Allow renaming macOS guests in Control Center

Discussion in 'Parallels Desktop for Mac Feature Suggestions' started by BobB25, Aug 26, 2023.

  1. BobB25

    BobB25 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    If I have a MacOS n VM it shows as "MacOS n" in Control Centre. If I upgrade it to MacOS n+1 it still shows as "MacOS n" in CC and I can't change it. Annoying. And anyway I use multiple MacOS VMs for various testing and I'd like to give them appropriate names; currently I can only colour-code them which is less than satisfactory.
     
    FrankB18 and MatthewR20 like this.
  2. joevt

    joevt Forum Maven

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    1,207
    You can rename it when the VM is not running. Shutdown the VM -> Configure -> General -> Name.
    Or are we talking about different things?
     
  3. BobB25

    BobB25 Bit poster

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    3
    There is no 'Configure' option for MacOs VMs when running under Apple Silicon. Or am I missing something?
     
  4. MatthewR20

    MatthewR20 Most valuable person

    Messages:
    237
    The configure option is not currently supported for macOS VMs on Apple silicon Macs.
     
  5. joevt

    joevt Forum Maven

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    1,207
    Oh wow. Guess I should read the manual and some kb articles. Here's some:
    https://kb.parallels.com/125561
    https://kb.parallels.com/128867
    https://kb.parallels.com/128842
    The last one explains near the end how to change the name of the virtual machine.

    It would be nice to be able to click on the name text in the Control Center and just type a new name there instead of having to go into the Configure UI which doesn't exist for macOS VMs on Apple silicon.
     
  6. BobB25

    BobB25 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Exactly. Which is why this is a feature suggestion. I don't care how, but being able to rename VMs would be REALLY USEFUL.
     
    AlexA26 likes this.
  7. TrevorS8

    TrevorS8

    Messages:
    1
    I just changed the name of a macOS VM by, navigating to the appropriate .macvm file for the VM
    Right-Click | Show Package Contents
    Edit config.pvs with an appropriate editor (TextEdit should work)
    Find the <VmName> tag and edit the contents, save file.
    Code:
       <Identification dyn_lists="">
          ...
          ...
          <VmName>macOS Ventura</VmName>
    
    This changes the name of the VM machine in Control Centre
    Also Rename the .macvnm file if you prefer.
     

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