The Ultimate Virtual Desktop Software for Running Windows on Mac
Works on Intel and Apple M-series chips
Every computer, whether it's a Mac or PC, comes with its pros and cons. Parallels Desktop 20 allows users to take advantage of the best features of both Mac and Windows operating systems. With Parallels, you have a convenient and secure way to manage multiple operating systems on a single computer.
Run Windows on Mac With Parallels Desktop 20 – A Complete Guide
Many people prefer running Windows on their computers, which makes having this operating system within easy reach a necessity. Even Linux and other OSs can find great usability for determined applications and preferences. That's why solutions like Parallels Desktop exist. Parallels Desktop is a platform that gives users the ability to run multiple operating systems on a desktop. It could be Linux, Windows, or some other OS. Today, using additional operating systems on an Apple computer in parallel isn't possible without Parallels Desktop which does exactly that – enables the use of macOS and Windows at the same time.
Parallels Desktop 20 – Shop now!
Back in the day, around 2006, when Apple decided to shift to Intel CPUs, it became relatively easy to run Windows on Mac thanks to the inception of Apple's Boot Camp. This Apple's feature allows you to run one OS at the time (macOS or Windows), but not both. However, there have been rigorous changes since then. Apple has now moved to its own native M-series chips from Intel. This move meant that Boot Camp became old news. It only followed that running Windows on Macs again became a challenge.
All is not lost, though. Thanks to Parallels, running multiple operating systems on a Mac has always been easy, including the change in processors. In this regard, Parallels Desktop has ensured the convenience and usability of other OSs on Apple's computers, no matter if it's Intel or M-series processor. This platform offers seamless service when running guest OSs within the regular macOS environment.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll show everything you need to know regarding this state-of-the-art virtualization platform for Mac computers. We'll learn more about what's new in the latest delivery of Parallels Desktop for Mac 20, touch on its different Standard, Pro, Business, and ChromeOS variants, and you will also discover the usefulness this platform can bring to your daily activities. Continue reading this guide for in-depth insights.
Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac
Mac computers have been gaining popularity among users over the years. The sleek and modern design of Macs has been one of the reasons why people find themselves drawn to them. Apple puts a lot of effort into making its products visually appealing, and it shows. The design of Macs is simply stunning, making it an exciting and visually appealing computer to own.
Another reason why people love Macs is because of their intuitive user interface. Macs are known for their ease of use, even for people who are not tech-savvy. The operating system, macOS, is user-friendly and efficient. Therefore, users can focus on completing their work without being bogged down by technical issues.
While many people love Macs, there are a few potential downsides of which users should be aware. A major potential downside of Macs is their limited compatibility with certain software and hardware. While Macs are compatible with most software used for general productivity and creative work, they may not be the best choice for users who require specialized software or hardware. For example, some games or software programs may only be available for Windows, which means they won't run on a Mac. Additionally, some hardware, such as printers or scanners, may not work with Macs, which can be frustrating for users who need to use them for office or personal use.
Thankfully, a solution to the downsides of Mac exists, and that's Parallels Desktop for Mac.
Parallels Desktop's unique virtualization software allows you to create a virtual machine (VM) on your Mac. With it, you can run multiple operating systems on a Mac, at the same time. This makes it different when compared to Apple's earlier Boot Camp because, with Parallels Desktop, you don't have to reboot the computer so the other operating system can run.
As time goes by, Parallels Desktop continues to enhance the number of features it offers its users. Due to being able to run multiple operating systems concurrently, users are able to get a wealth of advantages. For instance, in version 17 of Parallel Desktop, copying and pasting graphics and text between Mac and Windows apps became possible. It became as easy as dragging and dropping images between Mac apps like Safari and Photos into Windows.
It is also important to mention that the Coherence mode feels more intuitive, making it seamless to access apps across OSs. By enabling this mode, other applications won't overlap and affect the aesthetic of your Mac working environment. Furthermore, it doesn't just have to be Windows that you can run concurrently. You can also add Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, red Hat, and more. The support for these operating systems has also received a tremendous boost, making handling them less tedious.
