Choosing between Windows and Mac can sometimes be tricky. When it’s about playing high-end games, the choice is a Windows computer. At other times it’s a Mac, because you want to be productive and have a pleasant user experience layered in elegant design and compatible hardware.
You can launch the entire Windows OS from your Mac desktop and work entirely in a Windows desktop environment. Emulates specific programs if you want to run in Windows mode. With this option you don't have to be in a separate OS but launch single applications with Parallels. For example, any file on your Mac desktop will also be ported to the virtual machine’s desktop, even though some won’t even work. Similarly, when preparing our Mac for this Parallels review we didn’t anticipate that the software would dump a whole folder full of apps from the virtual OS right onto our Mac desktop. Parallels Desktop Business Edition – $99.99/yr adds options for centralized administration and licensing needed for big businesses. All Parallels Business Edition reviews are highlighting 24/7 phone and email support. Parallels Desktop for Mac Standard Edition – one-time fee of $99.99 is the option of buying a perpetual license for Standard.
While both of these operating systems do their jobs well, they can, at times, be quite limiting from a user’s point of view.
If you are a Mac user, you’d want to be able to play a few Windows games or run Windows-only software. There’s no point in spending hundreds of dollars on a new Windows setup, and the best option you have is to run Windows on Mac.
But running Windows on Mac? Hmmm….leaves room for a lot of questions: Is it safe? Will it run well? Is it easy to install and use?
These questions are legitimate, considering how knotted this whole procedure might sound. But you don’t have to worry about these as Parallels Desktop lets you run Windows 10 on Mac without any hassle.
What is Parallels Desktop? Why use Parallels instead of Boot Camp?
Sure, you could set up your Mac to run Windows with Boot Camp, but that means restarting your computer every time you need to use Windows. Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac lets you install Windows 10 on Mac through a virtual machine in a few simple and easy steps.
Since Parallels runs through a VM, you don’t have to reboot your Mac at all. This allows you to quickly switch between the Mac and Windows desktops. You can even combine the two desktops, if you want, and run Windows software right on your Mac desktop from your Mac’s dock.
The program supports the latest version of Windows and comes with compatibility for all hardware of your Mac. It has native support for gestures, camera, audio, Touch Bar (for apps such as SketchUp, OneNote, and AutoCAD), Retina Display, and more.
What’s new in Parallels Desktop 15 we like?
Every time Apple releases a new macOS, Parallels Desktop releases a new version to support that OS. The latest release comes with some exciting features.
Support for DirectX 11
Parallels Desktop 15 also supports Direct X 11. It leverages the innovations and integration points of the newest macOS 10.15 Catalina to provide performance enhancements and more.
The inclusion of DirectX 11 comes with the help of Apple’s Metal API. Metal gives access to Mac’s graphics processing unit (GPU) so that users can maximize the graphics and computing potential of their Mac hardware. With this update, Parallels Desktop is capable of running a wide range of applications and games.
Performance improvements
Parallels Desktop 15 is fast, and by that, we mean that you can do a lot of the regular stuff with ease. Compared to the last version — Parallels Desktop 14 — it can start Office applications 80 percent faster. The user interface is more responsive, and the 3D graphics are also better.
Better integration with Mac
Love the Preview feature on your Mac? Select a file or a folder and press the spacebar to find out its properties?
The new update brings better integration. You will now be able to save your Windows passwords in keychain, preview thumbnails, drag and drop files from Safari, and even send a file through the Window’s mail app.
Some of the Windows apps integrate really well with your Mac. You will find MS Pain and Preview in the suggestions when you right-click on an image file on your Mac and select Open With. You can even set defaults.
How does Parallels Desktop 15 work?
Parallels Desktop Network Settings
Downloading and installing Parallels Desktop 15 on Mac was straightforward. The latest setup file was a little over 210 MB, and it immediately started downloading Windows 10 after it was installed. The installation process was also fast — the speed depends on the speed of your Mac.
