Parallels 17.1 Update Improves Windows 11 Support on Intel and M1 Macs, Compatibility With macOS Monterey

[MacRumors]

Parallels Desktop 17.1 for Mac has just been released, offering improved support for Windows 11 virtual machines and added stability via the default implementation of Virtual Trusted Platform Modules (vTPMs) for "all future and past Windows 11 VMs." Parallels 17.1 also fully supports macOS Monterey as a host OS and improves the user experience when running macOS Monterey in a VM on M1 Macs.

Windows 11 requires a hardware-based TPM chip to run, which limits the software's compatibility with older PC computers and prevents it from running via Boot Camp on Intel Macs. Meanwhile there is no Boot Camp feature on Macs with Apple silicon, and the ARM-based version of Windows 11 is not natively supported.

By introducing default support for vTPMs, Parallels offers automatic Windows 11 compatibility with Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs, with the proviso that owners of the latter are using Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for ARM machines.

"Knowing that Parallels Desktop plays a critical role in enabling users to run the latest versions of Windows on their favorite Mac device today, we've developed a simple solution to help all users upgrade to Windows 11 with the enablement of vTPMs by default on all Mac devices," said Elena Koryakina, Vice President of Engineering at Parallels.

There has been continuing uncertainty surrounding the feasibility of running Windows 11 on Apple Silicon Macs via virtualization software, particularly in light of comments from Microsoft suggesting that virtualization is not a supported scenario for its latest operating system, as well as the subsequent release of Insider Builds that break virtualization. There are still specific requirements to be aware of when running Windows 11 on both Apple M1 and Intel-based Mac computers, which Parallels has detailed in a blog post, but this latest update should assuage concerns of some Parallels users.

In addition to automatic vTPM support, version 17.1 allows users to install Parallels Tools in a macOS Monterey VM on Apple M1 Mac and use the Copy and Paste integrated feature between the VM and the primary macOS. The default virtual machine disk size has also been increased from 32GB to 64GB.

This version of Parallels also improves graphics for several Windows games including, but not limited to: World of Warcraft, Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, Tomb Raider 3, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, World of Tanks, and Raft.

Lastly, there is added support for VirGL in Virtio GPU, which enables Linux 3D acceleration out of the box on all supported Mac computers, brings visual performance improvements, as well as use of Wayland protocol in Linux VMs. VirGL 3D graphics can be used by modern Linux VMs even without Parallels Tools being installed, but Parallels recommends users install Parallels Tools anyway.

Parallels Desktop 17 has moved entirely to a subscription model, which means the standard edition costs $79.99 per year, while Pro and Business Editions are available for $99.99 per year. Users who purchased a perpetual license for an earlier version of Parallels Desktop can upgrade to Parallels Desktop 17 for $49.99. A free trial is available to download from the Parallels website.

Article Link: Parallels 17.1 Update Improves Windows 11 Support on Intel and M1 Macs, Compatibility With macOS Monterey

 

[Skewlovevism]

I thought people were moaning they will not be able to install windows on M1 Mac and therefore the M1 macs are useless.

 

[vseera]

Really happy with this! Windows 11 runs quite well and the games run great too. Now I am just hoping that AoE4 can play on this through Xbox Game Pass and that will be the icing on the cake!

 

[drewhess]

I tried Parallels about 8 years ago, but quickly switched back to VMware Fusion. At the time, the installer installed a "Parallels Access" app without asking, which signed you up for a service on their remote servers and logged you in automatically. (I believe it was supposed to provide some sort of "Back to Your Mac" service, which I definitely did not want.) They also made Parallels Access difficult to kill and/or remove.

I haven't tried Parallels since, but now it looks like the clear way forward, with VMware seemingly losing interest in VMware Fusion.

For those of you who use modern versions of Parallels, do they still do similar slimy things, or have they cleaned up their act?

 

[DunedinD]

Parallels Desktop 17 has moved entirely to a subscription model, which means the standard edition costs $79.99 per year, while Pro and Business Editions…

No. Standard still available as a one-off with no updates beyond purchased major version. https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/buy/?full

 

[polyphenol]

I thought people were moaning they will not be able to install windows on M1 Mac and therefore the M1 macs are useless.

Did you miss this bit:

Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for ARM machines.

Which is not a viable approach for anyone who will have to rely on running Windows on Apple Silicon. Could stop working at the drop of a hat with no possible basis for complaint. Microsoft tell people never to use such builds for live work.

Nor does it help those who need to run Intel-only 64-bit Windows apps.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I thought people were moaning they will not be able to install windows on M1 Mac and therefore the M1 macs are useless.

