Share your experience about running Windows in Parallels Desktop. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:04:20 +0000 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:04:20 +0000 Parallels Forums https://forum.parallels.com/forums/windows-virtual-machine.60/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:21:56 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/how-do-i-find-an-older-version-of-windows-10-arm-64.369643/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/how-do-i-find-an-older-version-of-windows-10-arm-64.369643/ invalid@example.com (SambitS) SambitS
Cheers,
Sambit]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:17:13 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/wsl-2-support-for-m3-chip-and-up.367351/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/wsl-2-support-for-m3-chip-and-up.367351/ invalid@example.com (KhoaT1) KhoaT1 https://developer.apple.com/documen...dvirtualizationsupported?changes=latest_minor

Will Parallel Desktop support this?]]> 14 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:43:46 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/macos-26-beta-1-vm-network-initialization-issue.367606/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/macos-26-beta-1-vm-network-initialization-issue.367606/ invalid@example.com (ChristopherL15) ChristopherL15 9 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:36:52 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/cant-take-screenshot.369626/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/cant-take-screenshot.369626/ invalid@example.com (peyrolles) peyrolles All the other keyboard shortcuts work correctly.
What should I do to be able to take a screenshot?]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:36:58 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/fail-install-sql-2022-in-windows-11.361929/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/fail-install-sql-2022-in-windows-11.361929/ invalid@example.com (chengk) chengk 1 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:53:28 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/microsoft-outlook-365-blinking-cursor.369618/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/microsoft-outlook-365-blinking-cursor.369618/ invalid@example.com (OmarQ1) OmarQ1 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:38:04 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/arm-windows-11-vm-disk-partition-size-resize.369140/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/arm-windows-11-vm-disk-partition-size-resize.369140/ invalid@example.com (BrianD28) BrianD28 As I started to work up to migrating my Intel MacBook Pro to the new machine, I noted that the Windows 11 VM only has a maximum of about 250GB and I was hoping to allow at least 1TB. I found a place to change the Windows 11 VM disk space, but it will only allow making the partition smaller.

Has anyone solved the issue of allocating TB scale disk space to...

ARM Windows 11 VM Disk Partition Size/Resize]]> 2 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:15:49 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-arm-vm-freezing-on-parallels-26-2-0-57363.369220/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-arm-vm-freezing-on-parallels-26-2-0-57363.369220/ invalid@example.com (Mike74) Mike74 Typically I have Edge and Reaper open. I am mostly noticing the freezes when I am using Edge.
What troubleshooting steps should I take to resolve this issue? What additional information may be useful?
I am on an M1 Mac with 16Gb of Ram, 1 TB HD and 2Tb External HD.
VM is set to use 4 cpu and 8Gb memory.
The issue has just started to happen the last few days.]]> 3 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 07:52:21 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/since-version-26-x-upwards-windows-11-blue-screen-critical_structure_corruption.368907/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/since-version-26-x-upwards-windows-11-blue-screen-critical_structure_corruption.368907/ invalid@example.com (HolgerP3) HolgerP3
Since I upgraded Parallels Desktop for Mac (Intel) to a version higher than 20.4.1-55996 (beginning with the first public 26.x version) I get CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION blue screens in my Windows 11 VM at least one time per day.

I read about problems with Norton 360, and as we are using Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) I assume, this might have something in common. But as the basic machine configuration and software is provided via our data center, I am unable to dive deeper into...

Since version 26.x upwards - Windows 11 blue screen - CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION]]> 25 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:10:26 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-arm-on-macos-parallels-stops-functioning-properly.355146/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-arm-on-macos-parallels-stops-functioning-properly.355146/ invalid@example.com (LeventY1) LeventY1 I'm using Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac on a Mac Big sur version 11.6 with M! processor and 16 GB RAM.

Upon installation Windows Updatevstartaed installing Insider Preview Build 22478.rs-prerelease.211008-1414. AFTER this update Windows started misbehaving. Example:

- Start menu opens but I can't open/start (can't open settings app)
- Windows Update menu doesn't exist under the Control Panel
- Windows Insider menu to login and...

Windows 11 ARM on MacOS (Parallels) stops functioning properly]]> 68 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:42:18 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/running-eplan-electric-p8-on-macos.363647/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/running-eplan-electric-p8-on-macos.363647/ invalid@example.com (AlexF20) AlexF20
Could I run EPLAN Electric P8 on MacOS using Parallels Desktop ?

Please advise if this is a supported configuration and, if so, are there any specific considerations or limitations I should be aware of?

Some are saying that it won't run because M1-3 processors from apple missing avx instruction set and these virtual are not able to...