Run Windows on Your Mac Without Pesky Reboots
Do you love your Mac but want to run one of the hundreds of thousands of Windows apps on it? If you're familiar with Microsoft Windows, you know how powerful the suite of programs can be. Well, with Parallels Desktop, you can do precisely that.
This tool allows you to download and install Windows on your Mac computer, whether it runs on Intel or Apple silicon series. Once you have Parallels Desktop up and running, you'll seamlessly copy and paste text between the two operating systems. Similarly, you can drag and drop files, further enhancing your productivity.
If you're a software developer, you'll relish the possibility of developing and testing your code across multiple operating systems in your Mac virtual machine. The best part is that you'll run your Windows applications without experiencing a drop in performance.
Speed, Power, and Simplicity
You get the gist; Parallels Desktop allows you to run all your favorite Windows apps on a Mac, such as Excel, QuickBooks, Visual Studio, and more. Executing these programs won't bring about a lag on your Apple computer. Plus, you won't have to spend precious time rebooting.
Seamless Usage
Why sacrifice one for the other? With Parallels Desktop, you can use Windows with macOS. Whether you own a MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini, or Mac Pro, do that without waiting for your computer to restart. Easily move and share files, folders, images, and text between your Mac and Windows programs.
Easy Setup
Parallels Desktop helps you get ahead of your work by detecting what you need for a smooth installation. Depending on your requirements, it'll prompt you on the right download or point you to the proper installer.
Lightning Fast
If you are a graphic designer or programmer, you know how resource-hungry some applications can be. With Parallels Desktop, these programs run without a hitch or slowing down your Mac. AutoCAD, PowerBI, SQL Server, or Visual Studio will run effortlessly. And how about those Windows-only games? Absolutely, you'll get to enjoy them on your Apple computer as well.
Multi-View Options
Are you new to Mac and want Windows to appear on your enter screen? Or would you rather make Windows invisible while you're running its applications? Parallels Desktop lets you choose.
Parallels Desktop for Mac: Features
Unfortunately, many noteworthy software applications do not work on Mac. Parallels Desktop for Mac is here to solve that problem. In other words, it's here to provide a smoother switch from one operating system to another. Take a look into the list of key features of this virtual machine software solution:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Run multiple operating systems simultaneously, including Windows, Linux, and earlier versions of macOS, on Mac hardware, with seamless switching between environments.
- Coherence Mode: Allows Windows applications to run as if they are native macOS apps. You can hide the Windows interface and work directly within Mac windows, enhancing integration and usability.
- Performance Optimization: Enhanced performance for running heavy-duty applications like Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and Visual Studio without slowing down your Mac.
- Virtual Machine (VM) Snapshots: This feature lets users create a snapshot of the VM at a particular moment, allowing you to revert to that state in case of a system failure or configuration issue.
- Shared Folders and Files: Easily access and share files, folders, and data between macOS and your virtual machines, making it simple to drag and drop files across different operating systems.
- DirectX and OpenGL Support: Offers enhanced support for DirectX 11 and OpenGL, enabling users to run 3D applications and games within the Windows VM on Mac.
- Touch Bar Support: Provides Windows apps with macOS's Touch Bar functionality, making Windows applications more intuitive to use.
- Security and Data Protection: Features such as encrypted VMs and secure boot options keep your data safe, with added security features like password-protected VMs and Touch ID integration.
- Seamless Integration with macOS Tools: Integrates features like Mission Control, Spotlight, and Quick Look for a unified experience, even while using Windows applications.
- Dynamic Resource Allocation: Automatically adjusts the CPU, GPU, and RAM allocated to the VM depending on workload, optimizing both the Mac’s and VM’s performance.
- Multiple Display Support: You can run Windows or Linux on multiple monitors, and each VM can have its own display configurations for a better experience across multiple screens.
- USB and External Device Support: Connect external USB devices, printers, and other peripherals to the Windows VM as if they were natively supported in macOS.
- Developer Tools Integration: Supports a variety of developer tools, such as Visual Studio, Vagrant, Docker, and more, for software development across different platforms.
- Automated Testing and DevOps Features: Integrated with GitHub Actions and other CI/CD tools, enabling automation for software testing and development workflows.
