default paper size for new shared printers added to Windows machines. - macOS (virtual machines on Macs with Apple silicon) • Closing the virtual machine window automatically suspends the VM (requires macOS Sonoma 14.1 or newer); • Adds the ability to disable automatic updates for Parallels Tools by executing the Terminal command ($ prlctl set --tools-autoupdate no); • Adds the “Clone…” option to the VM context menu."
Macinman
Macinman
Oct 22 2023
19.1.0
0.0
Oct 22 2023
0.0
Version: 19.1.0
I was looking at Parallels Desktop to try as an alternative to Fusion. Nothing wrong with fusion, aned now tht VMware has released 13.5 as a free upgrade for 13 owners, I'm happy. But I wanted to try Parallels to see how it compares, but after looking at their pricing, I probably won't because according to their site they only offer standard with a one time purchase option. Pro is subscription only, and I would probably want pro, because the pro version usually has "at least one, if not more" features I use. Is there a way to get Parallels Pro as a one payment solution?
siroossetak
siroossetak
Jul 9 2023
18.3.0
2.0
Jul 9 2023
2.0
Version: 18.3.0
Edric1998
Edric1998
Sep 20 2022
18.0.0
5.0
Sep 20 2022
5.0
Version: 18.0.0
Aargl
Aargl
Aug 10 2022
18.0.0
5.0
Aug 10 2022
5.0
Version: 18.0.0
Drtyrell969
Drtyrell969
Mar 31 2022
17.1.1
5.0
Mar 31 2022
5.0
Version: 17.1.1
Mcr
Mcr
Dec 4 2021
17.1.1
2.0
Dec 4 2021
2.0
Version: 17.1.1
ismailov23
ismailov23
Sep 4 2021
17.0.0
5.0
Sep 4 2021
5.0
Version: 17.0.0
ERNEST UNGUREANU
ERNEST UNGUREANU
Jan 2 2021
1.0
Jan 2 2021
1.0
Version: null
dupap56
dupap56
Dec 7 2020
3.0
Dec 7 2020
3.0
Version: null
Solo68
Solo68
Dec 2 2020
4.0
Dec 2 2020
4.0
Version: null
PDBURSTEIN
PDBURSTEIN
Nov 28 2020
2.0
Nov 28 2020
2.0
Version: null
nasrshbool7
nasrshbool7
Oct 15 2020
1.0
Oct 15 2020
1.0
Version: null
Dualist
Dualist
May 30 2020
2.0
May 30 2020
2.0
Version: null
submitter2008
submitter2008
May 5 2020
4.0
May 5 2020
4.0
Version: null
selcukatay-1
selcukatay-1
Apr 6 2020
1.0
Apr 6 2020
1.0
Version: null
iLeopard
iLeopard
Mar 19 2020
4.0
Mar 19 2020
4.0
Version: null
bazlane
bazlane
Mar 11 2020
5.0
Mar 11 2020
5.0
Version: null
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Feb 21 2020
5.0
Feb 21 2020
5.0
Version: null
trickyboy
trickyboy
Dec 1 2019
4.0
Dec 1 2019
4.0
Version: null
ocean442
ocean442
Nov 6 2019
4.0
Nov 6 2019
4.0
Version: null
MarcoCarugati7711
MarcoCarugati7711
Jul 18 2019
1.0
Jul 18 2019
1.0
Version: null
Sixbillships
Sixbillships
Feb 15 2019
4.5
Feb 15 2019
4.5
Version: null
makareim
makareim
Jan 5 2019
5.0
Jan 5 2019
5.0
Version: null
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Jan 4 2019
5.0
Jan 4 2019
5.0
Version: null
mzbe
mzbe
Aug 26 2018
5.0
Aug 26 2018
5.0
Version: null
Radus
Radus
Jun 25 2018
5.0
Jun 25 2018
5.0
Version: null
ron-murray
ron-murray
Jan 5 2018
4.0
Jan 5 2018
4.0
Version: null
orhon
orhon
Nov 29 2017
3.0
Nov 29 2017
3.0
Version: null
mihailgarahin-cdo
mihailgarahin-cdo
Oct 18 2017
0.5
Oct 18 2017
0.5
Version: null
Agf-
Agf-
Oct 10 2017
2.0
Oct 10 2017
2.0
Version: null
Richard-Hallas
Richard-Hallas
Oct 10 2017
5.0
Oct 10 2017
5.0
Version: null
Mr_Mark
Mr_Mark
Oct 6 2017
0.5
Oct 6 2017
0.5
Version: null
CruzinCooler
CruzinCooler
Sep 14 2017
2.0
Sep 14 2017
2.0
Version: null
cig0
cig0
Sep 1 2017
0.5
Sep 1 2017
0.5
Version: null
Sylanel
Sylanel
Aug 24 2017
0.5
Aug 24 2017
0.5
Version: null
GorgeousGeorge
GorgeousGeorge
May 16 2017
5.0
May 16 2017
5.0
Version: null
joie-hadi-nata-tan
joie-hadi-nata-tan
Dec 11 2016
5.0
Dec 11 2016
5.0
Version: null
Macpenguin
Macpenguin
Nov 24 2016
1.0
Nov 24 2016
1.0
Version: null
svemelko
svemelko
Aug 27 2016
1.5
Aug 27 2016
1.5
Version: null
christopher-Slevin
christopher-Slevin
Aug 27 2016
2.0
Aug 27 2016
2.0
Version: null
MacSpanner
MacSpanner
Aug 26 2016
0.5
Aug 26 2016
0.5
Version: null