Can someone tell me why is there a Parallels folder with a Windows 10.pvm file in it? I did not put it there and would like for it NOT to be there, at least intentionally. How did it get in the iCloud folder and is it OK to move or delete it? It is using more than half of my iCloud storage. There is another Windows 10.pvm file located at Mac HD>Users>me>Documents>Parallels. Does it need to also be in the iCloud folder? Running Parallels 12 on Sierra OS with Windows 10. Thanks, Kaye
Hello @EKayeW. Mac OSX Sierra has this default feature wherein it'd automatically move all the content of the Documents folder into the iCloud storage; if your Parallels folder is in iCloud, it means it was in Documents folder earlier. No, there's no need for it to be in the iCloud storage. But it's better if you relocate it - create a new folder in the user home directory (Mac HD>Users>me), name it 'Parallels' and move the Windows 10.pvm into this folder. Delete it? That may not be a wise option. Move it? Yes.
Thank you. As we were on our way out the door on a trip, I had to do something to clean out my ICloud folder. Luckily I did pretty much what you recommended. Because there is a Parallels folder in Documents, I figured that is the one the program uses. To test it I moved the Parallels folder from iCloud folder to the desktop temporarily and then opened Windows and it worked fine. So I just left that extra folder on the desktop until we get back home. Is keeping it in Documents OK? That must have been the default install as I've never moved it. Should it stay in Documents or should I move it to the users home directory? Again, thank you for the response and advice.
No, it should not stay in the Documents folder. Please move it to the users home directory. After you do that, kindly change the default location of your virtual machines to the Parallels folder in the users home directory by following the steps under 'Change the default folder for the new virtual machines' in this article.
Sure thing. Keep me posted. Also, just remember that, in general, when moving a virtual machine file around, that Windows should not be running (extremely important). Better if Windows is shut down rather than suspended.
Hello Hemnath. We have returned home and I've tried to follow the instructions in the article link you provided. One step confused me and I skipped, but Parallels and Windows opens and seems to work fine. I did not follow Step 5 about checking 'Desktop and Documents Folders' in my iCloud options. I believe that will add my entire desktop and documents folders to my iCloud Drive Folder and I do not want to do that. I add files and folders selectively as I need to have them available in iCloud. Is that OK? Everything else seems to be working fine so I'm hoping that skipping that step doesn't cause any problems. If I add 'Desktop and Documents Folders' to my iCloud options I would have to purchase an additional 200GB of space.
Step 5 applies only for those users who want to backup their entire Desktop and Document folders without including the .pvm file in the backup. It's a pretty optional step, so it's no problem at all if you had skipped it.
