Parallels also stated that Windows On ARM now allows you to run most older software and apps that were originally written for the Intel version of Windows, so you shouldn’t have any compatibility problems when running virtual machines that use Windows On ARM. More information on Parallels website here. Parallels confirmed that Microsoft doesn’t differentiate between Windows On Intel and Windows On Arm, so a Windows 11 license can be used for either version. You can then use the Microsoft Store app within your Windows VM to purchase a license or use an existing Windows 11 license if you have one.Parallels will download the relevant version of Windows 11 for your Mac (if your Mac has an ARM processor then it will download the ARM version of Windows 11).Press the button that says Get Windows 11 From Microsoft.Parallels Desktop 18 included the ability to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. The Arm version of Windows isn’t normally licensed to individual users, which meant that owners of M1 and M2 Macs faced both technical and licensing problems if they wanted to run Windows on their Macs.īack in 2022, Parallels Desktop updated Parallels to coincide with the launch of the macOS Ventura, but the big news was compatibility with the Arm version of Windows 11 and a simplification of the process by which Mac users can get hold of Windows on Arm. The X86 version of Windows will not run on the ARM architecture. Apple’s chips are based on ARM, and this means that only Arm versions of Windows will run on them. Since 2020 Apple has updated all Macs to run on its own Apple Silicon chips: the M1 series and M2 series of chips. There’s also a 14-day trial available so that you can see how Parallels Desktop works before buying the full version.īuy from Parallels In the U.K.

The Pro edition, which is mainly aimed at developers, is only available as a subscription, costing $119.99/£99.99 annually, while the Business edition for larger organizations costs $149.99/£119.99 and is only available on annual subscription. It’s nice to see a perpetual license option, so often absent from software these days. It’s also possible to buy the standard edition with a one-time perpetual license costing $129.99/£104.99 (although you’ll have to pay extra for future upgrades). Larger organizations that buy the Business edition of Parallels Desktop can also use their VMs with corporate management systems such as Hashicorp Packer and Microsoft’s InTune. That will be particularly important for business users who may have sensitive data on their Windows VMs that they need to keep safe. This provides an additional layer of protection, as it allows you to sign in to your Windows VM using both Touch ID and your personal Microsoft account. Version 19 also brings Touch ID to your Windows virtual machines (VMs). Apple has changed the printing system used in Sonoma, so Parallels Desktop 19 introduces a new Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) that will continue to allow you to print documents from a virtual machine using your normal printer (and Parallels says that this actually provides improved compatibility for features such as two-sided printing on some printers). More serious eye candy also arrives with support for 3D graphics in Windows using OpenGL 4.1, which provides improved compatibility and performance for a number of important graphics and design tools, such as ArcGIS Pro, VectorWorks and VariCAD.īut, as mentioned, there are several under-the-bonnet features that may not be quite so eye-catching. One new feature that will stand out straight away, though, is the redesigned interface, with windows and dialogue boxes in Parallels Desktop 19 now adopting the curved lines and candy colors that Apple has been using in the macOS in recent years. (Macs that still use Intel processors will still be able to use Apple’s Boot Camp to dual-boot, and switch between Windows and the macOS). But times have changed and Apple has now transitioned from Intel to its own M-series chips and left Boot Camp in the past as it is not an option for M-series Macs. When Apple moved to Intel CPUs back in 2006 running Windows on a Mac became easier with the introduction of Apple’s own Boot Camp, which made it simple to run both Windows and macOS natively on a Mac. Or maybe you need to test applications and services on alternative operating systems – the only way you can install macOS alongside Windows is on a Mac, because Apple won’t allow macOS to be installed on anything else. Or perhaps you want to play Windows games on your Mac. Perhaps your employer uses software that’s available only for Windows, or requires the use of a website that relies on some Windows-only technology. For many Mac users, running Windows applications is a necessity.

Parallels desktop 17 for mac