We used a Macbook Air 2017 for our testing purposes to see how the app performed with aging hardware.
The installation took place in a window in Mac. There were no reboots required. A reboot did happen, but it was inside the Windows virtual machine as it is while installing Windows.
What we liked was the simplicity of the entire download and installation process. Parallels Desktop has been released with ordinary users in mind. The installation process as a whole Windows is smooth and hassle-free.
You find minimal prompts, and it doesn’t even ask you to have a Windows disk image ready with you. It just downloads it for you directly from Microsoft. You can activate Windows later by purchasing it or entering a valid product ID.
Another great thing about Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac is that it comes with Snapshot. Snapshot lets you save a guest system in multiple configurations that work well. This is really helpful when you want to go back to an older setting after making changes in your system that you do not wish to keep.
There’s also a rollback option that lets you get rid of all the changes to the system when you shut it down. It works great for spaces such as schools where the systems get messier as different people use it.
If you are worried about all that space on your little flash storage running out, then Reclaim Disk Space has got your back. You can also delete your snapshots and shut down Windows to get some extra space. To use Snapshots, just go to Options and click on Take Snapshot.
What is it like to use Parallels Desktop 15?
On the feature front, the highlight point of this release has been Parallel Desktop’s excellent integration with Mac. This integration comes in the form of Coherence mode.
Coherence mode on Parallels Desktop
If you are a Mac user who loves windows as much, then this is a feature that has just been crafted for you. The Coherence mode is the coolest feature of Parallels Desktop and the handiest one too. It lets you run Windows software on Mac as if it was a Mac software. You won’t really have to directly interact with the Windows UI while doing that, which means that you won’t have to manage the Windows desktop.
To enter Coherence mode, go to view and click on Enter Coherence. Once in the Coherence mode, you won’t be able to see the Windows UI at all. There will be a Windows 10 icon in your dock, clicking on which will reveal the Start Menu of Windows 10. From there, you can open any application and even drag them to your Desktop to create a shortcut.
Coherence mode really sets the tone for a fluid and Windows 10 experience on your Mac. Done with the day’s work and just want to play some RPG? Just click on the game’s icon from your Mac’s Desktop, and you are good to go — you can enjoy a Windows game in Mac’s interface.
Performance and speed
One of the notable problems for emulators and virtual machines has been imitating the speed and performance of a native OS. How fast could a Windows virtual machine be on a Mac? Well, the results were not too disappointing.
We ran Windows 10 on our older Macbook Air to find out if we could perform our regular tasks without any noticeable delays. We were not disappointed with what we saw. Since the OS itself was in a clean state, sometimes it felt faster than our Mac.
We did notice some lag when we opened YouTube to stream a high-quality video, along with other open tabs on the Edge browser. It was a bit annoying at times.
We tried to look at how it was affecting the resources of our Mac. The CPU usage would peak at different times, and there would be occasional glitches if you had many tabs opened.
Of course, things would have been different with a faster processor. The newer MacBooks can take Windows 10 really well. You can even play games such as Skyrim on Mac by installing Windows 10 through Parallels Desktop.
With the CPU consumed in all the process, the battery was also draining fast. We do not really recommend you to play big games or run heavy applications while you are away without your charger. If you have an old Mac, the best way to get the most out of your Windows 10 set up would be to close all applications on your Mac and then try running Parallels Desktop.
However, with more powerful Macs, the difference will hardly seem noticeable, and you can have an excellent experience with Windows 10. It’ll be fast and fluid, and you will be able to use it like any other original installation.
Handy preferences
The Preferences menu of Parallels desktop has some useful options that can help you customize the way you use virtual machines. There is an option to view shortcuts for a particular virtual machine. You can even add or remove shortcuts from the list. There are also application shortcuts that you can customize.
Apart from this, you can further tighten up the security for Parallels desktop by having a password for creating, adding, removing, cloning, and even for entering the preferences of the software. You can also set a custom password for added security.
