With Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X applications side-by-side without rebooting. Drag and drop files between Windows and Mac applications and launch Windows applications from your Mac dock. Powerful performance lets you run Windows productivity applications, even graphics intensive ones, with ease.

Whether you use an iMac, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, Parallels is easy to set up. Simply download the software from our website, enter your key and you’re up and running. Then you can enjoy any of the Windows programs you need – even Microsoft Office 2010, the gold standard of productivity software – right on your Mac.

We've united Mac and Windows. The rest is up to you.

* No. 1 claim based on NPD Techworld Reports for the period 8/1/06–5/31/12

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X Mountain Lion applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence. Click below for frequently asked questions, documentation and other helpful tools to get the answers you need.

1. 1.

   How do I install Windows OS on a Mac using Parallels Desktop?

   To learn about installing Windows OS, please refer to this article for complete details: kb.parallels.com/4729.

2. 2.

   What are the Parallels Desktop for Mac support options? How can I reach the support team?

   To learn about the Parallels Desktop for Mac support options please check the following KB article: kb.parallels.com/6571

3. 3.

   Is Windows 8 supported on Parallels Desktop for Mac?

   The latest build of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac is compatible with the previews of Windows 8. Please visit kb.parallels.com/112443 for more information on Parallels Desktop for Mac and Windows 8.

4. 4.

   How do I activate Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac?

   To learn about activation, please refer to this article for complete details: kb.parallels.com/114585.

5. 5.

   I am unable to start Windows. What should I do?

   To learn about what to do if you can't start your virtual machine, please refer to this article for complete details: kb.parallels.com/113964.

6. 6.

   Windows installation into a virtual machine fails

   To learn more about what to do the Windows installation fails, please refer to this article for instructions: kb.parallels.com/112940.

7. 7.

   How do I migrate a PC to Parallels Desktop for Mac Virtual Machine?

   To learn about migrating your PC, please refer to this article for complete details: kb.parallels.com/113269.

8. 8.

   How do I upgrade Windows XP or Vista installed in Parallels Desktop Virtual Machine to Windows 7?

   Please check the following KB article to learn more about upgrading to Windows 7, kb.parallels.com/113266.

9. 9.

   I purchased an upgrade version of Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac from Nova Development and have a question on my purchase/activation.

   Nova Development’s refund policy states if you are not completely satisfied with the product that you purchased, you may return it to Nova Development within 30 days of purchase for your money back.  Please see the following KB article for all purchase related questions and information on how to contact Nova Development.  kb.parallels.com/en/113317

10. 10.

    How do I upgrade to Parallels Desktop for Mac?

    To learn more about how to upgrade, please refer to the following article for complete details: kb.parallels.com/114588.

Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac Requirements

Hardware Requirements

• A Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor (Core Solo and Core Duo processors are no longer supported)
• Minimum 2 GB of memory (4 GB of memory is recommended to run Windows 7 in a virtual machine or if your host OS is Lion)
• About 700 MB of disk space on the boot volume (Macintosh HD) for Parallels Desktop installation
• About 15 GB of disk space for each virtual machine

Software Requirements

• Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8
• Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later
• Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or later

Note: Mac OS X Leopard v10.5.x is not supported in this version of Parallels Desktop.

To get information about your Mac OS X version, type of processor, and amount of memory, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu.

Note: Internet connection is required for product activation, updates, and select features.

Supported Guest Operating Systems*

32-bit Operating Systems

• Windows 7 SP1
• Windows Vista SP0, SP1, SP2
• Windows Server 2008 R2, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows Server 2003 R2, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows XP Professional SP3, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows XP Home SP3, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows 2000 Professional SP4
• Windows 2000 Server SP4
• Windows NT 4.0 Server SP6
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP6
• Windows ME
• Windows 98 SE
• Windows 95
• Windows 3.11
• MS-DOS 6.22
• Red Hat Enterprise 6.x, 5.x, 4.x
• Fedora 17, 16, 15 
• Ubuntu 12.04, 11.10, 11.04, 10.10, 10.04  
• CentOS 5.x, 4.x
• Debian 6.0, 5.0
• Suse Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2
• Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 11
• OpenSUSE Linux 12.1, 11.4
• Mandriva 2011, 2010
• Solaris 10
• Open Solaris 2009.06
• Chrome OS
• FreeBSD 8.x, 7.x
• OS/2 Warp 4.5, 4
• eComStation 1.2
• Mac OS X Leopard Server 10.5.x
• Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6.x
• Andriod OS

64-bit Operating Systems

• Windows 8
• Windows 7 SP1
• Windows Vista SP0, SP1, SP2
• Windows Server 2008 R2, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows Server 2003 R2, SP2, SP1, SP0
• Windows XP Professional SP2
• Red Hat Enterprise 6.x, 5.x
• Fedora 17, 16, 15
• Ubuntu 12/04, 11.10, 11.04, 10.10, 10.04
• CentOS 6.x, 5.x
• Debian 6.0, 5.0
• Suse Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2
• Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP2
• OpenSUSE Linux 12.1, 11.4
• Mandriva 2011, 2010
• Solaris 10
• Open Solaris 2009.06
• Oracle Solaris 11
• FreeBSD 8.x,7.x
• Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8
• Mac OS X Lion 10.7x
• Mac OS X Lion Server 10.7.x
• Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server 10.6.x
• Mac OS X Leopard Server 10.5.x

Includes experimental support for 32- and 64-bit Windows 8 Release Preview.

* Virtual machine operating systems - such as Windows, Linux, and Solaris - are not included.

Parallels Desktop 8 Switch to Mac Edition Requirements

Mac Requirements

• A Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor (Core Solo and Core Duo processor are no longer supported)
• Minimum 2 GB of memory, 4 GB of memory is recommended
• 1.4 GB of disk space on the boot volume for Parallels Desktop 8 Switch to Mac installation
• About 15 GB of disk space for each virtual machine
• Supported Mac OS versions: Mac OS X Snow Leopard v10.6.8 or later, Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later, Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8

Note:  Mac OS X Leopard v10.5.8 is not supported in this version of Parallels Desktop.

To get information about your Mac OS X version, type of processor, and amount of memory, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu.

PC Requirements

• 700 MHz (or higher) x86 or x64 processor (Intel or AMD)
• 256 MB or more of RAM
• 50 MB of hard disk space for installing Parallels Transporter Agent
• Ethernet or WiFi network adapter for migrating over network
• USB port for migrating using the Parallels USB cable
• Supported Windows and Linux versions: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, Ubuntu Linux 8.04