People were, and still are, because of this: “Windows 11 compatibility with Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs, with the proviso that owners of the latter are using Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for ARM machines.” The problem remains.

 

[madgibbon]

Did you miss this bit:

Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for ARM machines.

Which is not a viable approach for anyone who will have to rely on running Windows on Apple Silicon. Could stop working at the drop of a hat with no possible basis for complaint. Microsoft tell people never to use such builds for live work.

Nor does it help those who need to run Intel-only 64-bit Windows apps.

If you need Windows then buy a Windows machine, it's about having the right tool for the job.

I love my MachBook and use it for all my personal stuff. However it's useless to me for work where I need to run Windows. I do run Windows 11 in Parallels on my Mac, but if it stopped working tomorrow it would be annoying, but wouldn't stop me paying the bills.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

I tried Parallels about 8 years ago, but quickly switched back to VMware Fusion. At the time, the installer installed a "Parallels Access" app without asking, which signed you up for a service on their remote servers and logged you in automatically. (I believe it was supposed to provide some sort of "Back to Your Mac" service, which I definitely did not want.) They also made Parallels Access difficult to kill and/or remove.

I haven't tried Parallels since, but now it looks like the clear way forward, with VMware seemingly losing interest in VMware Fusion.

For those of you who use modern versions of Parallels, do they still do similar slimy things, or have they cleaned up their act?

They do try to push a load of garbage on you. Additional tools etc.

Parallels integration with macOS - particularly after installing windows - is really invasive but you can disable it all. Just a shame they feel the need to foist it on you by default.

And they put that fugly icon in the menu bar by default too.

I don’t particularly like Parallels - it’s overpriced for what it is and it always seems unpolished - random UI glitches etc.

 

[segers909]

Parallels Desktop 17 has moved entirely to a subscription model, which means the standard edition costs $79.99 per year, while Pro and Business Editions are available for $99.99 per year. Users who purchased a perpetual license for an earlier version of Parallels Desktop can upgrade to Parallels Desktop 17 for $49.99. A free trial is available to download from the Parallels website.

But, you can still purchase a perpetual license. Here's a screenshot:

 

[polyphenol]

If you need Windows then buy a Windows machine, it's about having the right tool for the job.

I love my MachBook and use it for all my personal stuff. However it's useless to me for work where I need to run Windows. I do run Windows 11 in Parallels on my Mac, but if it stopped working tomorrow it would be annoying, but wouldn't stop me paying the bills.

It isn't a problem for my own use. But partner uses, for hobby purposes, one piece of software which is a problem. It is an excessive cost and awkwardness to have to buy and run a Windows box just for that. She currently uses a VM but her MacBook is getting on a bit and she'd love to upgrade. Not surprisingly, she'd be much happier if she could run that software on an Apple Silicon box.

(If she were using Windows for work, yes, obviously buy an appropriate box.)

 

[chucker23n1]

I tried Parallels about 8 years ago, but quickly switched back to VMware Fusion. At the time, the installer installed a "Parallels Access" app without asking, which signed you up for a service on their remote servers and logged you in automatically.

Yep, the amount of crapware they placed in my Windows VM last time I tried it made me go back to VMware.

 

[Kung gu]

I tried Parallels about 8 years ago, but quickly switched back to VMware Fusion. At the time, the installer installed a "Parallels Access" app without asking, which signed you up for a service on their remote servers and logged you in automatically. (I believe it was supposed to provide some sort of "Back to Your Mac" service, which I definitely did not want.) They also made Parallels Access difficult to kill and/or remove.

I haven't tried Parallels since, but now it looks like the clear way forward, with VMware seemingly losing interest in VMware Fusion.

For those of you who use modern versions of Parallels, do they still do similar slimy things, or have they cleaned up their act?

VMware is working on a native M1 version

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

VMware is working on a native M1 version

It’s already available. It doesn’t support Windows 11 though - there’s no VMware tools or Ethernet driver.

 

[dantracht]

I am completely clueless about all this VM windows stuff, but was curious about windows 11. Thought I could install it using BootCamp on my venerable 2015 MBP, but nope......my startup disc didn't have enough space, whatever that means.....

Tried the trial of parallels, and it looked cool.......but apparently I need to buy a license key of windows 11 to activate it, even within parallels?

At that point, I gave up and deleted parallels.

Again, I'm clueless about all this, and really wanted to try windows 11, since none of the machines I own, or work on, appear to be compatible.

Just a reminder why, for my own use, I walked away from windows 6 years ago.

IMHO, not worth the effort.