Running EPLAN Electric P8 on MacOS]]> 9 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 19:48:53 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/ptagent-exe-refuses-to-start-up-on-win-11-arm-vm.361699/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/ptagent-exe-refuses-to-start-up-on-win-11-arm-vm.361699/ invalid@example.com (Syntax Error) Syntax Error
I have recently installed Windows 11 ARM on Parallels 19 but cannot install Parallels Tools. Double-clicking or running PTAgent.exe does nothing. I have tried running as administrator and still nothing. The installer refuses to start up at all. I had to manually install the network driver from the driver folder but nothing else is working as intended. Please assist.

I have tried all the steps in these articles and it does not help.
https://kb.parallels.com/en/115835...

PTAgent.exe refuses to start up on Win 11 ARM VM]]> 10 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:21:20 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-start-menu-alternatives.369516/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-start-menu-alternatives.369516/ invalid@example.com (BrianD28) BrianD28
As soon as I got all my software migrated, I would have to find a way to improve that. The Start Menu on Windows 10 was fine, but this .... this - Yikes!

I have not found a way to put the same Windows 10 Start Menu on Windows 11,, but have found some stuff to improve or replace.

PC Magazine, last month, published an article...

Windows 11 Start Menu Alternatives]]> 1 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:11:50 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/resolved-quickbooks-desktop-no-longer-working-after-26-1-2-upgrade.368876/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/resolved-quickbooks-desktop-no-longer-working-after-26-1-2-upgrade.368876/ invalid@example.com (ChrisR46) ChrisR46 Running a Windows 11 VM.
Apple M4 Pro

Anyone have this problem or have an idea what changed within the recent upgrade that would have broke things? The Quickbooks app loads fine, it's loading the actual QB files that no longer functions. Regardless of file location.]]> 55 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:27:03 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/unable-to-use-quick-assist-in-windows-11.360061/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/unable-to-use-quick-assist-in-windows-11.360061/ invalid@example.com (LeeG11) LeeG11
A simple, built-in tool Microsoft has developed for remote control, but i've yet to get it to connect to a client when using 11 on Parallels.

Is anyone else experiencing the same?]]> 19 Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:29:58 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/workflow-changes-boot-camp-separation-of-macos-windows-vs-parallels-virtual-over-macos.369513/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/workflow-changes-boot-camp-separation-of-macos-windows-vs-parallels-virtual-over-macos.369513/ invalid@example.com (BrianD28) BrianD28
On the old machine, I did a lot my workflow on Windows 10 with Open Folders and Open Files clipped to the Task Bar. I find I can still do this by closing each to icons which collect on the Task Bar. However, to preserve them through restarts and shutdowns, it is necessary to 1) Lock, 2)...

Workflow Changes, Boot Camp Separation of MacOS/Windows vs. Parallels Virtual Over MacOS]]> Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:14:02 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/migration-from-intel-macbook-pro-salvaging-old-perpetual-license-software.369512/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/migration-from-intel-macbook-pro-salvaging-old-perpetual-license-software.369512/ invalid@example.com (BrianD28) BrianD28
Migration From Intel MacBook Pro Salvaging Old Perpetual License Software]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:00:37 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-keeps-crashing-randomly-on-multiple-machines.369312/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/windows-11-keeps-crashing-randomly-on-multiple-machines.369312/ invalid@example.com (MartinW16) MartinW16 All Macs are older iMac models with Intel CPU. We're running v26.1.2 (57293) on Tahoe.

I attempted to do a repair install of Windows, but that throws an error during the last step (something went wrong...) and aborts.

What can we do to find the cause of the problem and hopefully fix this?]]> 5 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:29:16 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/old-error-recurring-after-update-to-26-0-1.368306/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/old-error-recurring-after-update-to-26-0-1.368306/ invalid@example.com (MarinusB) MarinusB However, this caused a phenomenon to reappear that occurred in a version of some time ago: in all my Windows VMs running Win 10 or 11, system text in "modern" UI apps suddenly are invisible; in legacy apps, system text displays just fine. Also, various bitmaps appear garbled.
With the previous version, the remedy was the addition of "video.metal=0" in the Hardware | Boot Order | Advanced | Boot...

Old error recurring after update to 26.0.1]]> 12 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:48:30 +0000 https://forum.parallels.com/threads/unable-to-start-the-virtual-machine.367820/ https://forum.parallels.com/threads/unable-to-start-the-virtual-machine.367820/ invalid@example.com (FergusW) FergusW
After migrating from a Mac to another Mac, Parallels now has an error when starting Windows.

The error is: Unable to start the virtual machine. The virtual machine cannot be started.

I've tried deleting the .mem and editing DiskDescriptor file as described in other threads - with no luck.

My configuration:
MacBook Air M4, 2025
Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac Standard
Windows 11

Please help, thanks!]]> 4