- Parallels Toolbox: A set of one-click tools for simplifying everyday tasks, such as taking screenshots, cleaning your drive, or downloading videos from the web.
These features make Parallels Desktop for Mac an ideal solution for developers, IT professionals, and casual users who need to run multiple operating systems on a single Mac machine.
Parallels Desktop: The Latest Features
The latest version of this software introduces several new features designed to enhance virtualization, productivity, and developer workflows. Here is what's new in Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac:
- AI Integration: Version 20 includes the "Parallels AI Package," which offers a pre-configured virtual machine for AI development. This AI-ready VM includes various tools for developers to experiment with AI models, providing an offline and secure environment for development.
- Improved Performance: Optimizations in this version include up to 80% performance boosts for certain workloads on Windows 11 on Arm, as well as faster file operations in shared folders—up to four times faster on Linux VMs.
- macOS Sequoia Compatibility: This release ensures full compatibility with macOS Sequoia and offers support for new Apple features such as AI-powered writing tools, even in Windows apps.
- Enterprise and Developer Enhancements: The new Enterprise Edition introduces a management portal for better control of virtual machines, enhanced licensing options, and SOC 2 Type 2 security compliance. Developers also benefit from improvements like a Visual Studio Code extension that allows for natural language control of VMs using Microsoft Copilot.
- Windows 11 and Server Support: Parallels Desktop 20 is fully compatible with Windows 11 24H2 and introduces support for Windows Server 2025, making it the first to support a server OS on Apple Silicon Macs.
- Snapshot and Automation Tools: New snapshot capabilities allow users to quickly save and restore system states, and tools like GitHub Actions and Parallels Packer make it easier for DevOps teams to automate virtual machine management and testing.
Overall, Parallels Desktop 20 is designed to optimize performance for both individual and enterprise users, with robust support for AI development, macOS Sequoia, and advanced virtualization across platforms.
Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac – What's New?
The new Parallels Desktop 20.1.0 (55732) brings a wide range of updates across all its editions:
All Editions
- macOS Sequoia 15 Ready: Supports the upcoming macOS Sequoia 15 as both a primary OS and a virtual machine.
- Look and Feel: Enhancements to Parallels Tools' UI for Windows, Linux, and macOS, improving reliability and usability.
- Windows on Mac:
- Support for Windows 11 24H2 and improved performance for x86 apps on Arm.
- Fixes for dynamic resolution issues and file deletion, Rhino 8 rendering, and Houdini 20 graphical glitches.
- Enhanced compatibility with apps like ArcGIS Pro, LabVIEW, and Ninja Trader.
- WSL compatibility: Defaults to WSL 1 on Apple Silicon Macs.
Linux on Mac
- New Linux Distributions: Fedora 39/40, Kali 2024.2, Ubuntu 24.04.
- Resolved issues with Ubuntu installation and added IPP printing support.
- Adopted FUSE API to fix kernel compatibility issues.
macOS (Virtual Machine)
- Sign in with Apple ID on macOS 15+ VMs (excluding App Store and Xcode).
- Snapshots of macOS VMs on Apple Silicon Macs.
Pro Edition
- Parallels AI Package: Linux-based VM for AI/ML development.
- Microsoft Copilot Integration: Control VMs with natural language via Visual Studio Code.
- GitHub Actions: Automate VM deployment and management.
Business Edition
- DevOps Service: Control and orchestrate multiple hosts and VMs.
- Improved MDM compatibility with solutions like Microsoft Intune.
Enterprise Edition (Coming Later 2024)
- New tier for large organizations, providing better control, visibility, and deployment of virtual environments.
Deprecated Features
- Removed network boot support for all VMs, and discontinued support for older macOS versions and Solaris VMs on Intel Macs.
For further details, you can access the official Parallels Desktop website.
More Features of Parallels desktop
The above were some of the new features of the version 20. But Parallels Desktop already had a lot to offer.
