Additional Information
Most powerful solution for running Windows on Mac without rebooting
| Version | Parallels Desktop 20.1.1 |
| Requirements |
macOS 10.12 Sierra or later |
| Updated | October 27, 2024 |
| Author | Parallels Holdings Ltd. |
| Category | Developer Tools |
| License | Trial |
| Language | English |
| Download | 506 |
Overview
Parallels Desktop for Mac is the first solution that gives Apple users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as macOS on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro.
Unlike dual-boot solutions, in which users must completely shut down macOS and endure a full OS start-up cycle to access a important application, Parallels Desktop 2022 for macOS empowers users with the ability to run important Windows programs like Outlook, Access, Internet Explorer and all other applications without having to give up the usability and functionality of their macOS machine even for a few minutes.
Unlike dual-boot solutions, in which users must completely shut down macOS and endure a full OS start-up cycle to access a important application, Parallels Desktop 2022 for macOS empowers users with the ability to run important Windows programs like Outlook, Access, Internet Explorer and all other applications without having to give up the usability and functionality of their macOS machine even for a few minutes.
- Run more than 200,000 Windows apps on a Mac, including Microsoft Office for PC
- Download and Install Windows OS on your Intel or Apple M series Mac computer
- Seamlessly copy and paste text or drag-and-drop files between Mac and Windows
- Develop and test across multiple OSs in a virtual machine for Mac
- Run Windows applications effortlessly without slowing down your Mac
Run thousands of Windows apps like Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Access, Quicken, QuickBooks, Visual Studio, even graphic intensive games and CAD programs without compromising on performance or rebooting.
- Optimized for macOS Ventura
- Download and Install Windows 11 in one click
- Seamless Mac integration
- Works on Intel and Apple M series chips
- Disk Space Optimization
- Use game controller in Windows with no setup - NEW!
- Automate with CLI tools + CLI for macOS VM on Apple M series Mac - NEW!
- Per user licensing option for companies that are ready to use SSO/SAML/SCIM integration - NEW!
- And many more!
Features and Highlights
Seamless
Use Windows side-by-side with macOS (no restarting required) on your MacBook®, MacBook Pro, iMac®, iMac Pro, Mac mini® or Mac Pro®. Share files and folders, copy and paste images and text & drag and drop files between Mac and Windows applications.
Easy Set-Up
Parallels Desktop automatically detects what you need to get started so you are up and going within minutes! If you need Windows, you’ll be prompted to Download and Install Windows 11 OR Choose your existing Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, or Boot Camp® installation.
Lightning Fast
Graphic and resource-hungry Windows applications run effortlessly without slowing down your Mac. Run the most demanding applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Visual Studio®, SketchUp® or AutoDesk Revit.
Choose your View
Make Windows invisible while still using its applications in Coherence Mode, or if you’re new to Mac, you can set Windows to occupy your entire screen, so it looks just like it would if you were using a Windows PC.
Other Features:
Up to Date
Optimized for the latest Windows 11 updates and ready for latest macOS Ventura.
Ultimate Flexibility
Works with OS X, Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7, Google Chrome™,Linux and Unix, and macOS Server. No more having to choose between PC or Mac.
Touch Bar
Add Windows applications to Touch Bar™ for instant access and customization.
Connect Devices
USB, USB-C, Thunderbolt and FireWire devices connect with Windows. Pair your Bluetooth® devices—including Xbox One controller, stylus pen and printer—to work with both Windows and macOS.
Retina® Display Support
Smart resizing and independent screen resolutions for separate displays.
One-Click Tuning
Select productivity, games, design, software testing, or development, and Parallels Desktop will optimize your VM settings and performance for you.
Instant Access
Launch and access Windows applications right from the Mac Dock.
Save Disk Space
Get the most out of your Mac with automatic Disk Space optimization.
Office 365 Integration
Allows Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents in Safari to open in their native Windows Office app.
Works with Boot Camp
Reuse your existing Boot Camp installation. Converting a virtual machine from Boot Camp is easy, just follow our installation assistant at startup.
Volume License Key
Unified volume license key, centralized license management, and advanced security features are available in Parallels Desktop Business Edition.
Travel Mode
Extend battery life while away from a power source.
Parallels® Toolbox
Over 30 one-touch tools—clean your drive, take screenshots, download a video, and more—all with just a single click.
Remote Access
Remote access to your Mac from any iOS device, Android device, or browser with Parallels Access®.
How does Parallels Desktop work?
To add Windows, Linux, or another operating system to your Mac, Parallels Desktop creates a virtual machine (VM)—a virtual PC inside your Mac. You can then install Windows on the virtual machine, just as you would install any operating system on a regular computer. Run multiple OSs at the same time, all on your Mac. It’s like two computers in one!
Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac Standard Edition
- Full support for Apple’s ProMotion display with automatic refresh rate changes and increased Apple M1 Ultra performance, allowing users to assign more RAM and CPU cores and run Windows 11 up to 96% faster on Mac Studio with Apple’s M1 Ultra chip.
- Enhanced Windows game play experience on a Mac. Users can now connect a game controller to their Mac, switch to Windows, and start playing, in addition to automatically sharing Xbox or DualShock Bluetooth game controllers with Windows and Linux. Enjoy smooth Windows UI and video playback, a higher frame rate, and much more.
- Improved compatibility of Intel (x86) applications when running Windows 11 on ARM, specifically when saving and reading files from the Mac disk.
- Improved USB 3.0 to support live data streaming devices, including Elgato HD60, Startech USB 3.0 Video Capture, and more.
Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac Pro Edition
Includes all features in Standard Edition, with the following additional functionality:
- Powerful network conditioner on Apple M1 Macs enables users to set up various network conditions for a virtual machine (VM), such as bandwidth, packet loss, and delay, similar to both Windows and Linux VMs.
- Isolate VM network from Mac on Apple M1 Mac computers for better security and start a Minikube cluster with Parallels Desktop as a virtualization provider.
- Ability to use network boot with Linux ARM VMs now available on Mac computers with Apple M1 chips.
- Easily analyze an application performance on a separate VM using the enhanced Parallels plugin for Visual Studio.
Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac Business Edition
Includes all features of the Standard and Pro Editions, with the following additional functionality:
- Convenient SSO/SAML authentication enables employees to sign in and activate Parallels Desktop with a corporate account.
- Allow IT admins to deploy, provision, or transfer a Windows 11 VM across employees’ Mac computers.
- Manage your Parallels Customer Experience Program participation centrally in Parallels My Account.
Note: 14 days trial version. SSD (Flash Storage) is recommended for greater performance.
