Installing Parallels Desktop. Double-clicking the Install Parallels Desktop icon launches the Parallels Desktop Installer and displays the introduction page. Click Continue. Parallels will prompt you to read and agree to the software license agreement. Read the agreement, click Continue, and click Agree.

Parallels lets you run many different types of operating systems on your Mac. Because the developers knew that most Mac users will want to install at least a Windows OS, Parallels includes a Windows Express installation option that eliminates the need to babysit a Windows XP or Vista installation.

This guide will take you through the Windows Express installation, which creates a virtual machine on your Mac. We'll stop short of actually installing Windows, because the specific steps depend on whether you're installing Windows XP, Vista, Win 7, or Win 8.

What You Will Need

• Parallels Desktop for Mac v3.0 or later.
• The installation CDs for Windows XP or Vista.
• 20 GB free disk space. You can get by with less (I've performed an installation with as little as 8 GB of available disk space), but you'll appreciate the extra room if you later want to install more Windows applications or store larger Windows files than you originally intended.
• About an hour of free time, for the Windows Express setup and to actually install Windows.

The Parallels OS Installation Assistant

By default, Parallels uses the Windows Express installation option. This option creates a virtual machine with settings that will work just fine for most individuals. You can always customize the virtual machine parameters later if you need to.

The real advantage of Windows Express is that it's fast and easy; it does most of the work for you. It will collect most of the information that Windows needs by asking you some questions. Once you supply the answers, you can leave and then return to a fully installed version of Windows. This is a much more pleasant Windows installation than the standard. The downside is that the Windows Express method doesn't let you directly configure many settings, including type of network, memory, disk space, and other parameters, although you can always tweak these and other settings later.

Using the OS Installation Assistant

1. Launch Parallels, usually located at /Applications/Parallels.
2. Click the ‘New’ button in the Select a Virtual Machine window.
3. Select the installation mode that you want Parallels to use.
   
   • Windows Express (recommended)
   • Typical
   • Custom
4. For this installation, select the Windows Express option and click the ‘Next’ button.

Configuring a Virtual Machine for Windows

Parallels needs to know which operating system you plan to install, so it can set the virtual machine parameters and collect the information necessary to automate the installation process.

Configure the Virtual Machine for Windows

1. Select the OS type by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows from the list.
2. Select the OS version by clicking the dropdown menu and choosing Windows XP or Vista from the list.
3. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Entering Your Windows Product Key and Other Configuration Information

The Parallels Windows Express installation option is ready to collect some of the information it needs to automate the installation process.

Product Key, Name, and Organization

1. Enter your Windows product key, which is usually located on the back of the Windows CD case or inside the Windows envelope. The dashes in the product key are entered automatically, so just enter the alphanumeric characters. Be careful not to lose the product key, because you may need it in the future if you need to reinstall Windows.
2. Enter your name by using the alphanumeric keys and the space key. Do not use any special characters, including apostrophes.
3. Enter your organization's name, if appropriate. This field is optional.
4. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Name That Virtual Machine

It's time to specify a name for the virtual machine that Parallels is about to create. You can choose any name you like, but a descriptive name is usually best, particularly if you have multiple hard drives or partitions.

In addition to naming the virtual machine, you will also choose whether your Mac and the new Windows virtual machine should be able to share files.

Pick a Name and Make a Decision About Sharing Files

1. Enter a name for Parallels to use for this virtual machine.
2. Enable file sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the 'Enable file sharing' option. This will let you share files in your Mac's home folder with your Windows virtual machine.
3. Enable user profile sharing, if desired, by placing a check mark next to the ‘Enable user profile sharing’ option. Enabling this option allows the Windows virtual machine to access the files on your Mac desktop and in your Mac user folder. It's best to leave this file unchecked and manually create shared folders later on. This provides more protection for your files​ and lets you make file sharing decisions on a folder-by-folder basis.​
4. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Performance: Should Windows or OS X Get Top Billing?

At this point in the configuration process, you can decide whether to optimize the virtual machine you're about to create for speed and performance or allow applications to have dibs on your Mac's processor.