 

[Alwis]

I haven't tried Parallels since, but now it looks like the clear way forward, with VMware seemingly losing interest in VMware Fusion.

For those of you who use modern versions of Parallels, do they still do similar slimy things, or have they cleaned up their act?

I have a Parallels private license and in addition a VMWare license, as I did not want their subscription just to be allowed to use Parallels for work.

Booth work well and much better that VirtualBox, which I tried to. Parallels seems a little more polished and the integration in the Mac environment is better. On the other hand they have silly restrictions regarding CPU cores and RAM for the private license. Because of this I will probably switch to VMWare completely.

I remember the time, when they tried to force their tools onto you, but I could always avoid that. Currently it seems not as invasive as it used to be, but maybe I just got used to it.

I disable all the "Integrate into macOS" features on all of my VMs, I prefer a single window with a virtual OS and I do not want to use Windows applications to open files on my Mac or the other way around.

If you need Windows then buy a Windows machine, it's about having the right tool for the job.

Boeing a software developer using VMs with different OS (mainly different Linux distributions and Windows), which I can reset to a known state and where I am able to use multiple VMs at the same time is exactly the right tool for my job. A single Windows machine would be nearly useless.

At home I use a Windows VM to occasionally start two Windows applications, which I need to configure some hardware devices. There to I prefer VMs which can be reset, e.g. when the installation of a new software version fails and which can easily backup. A single Windows computer would not be the right tool for this job either.

But this is exactly the reason, why U bought the 2020 Intel iMac...

All would be good, if Windows would be selling the ARM version of Windows and I could use it with Parallels or VMWare.

 

[chucker23n1]

It’s already available. It doesn’t support Windows 11 though - there’s no VMware tools or Ethernet driver.

There was an update yesterday (12.2.0) that promises better Windows 11 support. Not sure about M1.

 

[Marx55]

Subscription is a deal breaker!

 

[philml]

The Parallels dock icon is so incredibly ugly and distracting, that it alone makes me prefer VMWare.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Did you miss this bit:

Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for ARM machines.

Which is not a viable approach for anyone who will have to rely on running Windows on Apple Silicon. Could stop working at the drop of a hat with no possible basis for complaint. Microsoft tell people never to use such builds for live work.

Nor does it help those who need to run Intel-only 64-bit Windows apps.

Anyone that needs that and primarily runs a Mac just needs to have a PC as well.

I use a Mac as my primary computer. I have a PC at work on my back desk. I use jump desktop RDP from my Mac when I need to do something like use Actuve Directory users and computers.

I can’t remember the last time I actually logged into the PC using its keyboard and mouse.

In late 2021 I do not understand the need to run Windows on a Mac??? Everything you need has been ported long ago, is web based, or has a fantastic alternative.

Windows is a total train wreck right now and Windows 11 is even worse. 3 new printer security issues reported this morning

 

[bgarnett]

My biggest gripe with Parallels has been its constant need to reinstall its tools each upgrade of the host o/s, so frustrating. That said, I prefer it to VMWare that I use in my cybersecurity studies, it feels faster and easier to set things up.

 

[Durafab]

If you need Windows then buy a Windows machine, it's about having the right tool for the job.

I love my MachBook and use it for all my personal stuff. However it's useless to me for work where I need to run Windows. I do run Windows 11 in Parallels on my Mac, but if it stopped working tomorrow it would be annoying, but wouldn't stop me paying the bills.

Such sage advice, and forcefully rendered. Right tool for the right job...pithy! But wrong. I use Windows for one (1) program that I use all day. Everything else is on the Mac. No way I'm going to buy some crappy windows machine to run a single program.

 

[Karllake]

If you need Windows then buy a Windows machine, it's about having the right tool for the job.

if you want a music player buy an iPod, if you want email use outlook on a pc, if you want the internet then use a browser on a pc…. Steve jobs unveiling the first iPhone “oh right, doesn’t matter”

 

[chucker23n1]

Such sage advice, and forcefully rendered. Right tool for the right job...pithy! But wrong. I use Windows for one (1) program that I use all day. Everything else is on the Mac. No way I'm going to buy some crappy windows machine to run a single program.

Whether it's a single program or not, the point stands that running Windows 11 on ARM in a VM is not a supported scenario. If it works for you, great; if it doesn't, that was your choice to make.

 

[Durafab]

Whether it's a single program or not, the point stands that running Windows 11 on ARM in a VM is not a supported scenario. If it works for you, great; if it doesn't, that was your choice to make.

? I think you're responding to the wrong post. I didn't say anything about it being supported or not.