A good knowledge base
Parallels Desktop has been around since 2007, which means that there are plenty of resources around it. In case you ever get stuck and want to see tutorial videos for specific actions, you can always check out their knowledge base. There’s also an active and dedicated forum where you can talk about the software and ask questions around it.
Is Parallels for Mac safe?
If you are careful, then yes, it’s not a big deal.
Parallels for Mac works as a virtual machine, so it does not allow any access to the keychain or home folder of your macOS. Malware targeting the Windows you will be running won’t be compatible with your OSX.
However, you are still vulnerable to attacks if you are using your Windows on Mac to run banking applications and such. This way, you could be susceptible to malware attacks. This is one part that you should genuinely watch out for. Use your Windows only to browse safe websites. You must also make sure that you do not share your folders across virtual machines. If you do this, then any application or virus inside your virtual machine will be able to access your cookies and directories to hijack your accounts.
Just be careful what you are doing on your virtual machine, and you will be good to go.
Is Parallels Desktop 15 free?
No, Parallels Desktop is not free. It does come with a 14-day trial version, which you can use to figure out if this is the software you need to keep running Windows 10 on your Mac. Frankly speaking, with the kind of integration it brings, you won’t be missing Windows when you are on your Mac.
A home and student package of Parallels desktop costs $79.99. The Pro and the Business editions come at a subscription cost of $99.99 per year.
Upgrading to Parallels desktop 15 costs $49.99 and is the same for all the versions.
It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is Parallers Desktop 15 worth it?
Growing up around computers and software, a lot of us have wanted to install Windows on a Mac, or the other way. Virtual machines are complicated, but Parallels Desktop has been proving that it can make the process of installing Windows on Mac really simple and user-friendly.
There are other virtual machine options available to Mac users, including the free and open source VirtualBox, but Parallels is different in that it’s designed exclusively with Mac users in mind. Parallels isn’t free, but there are hundreds of little design touches that help make running Windows within macOS as painless as possible, and that make setting everything up quick and easy. It’s well worth the cost.
So if you like bringing things together, and enjoy utilizing the power of both Windows and macOS, then Parallers Desktop 15 is a must-have for you.
BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parallels, a global leader in cross-platform solutions, announces the launch of Parallels® Desktop 17 for Mac (parallels.com/desktop), the latest version of its powerful solution to run native Windows applications on Mac computers with Apple M1¹ and Intel chip. Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac, now a universal binary application, is optimized for the highly anticipated Windows 11 and macOS Monterey operating systems. Bringing exceptional speed and graphic improvements, it includes an enhanced Windows gaming experience, together with better resource management and visibility. Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac empowers users to run Windows applications on a Mac, more smoothly and faster than ever.
“Our breakthrough of seamlessly running Windows 10 applications on Apple M1-based Mac computers was just the start of Parallels Desktop for Mac's new chapter in offering enhanced user experiences running virtual machines on Mac devices,” said Nick Dobrovolskiy, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Support at Parallels. “Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac continues to deliver performance and stability improvements as well as innovative, easy-to-use features on Intel and Apple M1 Mac, offering users the most advanced Windows-on-Mac experience ever. In collaboration with Apple, we’re thrilled to have created the world's first prototype of a macOS Monterey virtual machine running on a Mac with Apple M1 chip2.”
Watch a video about the highlights in Parallels Desktop 17:www.parallels.com/NEWParallelsDesktop17
New and Enhanced Feature Highlights of Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac:
- NEW! Engineered for macOS 12 Monterey and Windows 11: Parallels Desktop 17 will support macOS Monterey as a host and guest operating system (OS) and will be optimized for Windows 11, with both new OSs expected later this year. Get a sneak peek and install the highly anticipated previews of macOS Monterey and Windows 11 to a virtual machine (VM) via the Parallels Desktop 17 Installation Assistant. Learn how to run macOS Monterey in a VM at parallels.com/blogs/macos-monterey/ and how to run Windows 11 in a VM at parallels.com/blogs/Windows11.