Easy Sharing
Parallels Desktop 20 makes sharing between macOS and virtual machines seamless. With enhanced shared folder functionality, users can easily drag and drop files, copy and paste content, or move documents between macOS and Windows or Linux VMs without hassle. Files deleted from shared folders are now sent to macOS Trash, preventing accidental permanent deletions. This smooth integration ensures a unified workflow, allowing you to work with files and applications across operating systems as if they were native to your Mac.
Optimized Disk Space
Parallels Desktop 20 offers advanced disk space management features, allowing users to optimize storage by automatically reclaiming unused space within virtual machines. This ensures that VMs only occupy the necessary storage, preventing them from consuming excessive disk space on your Mac. Additionally, Parallels makes it simple to resize virtual disks based on your needs, helping you efficiently allocate storage for both macOS and virtual environments. With these tools, managing and maximizing available disk space becomes a hassle-free process, ensuring smooth performance without waste.
Recovery and Safe Mode Booting
Parallels Desktop 20 enhances troubleshooting by fully supporting Mac's OS X Recovery Mode and Windows Safe Mode within virtual machines. This allows users to enter Recovery Mode on macOS virtual machines, enabling them to repair disk issues, restore from Time Machine, or reinstall macOS. Similarly, users can boot Windows virtual machines into Safe Mode, providing access to critical system diagnostics and troubleshooting tools. These features ensure that users can resolve system problems efficiently within their virtual environments, maintaining smooth operation across platforms.
Built for the Newest Apple Computers
Parallels Desktop 20 is designed to take full advantage of the latest Apple hardware, including those with Apple Silicon processors. It ensures smooth performance when running both macOS and Windows on the newest Macs, with optimizations for macOS Sequoia 15 and Windows 11 24H2. Whether you’re using demanding applications or multitasking between operating systems, Parallels Desktop 20 leverages the power of Apple’s newest chips to deliver fast, seamless virtualization, providing a highly optimized experience across platforms.
Windows Apps on Apple Silicon Macs
Parallels Desktop 20 provides strong support for running most Windows apps on Apple Silicon Macs through Windows 11 on Arm. Thanks to optimizations in Windows 11, many x86-based applications run smoothly on these machines, bridging compatibility gaps. Users can enjoy essential Windows programs like Microsoft Office, AutoCAD, and even resource-heavy software, with improved performance and stability. Parallels Desktop leverages the power of Apple Silicon, ensuring a seamless experience for running Windows apps on Mac without compromising on speed or usability.
Windows Server 2025
Parallels Desktop 20 introduces support for Windows Server 2025, making it possible to run this server operating system on Apple Silicon Macs for the first time. This support allows IT professionals and developers to experiment with the preview version of Windows Server 2025 within a virtual machine, providing a flexible and powerful environment for server management and testing. The ability to run Windows Server alongside macOS further enhances Parallels Desktop’s versatility, enabling users to seamlessly manage both desktop and server workloads on a single Mac system.
Parallels AI Package
Parallels Desktop 20 introduces the Parallels AI Package, a powerful tool designed for developers and students working with AI. This Linux-based virtual machine comes pre-configured with essential machine learning, large language model (LLM), and computer vision development tools. Accessible through the Visual Studio Code extension catalog, it simplifies the process of setting up and experimenting with AI projects. The package enables quick onboarding, offering a secure, customizable environment to explore AI without needing network access, making AI development more accessible and efficient. This package is not available in the Standard Edtion. With the Paralleles Desktop Pro, it is available until Dec 31, 2024. It comes as a regular part of the Parallels Desktop Business and Enterprise editions.
A More Wholesome Gaming Experience
Parallels Desktop 20 significantly enhances gaming on Mac by optimizing Windows 11’s performance, even for x86-based applications running on Apple Silicon Macs. The improved support for DirectX 11 and OpenGL ensures that popular 3D games and graphics-intensive applications run smoothly. With dynamic resolution fixes and better GPU integration, players experience fewer graphical glitches and improved frame rates. Additionally, gamers can switch between macOS and Windows effortlessly using Coherence Mode, making it easier to enjoy a wide range of Windows-based games on their Mac.