Decide How to Optimize Performance

1. Select an optimization method.
   • Virtual Machine. Choose this option for the best performance of the Windows virtual machine you're about to create.
   • Mac OS X applications. Choose this option if you prefer your Mac applications to take precedence over Windows.
2. Make your selection. I prefer the first option, to give the virtual machine the best performance possible, but the choice is yours. You can change your mind later if you decide that you made the wrong choice.
3. Click the ‘Next’ button.

Start the Windows Installation

All of the options for the virtual machine have been configured, and you've supplied your Windows product key and your name, so you're ready to install Windows. I'll tell you how to start the Windows installation process below, and cover the rest of the process in another step-by-step guide.

Begin the Windows Installation

1. Insert the Windows Install CD into your Mac's optical drive.
2. Click the ‘Finish’ button.

Parallels will start the installation process by opening the new virtual machine you created, and booting it from the Windows Install CD. Follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows.

Parallels Desktop 11 Download

Frequently Asked Questions

Parallel Software For Mac

1. Customers who purchased and registered a copy of Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac from the Parallels Online Store or an authorized reseller on or after August 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019, are eligible for an upgrade to the next version of Parallels Desktop for Mac at no charge, subject to certain conditions. For details on the Tech Guarantee 2019, please visit the Tech Guarantee page.
   Note: If you have a subscription for Parallels Desktop for Mac, Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition, or Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition, you can upgrade Parallels Desktop to the latest version with the license you own. Download and install Parallels Desktop 15 and use your subscription license for activation.
2. You should receive your upgrade key within 7 days after the new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac becomes available. The upgrade key will be sent to the email that was used for registration of your Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac license.
   If you have not yet registered your copy of Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac, please register it in your Parallels account.

1. Does Windows come pre-installed with Parallels Desktop for Mac?
   Windows is not included with your purchase of Parallels Desktop for Mac. Windows can be purchased directly from Microsoft or retail stores. Please visit KB 9003 for additional information.
2. Will Parallels run on my current Mac hardware?
   A full list of system and hardware requirements can be found here.
3. What is the difference between Home and Pro Editions?
   Visit KB 123296.
4. What is the difference between a permanent license and a subscription?
   Visit KB 122929.
5. Can I use my license on multiple Mac computers?
   Parallels licenses are valid only on one Mac per license. For more information, please reference www.parallels.com/about/eula/.
6. Do you have discounts for Students/Education Staff/offer academic licenses?
   Yes. For more information on Education licenses, please visit KB 113630.
7. Is there a trial version of Parallels Desktop for Mac I can evaluate before purchasing?
   Yes, Parallels offers a free 14 day trial at www.parallels.com/products/desktop/trial/

1. Install or upgrade to the latest version of Parallels Desktop for Mac.
   Visit KB 124250.
2. Install Windows in Parallels Desktop for Mac.
   Visit KB 4729.
3. Migrate my current Windows PC to a Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machine.
   For instructions, visit KB 123929.
4. Register and activate Parallels Desktop for Mac.
   Visit KB 124225.
5. Launch Windows from Parallels Desktop for Mac.
   Visit KB 115170.
6. Upgrade my license to Pro Edition
   Visit KB 123159.
7. Install Quicken, MS Office or other software in Windows virtual machine.
   Visit KB 119310.
8. Learn how to use the Coherence mode.
   Visit KB 4670.
9. Learn how to use the Parallels Desktop sharing tools.
   Visit KB 122567.

1. What is Parallels Toolbox?
   Visit KB 123903 and KB 124200 to learn about Parallels Toolbox for Mac and for Windows.
2. How can I get Parallels Toolbox?
   See KB 123902 about Parallels Toolbox for Mac and KB 124202 about the Windows version.
3. How do I install Parallels Toolbox?
   Visit KB 123904 for information on the Mac version, and KB 124183 to learn how to install the Windows one.

1. How to give more hard disk space to a Windows virtual machine?
   Visit KB 113972.
2. How can I improve virtual machine performance on my Mac?
   Visit KB 112091 .
3. How to reinstall Parallels Tools in Windows Guest OS?
   Visit KB 4841.
4. Network issues in the virtual machine.
   Visit KB 8978.
5. Error: Unable to start the virtual machine. There's not enough disk space available.
   Visit KB 10117.