- ENHANCED! Must-have Speed and Performance Updates: Applications running with Parallels Desktop 17 on Mac computers with Apple M1¹ and Intel chip now run remarkably faster and more efficiently. Performance observations include:
On all supported Mac computers3:- Up to 38% faster Windows, Linux and macOS resume
- OpenGL graphics performup to 6 times faster
- Up to 25% faster 2D graphics in Windows
On a Mac with Apple M1 chip3:- Up to 33% faster Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview start
- Up to 20% faster Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview disk performance
- Up to 28% better DirectX 11 graphics performance
On a Mac with Intel processor3:- Up to 60% faster network connection on macOS Big Sur (and newer) virtual machine
- NEW! Display Driver for an Enhanced Windows Gaming Experience: The improved display driver in Parallels Desktop 17 delivers much smoother Windows UI responsiveness and synchronized video playback experience. The new driver boosts the frame rate in many 2D action-platformer games including Foregone, Smelter and many others for a greater gaming experience.
- NEW! Powerful New Features for Apple M1 chip Mac: With Parallels Desktop 17, Windows 10 recognizes Mac battery status and enables battery saving when your Mac runs low of charge. The new virtual TPM chip enables Windows 10 and Windows 11 to use BitLocker and Secure Boot for the higher level of data protection. Enjoy multichannel sound support and jack presence detection with native drivers in Linux VMs. Conveniently use a Linux virtual machine in a windowed view mode with dynamic resolution support—resize the VM window and Linux will refresh the display for the new resolution automatically.
- ENHANCED! Coherence Mode Improvement: A long-time user favorite feature, Coherence™ Mode is now used by 80% of Parallels Desktop users, enabling them to run Windows applications and Mac applications side by side, without seeing the Windows desktop. Users now enjoy an uninterrupted and distraction-free workflow as all Windows shutdowns, updates and sign-in screens are windowed, enabling the user to minimize them to stay focused and productive.
- NEW! Automatic Resource Manager: Users can now experience the Automatic Resource Manager, designed to evaluate and advise on the optimal amount of Mac hardware resources for virtual machines to ensure the best performance every time.
- ENHANCED! Seamlessly Drag and Drop Content between Windows and Mac: Users now enjoy the ability to drop any text or image between Mac and Windows applications, including between Windows applications and macOS Monterey Quick Note (when available).
- ENHANCED! Advanced Experience and Support for USB Devices: In response to user feedback on USB device compatibility with virtual machines, Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac now supports USB 3.1, enabling use of additional USB storage devices4. Users now see the device’s familiar name in the Parallels Desktop interface, making it easier to quickly identify the right device to connect or disconnect.
- ENHANCED! Better Control of Disk Space: As virtual machines—and notably VM snapshots— can occupy a large amount of disk space, users can now see how much disk space their VM snapshots take up and make informed decisions about their Mac computer’s disk space usage in Parallels Desktop 17.
Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Pro Edition:
Designed to provide the best value to Parallels Desktop power users, developers and IT specialists, Parallels Desktop Pro Edition is Parallels’ most popular selling version, offering all the power of the standard Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac, plus these unique capabilities:
- NEW! Easily Convert a Linked Clone to an Independent Virtual Machine: Responding to the demands of our users, Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Pro Edition enables the creation of an independent virtual machine from a linked clone in just two clicks.
- ENHANCED! Improved Visual Studio Plugin: The Parallels Desktop plugin for Visual Studio, designed to debug code in a standalone VM, now supports Mac computers with Apple M1 chip. Moreover, the plugin installation process with Visual Studio 2019 has been simplified.
Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Business Edition:
Parallels Desktop Not Working
Delivering essential capabilities specifically for enterprise environments, Parallels Desktop 17 Business Edition builds on the power of the Pro version with additional functionality, including:
- NEW! Corporate Virtual Machine Provisioning to Any Mac: Business administrators can now provision pre-configured Windows virtual machines to a mixed fleet of Mac computers with both Intel and Apple M1 chip. IT managers can now specify download links and descriptions in Parallels My Account for both Intel and Apple M1 chip Mac computers, and Parallels Desktop will automatically download the proper image for each individual employee.