Host and Guest Integrations
Much of Parallels Desktop's design revolves around offering app integration, similar to VirtualBox and VMware Fusion. As aforementioned, the integrations between the virtual guest systems and macOS host make dragging and dropping files between them easy. At the same time, you can go ahead and share your clipboard or launch apps on Windows to launch files on your macOS host. The opposite is also true.
The default setting is unique. When you launch your Windows OS on Parallels Desktop, all the other macOS folders will automatically appear on your Windows desktop. This approach might not be everyone's cup of tea, but many users still appreciate it. One thing that's important to highlight is that Windows might have problems parsing these applications in some cases and display them as folders instead. If that's the case, be careful when managing your Mac apps to avoid messing them up.
In addition, Parallels Desktop can operate in three modes: full-screen mode, running in a window, or Coherence mode. In the latter, Parallels Desktop will feature one Windows app in its independent window while hiding the rest. It can also switch in and out of these three modes independently.
Furthermore, you can still go on with your daily routine without disruption. For instance, the peripherals installed on your Mac, like printers, will appear in your Windows dialog box. Also, you can attach another USB peripheral, and the software will let you pick how or where you wish to access the files. At the same time, you can send Windows-only keystrokes like PrintScreen or Break through a menu that appears on your Mac. Although you might have met some of these features in other pieces of virtualization software, those in Parallels Desktop are more lucid, and their menus are better organized.
Running Windows on Your Mac
Parallels Desktop 20 makes running Windows 11 on a Mac effortless by optimizing compatibility and performance, particularly on Macs with Apple Silicon. It supports Windows 11 on Arm, enabling the smooth execution of both native and x86-based Windows apps. Whether you're using essential office software, development tools, or graphics-intensive programs, Parallels ensures they run seamlessly on your Mac without significant performance losses.
In addition to improved speed and stability, Parallels Desktop 20 offers enhanced usability with features like Coherence Mode, which lets users run Windows apps alongside macOS apps as if they were native. Dynamic resolution adjustments, file-sharing between operating systems, and efficient resource allocation make switching between macOS and Windows a fluid experience. This integration allows Mac users to access a full Windows experience without dual-booting or sacrificing the Mac's native capabilities.
Performance
Parallels Desktop 20 is designed with performance at its core, ensuring that virtual machines run efficiently on both Intel-based and Apple Silicon Macs. One of the key performance features is the dynamic resource allocation, which automatically adjusts CPU, GPU, and RAM usage based on the virtual machine’s workload. This ensures that even when running demanding applications, Parallels intelligently optimizes system resources to avoid performance bottlenecks, allowing both macOS and the virtual machine to operate smoothly.
The Free Disk Space Wizard in Parallels Desktop is a useful tool for managing storage efficiently within virtual machines. It automatically scans your virtual machine for unnecessary files and unused space, offering suggestions to reclaim disk space. This feature helps users optimize their Mac’s storage by freeing up space that might be occupied by outdated files or snapshots, without affecting the functionality of the virtual machine. It ensures that the virtual machine only uses the disk space it actually needs, preventing storage waste.
The integration of DirectX 11 and OpenGL support further enhances performance, especially for graphics-heavy applications and games. These optimizations ensure that Windows apps, including 3D design software and games, run with fewer glitches and higher frame rates. On Apple Silicon Macs, the enhanced GPU utilization allows for more fluid graphical experiences, making it possible to use resource-intensive apps without compromising on speed or quality.
Another key performance improvement in Parallels Desktop 20 is the enhanced shared folders technology, which makes file operations between macOS and virtual machines up to four times faster. This boost in performance is especially important for users who frequently move large files or work with shared data across operating systems. The faster data handling between the two environments allows for a seamless workflow without delays or lags.
For developers and IT professionals, Parallels Desktop 20 integrates DevOps tools like GitHub Actions, which automate virtual machine deployment and testing. These tools, combined with improved support for software like Visual Studio, offer an optimized environment for software development, testing, and deployment. By streamlining these processes, Parallels Desktop 20 enhances productivity, reducing the time it takes to provision and configure virtual machines for various development tasks.
