Parallels Desktop 4+
Run apps for Windows
Parallels International GmbH
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- Free
- Offers In-App Purchases
Screenshots
Description
Parallels Desktop enables you to run Windows and other OSs on Mac seamlessly.
With Parallels Desktop, you get the advantages of macOS, Windows, and Linux on the same physical machine.
As the first Microsoft-authorized partner to run Windows on a Mac with Apple silicon, Parallels Desktop for Mac offers the ideal solution for running Windows 11 on your Apple silicon Mac.
Our App Store Edition runs in a sandbox. There are differences between our Parallels Desktop App Store and Standard and Pro editions. Learn more about the differences: https://kb.parallels.com/123796.
Try our Parallels Desktop App Store Edition for free with a 14-day trial. Scroll to in-app purchases for pricing.
Trusted by over 7+ million Mac users worldwide.
Named #1 best application for running Windows by About.com Reader's Choice.
PCMag: "The best and fastest emulation software for running Windows, Linux, and even older versions of macOS on Intel-based Macs."
Macworld: "The best option for Mac users who need to run Windows software on their Mac."
KEY FEATURES
—Play hundreds of popular Windows games like Assassin's Creed, Age of Empires, Minecraft, Fall Guys, Rocket League, and Half-Life 2. (limitations apply)
—Run Windows 11 on Arm Pro and Enterprise via Apple Silicon on your Mac.
— Access Windows apps like Microsoft Office 365, Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau, AutoCAD Map 3D, QuickBooks, ArcGIS Pro, Power BI, and more.
—Support for Intel-based and ARM-based Macs and the latest macOS and Windows versions.
— Adjust resources allocated to the VM like CPU, GPU, and RAM for optimized performance.
— On a Mac with an Intel processor, you can run most versions of Windows, Linux, and macOS.
— On a Mac with Apple silicon, you can run Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu Linux, Fedora Workstation, Debian GNU/Linux, Kali Linux, and more.
With Parallels Desktop, you can experience Windows as if it were designed for Mac. Download today and start running Linux and Windows apps on your Mac!
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS
— On a Mac with an Intel processor, you can run most Windows, Linux, and macOS versions
— On a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, the following operating systems (ARM-based only) are supported for running in a virtual machine.
Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions (recommended)
Ubuntu Linux 23.04, 22.04, 21.10, 21.04, 20.10, 20.04
Fedora Workstation 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33-1.2
Debian GNU/Linux 12, 11, 10
Kali Linux 2023.1, 2022.2, 2022.1, 2021.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9
macOS Sonoma 14
macOS Ventura 13
macOS Monterey 12
See the complete list of supported operating systems and system requirements at https://kb.parallels.com/123800.
SUPPORT
Get 24/7 phone, chat, and email support if you purchase a Parallels Desktop App Store Edition subscription.
Upgrade to Parallels Desktop Standard Edition or Pro Edition and unlock more advanced features.
Learn more about the advanced features available in those versions at https://kb.parallels.com/en/123796.
ABOUT PARALLELS DESKTOP
Parallels Desktop is a powerful virtual desktop Mac application that enables users to run Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems and applications on their Mac with Intel or Apple silicon chips.
Parallels Desktop makes this possible through desktop virtualization, utilizing software technology to create a virtual machine (VM).
This VM functions as a virtual PC within your Mac, allowing you to install and operate operating systems just as they would on a physical computer.
If you enjoy using Parallels Desktop or have an idea you'd like to share with us, please leave a review.
DISCLAIMER
It is not recommended that existing Parallels Desktop on the Standard or Pro version users move to Parallels Desktop App Store Edition. Learn more: https://kb.parallels.com/en/123796.
What’s New
Version 1.9.4
Parallels Desktop for Mac 1.9.4 (23885) update addresses the overall stability and security issues and includes the following additions and improvements:
General
• Adds OS badges to app icons displayed in macOS Spotlight search results, a helpful visual cue that tells you exactly which app you are about to launch.
• Fixes the issue of USB devices not showing up correctly in virtual machines when connected to USB 2.0 ports. The fix requires macOS 14.5 or newer installed on your Mac.
