I used to use the "Shut Down" command, as Parallels prompts and recommends over the "Stop" when exiting or discontinuing use of a virtual machine. At some point in the past few months (has been a problem under Big Sur and continues in Monterey, was a problem in Parallels 14 and continues in Parallels 15) the "Shut Down" menu command stopped working. In other words, I select "Shut Down" from the Actions menu and nothing happens. I then select "Stop" from the same menu and get a prompt from Parallels asking if I'm sure I want to do that or do "Shut Down" instead to save all my data. On the prompt screen, both "Stop" and "Shut Down" are options. The "Stop" is in blue, the "Shut Down" is grey (but selectable) and there is also a gray "Cancel". Selecting "Shut Down" here causes the prompt window to disappear as though the action selected was recognized, but nothing happens. If I select "Stop from the menu again and then disregard the options given and press "Stop" on the prompt screen, the VM stops. So there is no way to actually do what I used to, which is "Shut Down" the VM. This means all the windows and screens I had open are all gone and need to be reopened and created each time I launch Parallels. This is a pain and very annoying. What happened and how to fix this so that I can, once again, actually use the "Shut Down" command?
Hello JoshuaM11, Please let us know are you using the Permanent license key for Parallels Desktop 14 and 15?
From my initial post, I don't need to know HOW to stop the machine. I need to know WHY the stop command isn't working anymore, when it did before.
Correction... why the "Shut Down" command is not working. Stop is the only thing I actually can use. But then all applications close and all work is lost.