- NEW! Deploy Parallels Desktop on a Multi-Architecture Mac Fleet with a Single Package: Parallels Desktop 17 is a universal binary application that makes it possible to create just one mass deployment package that can be used with both Intel- and M1-based Mac computers. With this new option, Parallels Desktop deployment using Mac Management tools and Self-Service Portal is remarkably simple.
Take a look at all the new features of Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac at parallels.com/products/desktop/whats-new.
NEW! Additional tools in Parallels Toolbox 5 for Mac and Windows
Parallels® Toolbox, which is included with Parallels Desktop subscriptions, introduced five new tools to its latest version. Focus on Window, Transform Text, Recognize Text, Barcode Scanner, and Barcode Generator have now been added to Parallels Toolbox’s extensive library of more than 30 everyday utilities.
Availability and Pricing
Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Standard, Pro and Business Editions are all designed to offer an optimal experience on both M1- and Intel-based Mac computers, and can be purchased at parallels.com/desktop or from authorized resellers worldwide. Parallels Desktop subscriptions include complimentary concurrent subscriptions to Parallels® Access 6.5 and Parallels Toolbox 5 for Mac and Windows.
For more information about Parallels products, to download free trial software, or purchase a subscription, please visit parallels.com.
Recommended Retail Price (RRP)
Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac
- Upgrade to a perpetual license – US$49.99
- New subscription – US$79.99 per year
- New perpetual license – US$99.99
Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition
- Upgrade from any edition – US$49.99 per year
- New subscription – US$99.99 per year
Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition
- US$99.99 per year
About Parallels
Parallels is a global leader in cross-platform solutions that make it simple for businesses and individuals to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. Parallels helps customers leverage the best technology out there, whether it’s Windows, Mac, iOS, Android or the cloud. Parallels solves complex engineering and user-experience problems by making it simple and cost-effective for businesses and individual customers to use applications anywhere, anytime. Parallels, a business unit of Corel, has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Visit parallels.com/about for more information.
About Corel
Corel products enable millions of connected knowledge workers around the world to do great work faster. Offering some of the industry's best-known software brands, we give individuals and teams the power to create, collaborate and deliver impressive results. Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative applications – including CorelDRAW®, MindManager®, Parallels® and WinZip® – to inspire users and help them achieve their goals.
To learn more about Corel, please visit www.corel.com.
Media Contacts:
Beatrice Vogel, Senior Communications Manager, bvogel@parallels.com, +49 151 16861293
Ryan Donough, Burson Cohn & Wolfe, ryan.donough@cohnwolfe.com, +1 415 403-8311
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- Running VMs on Apple M1 Mac computers in Parallels Desktop 17 requires ARM-based operating systems (OSs). Customers who install guest operating systems in Parallels Desktop virtual machines are responsible for making sure that they are compliant with each OSs’ end-user licensing agreement (EULA).
- Requires a Mac running macOS Monterey 12 or newer.
- Performance measurements conducted by Parallels. Measured with a prerelease version of Parallels Desktop 17 versus released version of Parallels Desktop 16. The performance will vary based on usage, system configuration and other factors.
- USB devices often require drivers. Not all vendors provide drivers for Windows on ARM, which may limit several supported devices on a Mac with Apple M1 chip.
© 2021 Parallels International GmbH. All rights reserved. Parallels the Parallels logo, Coherence are trademarks or registered trademarks of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. Corel, CorelDRAW, MindManager, and WinZip are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation in Canada, the U.S., and/or elsewhere. Apple, macOS, and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands, and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Use of any brands, names, logos, or any other information, imagery, or materials pertaining to a third party does not imply endorsement. We disclaim any proprietary interest in such third-party information, imagery, materials, marks, and names of others. For all notices and information about patents please visit https://www.parallels.com/about/legal/
A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d8baaef2-3dc7-4adb-97df-a4dd3760fca0