Windows 11
• Brings the redesigned version of shared Mac folders which are now symlinks, which act like pointers to the files in your Mac folders while still appearing to be located on the Windows’s local drive. The change is applied only to the new virtual machines. To learn more, read our KB article https://kb.parallels.com/130138.
• Fixes the issue that prevented NinjaTrader from starting correctly due to a shared folder issue.
• Fixes the issue that prevented Mathematica and other apps from running correctly due to a shared folder issue.
• Fixes the issue that prevented a Windows 11 virtual machine from installing correctly if the user attempted to open a .exe file on their Mac during the installation process.
• Fixes the issue that triggered Windows crash (BSOD) when installing LabVIEW in Windows 11 virtual machines running on Apple Silicon Macs.
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 1.9.4, but in one of the next major versions of Parallels Desktop for Mac.
On all Mac computers, the following things are no longer supported:
• Travel Mode
• The 32-bit version of Parallels Tools for Windows and Linux
• 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:
• Resource Monitor
• Support for macOS 10.5 to 10.8 and Oracle virtual machines
Ratings and Reviews
Good for a trial, download from Parallels if you buy
tl;dr just get it from the Parallels website. Knocking a star because this version isn't feature complete, more details below.
Software engineer / gamer who decided to join the Apple ecosystem here. I can honestly say Paralells has been the easiest Virtualization software to get from 0 to productivity within an hour. Running on a M1 Macbook Pro from 2021 and the VM performance feels native. The paid version is worth the money.
That said the product description around the app store version here needs some work:
* It's not obvious that this is a free trial and then a paid subscription product. I knew it was a paid product but I saw a lot of 1 star reviews from peple who felt tricked / sticker shocked. This is preventable with a proper disclaimer.
* Seamless mode is not supported in the app store version. If you buy Parallels, this is probably one of the reaons why. It leaves a bad taste in someone's mouth to spend $90 on a product to have a key feature missing because you have to reinstall and everything you google says it should "just work".
* The Parallels KB needs some info on how to migrate from the app version to the full version and/or detect existing VMs. I at first thought my existing Windows VM was gone when I removed the app store copy and installed the full Parallels version.
unwanted alerts
The App it great and does not really need to much attention other than inner activity among MacOs features and screen readiness. Example when i downloaded the app and uninstalled it i keep getting unwanted chimes that i could not find anywhere on my laptop ( Macbook Air ) installled the app which was still running programs after deletion which is a problem that means access without data actually being stored. it leaves an opening in my system for unwanted attackers. please fix. if i delete it i want to make sure its fully deleted. other than that great app i since reinstalled because of the developments.
Works flawlessly
I'm blown away by how snappy this is on Apple Silicon. Windows 11 works great no matter what I've thrown at it. I do think the Parallels app could use a tad more cleaning up in terms of aesthetcis though, the top macOS window bar above the virtual machine isn't customizable and has some ugly buttons on it that are scaled kind of weird. I'd love the option to remove everything from teh top bar so it's nice and clean.
Also love that this version is avaialbe on the Mac App Store. Kudos to Paralllels for making a sandboxed App Store version for those of us who want the option.
Developer Response ,
Hello,
Thank you for the awesome review! We work hard to meet expectations like yours. We've acknowledged yor feedback regarding UI.
Thanks, Parallels Team
App Privacy
The developer, Parallels International GmbH, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Linked to You
The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:
- Purchases
- Contact Info
- User Content
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Parallels International GmbH
- Size
- 287.5 MB
- Category
- Business
- Compatibility
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- Mac
- Requires macOS 12.0 or later.
- Languages
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English, Czech, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2024 Parallels International GmbH. All rights reserved. Parallels, and the Parallels logo are trademarks of Parallels International GmbH. parallels.com/legal
- Price
- Free
- In-App Purchases
-
- Parallels Desktop for Mac $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac #4 $99.99
- Subscription (1 year) $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac #2 $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac #3 $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac #5 $99.99
- Subscription (1 year) $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac $99.99
- Parallels Desktop for Mac #4 $99.99
- Subscription (1 year) $99.99