Finally, the software's ability to run Windows 11 on Arm with improved x86 app performance directly impacts overall performance. The integration of the updated Prism emulator significantly boosts speed, with some workloads seeing an 80% increase in performance. This improvement ensures that Parallels Desktop 20 is more than capable of handling professional workloads, making it ideal for users who rely on running a full Windows environment alongside macOS.
Running Multiple macOS Instances on Your Device
Parallels Desktop allows users to run multiple macOS instances on a single Mac by creating virtual machines (VMs) that operate independently of the primary macOS. These VMs enable users to install and use different versions of macOS, including the latest or older versions, without the need for multiple physical devices. Each instance behaves like a separate system, allowing for testing, development, or running specific apps in isolated environments. Users can easily switch between these macOS VMs, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in managing multiple systems.
With The Enterprise in Mind
The Enterprise Edition of Parallels Desktop 20 is designed for large organizations, offering enhanced control, visibility, and efficiency in managing virtual environments. This new edition provides tools for streamlining virtual machine deployment, assigning policies to groups of users or machines, and gaining better insight into managed VMs. It is particularly useful for IT departments that need to oversee large-scale virtualization, enabling centralized management and simplifying the handling of multiple virtual machines across a company. This edition is expected to be available later in 2024.
Cost of Buying Parallels Desktop
The cost of acquiring the latest version of Parallels Desktop can vary depending on which version you get. Thus, you must know which version of this virtualization software you wish to buy and the needs you want satisfied. There are three versions, or better say editions of the software: Standard, Pro, and Business. In addition, with the latest release of the version 20, there is also the Enterprise Edition, scheduled for the later part of 2024.
If you are primarily a home user with limited needs, you may be going for the Standard Edition with a one-time permanent license fee of $129.99. The only downside to this approach is that it only covers the current version and doesn't guarantee the compatibility of any future versions. To avoid this, you can go for the Standard subscription version, where you pay $99.99 annually. Alternatively, if you are a student, there is a specialized offer of 30% off. This comes to the price of $69.99 per year for the Standard Edition. This fee will cover you even if you decide to upgrade to a newer version of Parallels Desktop. The subscription for the Pro Student Edition costs $79.99 per year.
Pro Edition will leave you with $119.99 less per year, but they come packing not only extra virtual RAM and CPUs for each VM but also several additional features we'll be detailing below. Finally, the Business Edition will set you back $149.99 a year, but you will enjoy multiple admin and maintenance tools suitable for your business. There is no one-off license fee for these two other editions, just annual subscriptions. This makes sense as Pro and Business users certainly want to be up to date with their Parallels software. Annual subscription covers everything.
Compare Parallels Desktop Editions
Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS
Besides being made to run on MacOS, Parallels Desktop is also available for ChromeOS based devices. If you are in a need to run Windows apps while using Chromebook devices, learn more about Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS.
Conclusion: The Usefulness of Parallels Desktop
Parallels Desktop is a virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems on your Mac without having to reboot. It enables access to software that is only available on other platforms, increases productivity, provides access to legacy software, and improves security by isolating different tasks. It is a valuable tool for developers, businesses, and individuals who need to run multiple operating systems or access software not available on the Mac platform. Because this tool is easy to use, trusted, and fast, it is quickly becoming the go-to for individuals and businesses who want the best of all words.
Despite the looming fears that Corel's acquisition of Parallels would result in a major drawback for the software in 2018, things have been anything but. To this day, Parallels continues to work as an independent entity within Corel's umbrella of operations. This approach ensures Parallels maintains its identity while delivering exceptional service.
As you've been able to assert by reading this comprehensive guide, there are several reasons why you should take advantage of the immense features Parallels Desktop has to offer. It remains one of the best and fastest VMs for running multiple operating systems, offering superb seamless virtualization for Mac users looking for more autonomy. It also boasts incredible features for IT administrators, web and graphic designers, and other power users. Finally, it is also worth pointing out the available curated versions that ensure students, professionals, and administrators get the most out of the software.
It doesn't matter which edition you choose; you will get all the productivity assurance you need thanks to its excellent speed optimization suggestions, simple and intuitive interface, and comprehensive security options. All these features make Parallels Desktop the undefeated choice for people who want to continue running Windows and other OS applications on their Apple computers.