Parallels Desktop 16 Brings macOS Big Sur Support, Multi-Touch Gestures, 20% Faster DirectX, and More

[kumar muthaiah]

You can download free VMWare Fusion to run any OS in virtualization on the Mac. VMWare Fusion (non-Professional edition) became free this year.

Parallels will continue charging for upgrade every year. But then again, they have already demoed virtualization on the Apple Silicon of non X86-based OSes. So, you will be able to virtualize Linux for ARM and Windows for ARM for the time being. No one knows yet if it will ever be possible to run X86 based Windows on the Apple Silicon Macs.

Thanks for suggesting another option! The software and hardware will not work closely in Virtual OS! I need the real performance of the hardware and software! Money is the one creating problems to choose virtual OS! Instead of creating a virtual OS, if we all work together and reduce the price of memory, SSD and other computer components then it would be humanly! Another way is using single CPU and GPU for all OS, but what happens is operating system vendors use their own CPU (Intel as demonstrated its bad behaviour)! Another way is one OS and hardware for all! I think all need to work in cooperation, instead of competing and creating head ache! In the end one need mind peace! Competing with each other delays humanity progress!

 

[jagooch]

Parallels Inc. has solved the problem with subscription software. You buy the software at full price with full ownership, but you always have to buy a new one every year. Best of both worlds.

/end sarcasm

This is so true. I just upgraded to Parallels 15 a few
months ago, and if I install Big Sur, I’ll have to pay them another $50 to upgrade to 16.

So, I’m not installing Big Sur. In fact, I’m working on migrating to Linux over the next few years to get away from Parallels and the subscription model in general.

A few apps will be very hard if not impossible to replace, unless I get macOS running in a VM.

 

[jagooch]

You can download free VMWare Fusion to run any OS in virtualization on the Mac. VMWare Fusion (non-Professional edition) became free this year.

Parallels will continue charging for upgrade every year. But then again, they have already demoed virtualization on the Apple Silicon of non X86-based OSes. So, you will be able to virtualize Linux for ARM and Windows for ARM for the time being. No one knows yet if it will ever be possible to run X86 based Windows on the Apple Silicon Macs.

Or in my case, charging twice in the same year...

 

[jagooch]

is bootcamp still a thing?

Yes, I use it several times a week.

 

[jagooch]

Not accurate either. Parallels does OS compatibility for 2 years, so if you bought Parallels 15 you will get Big Sur compatibility. You will only need to upgrade if you want to move to Big Sur and are on Parallels 14.

KB Parallels: Parallels Desktop and macOS compatibility

* Versions marked with asterisks are partially compatible with the corresponding OS X/macOS versions and may not work correctly.

kb.parallels.com

No according to Parallels own Website.
They admit Parallels 15 has limited compatibility with Big Sur and list which features won’t work.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

No according to Parallels own Website.
They admit Parallels 15 has limited compatibility with Big Sur and list which features won’t work.

Read the KBase article they link to there. Most of the issues have been resolved, the few remaining have work arounds.

 

[MaryRal]

No according to Parallels own Website.
They admit Parallels 15 has limited compatibility with Big Sur and list which features won’t work.

Usually every year Parallels release new version that is compatible with the newest macOS..

 

[gank41]

No according to Parallels own Website.
They admit Parallels 15 has limited compatibility with Big Sur and list which features won’t work.

😕 The only compatibility listed at that link is the compatibility to which the operating system you're installing on.. And FWIW, I've had zero issues running Parallels with a large number of VM's on my 2015 15in MBP running Big Sur. Now that I'm on my M1 MBP, though, that's obviously changed. But from what I've seen, the latest version of Parallels runs great.

 

[sirozha]

Or in my case, charging twice in the same year...

You don’t have to upgrade to a new version every year, do you? Is the previous version not compatible with Big Sur? When was using Parallels, I ran the same version on three different macOS versions with no issues whatsoever. I wasn’t going to shell out $100 every year for it.

 

[gank41]

You don’t have to upgrade to a new version every year, do you? Is the previous version not compatible with Big Sur? When was using Parallels, I ran the same version on three different macOS versions with no issues whatsoever. I wasn’t going to shell out $100 every year for it.

If you’re upgrading your OS, you’ll need to update Parallels as well, to ensure compatibility. If you’re staying on the same OS, you don’t need to update Parallels.

 

[sirozha]

If you’re upgrading your OS, you’ll need to update Parallels as well, to ensure compatibility. If you’re staying on the same OS, you don’t need to update Parallels.

Like I said, I ran the same version of Parallels on multiple macOS versions with no issue whatsoever. I may not have been getting the latest bells and whistles, but it worked just fine.

 

[gank41]

Like I said, I ran the same version of Parallels on multiple macOS versions with no issue whatsoever. I may not have been getting the latest bells and whistles, but it worked just fine.

Yup, should work just fine like you said.

 

[jagooch]

From Parallels Knowledge Center

*Older Parallels Desktop versions are not fully optimized and compatible with the new macOS release, Big Sur (11.0). Please check this Knowledgebase Article for known compatibility and resolved issues prior to upgrading to macOS Big Sur. To avoid these issues, upgrade to Parallels Desktop 16.

. Older Parallels Desktop versions only partially support working on macOS Big Sur due to technical reasons may experience the issues below depending on the configuration.

List of Bugs in older versions ( < 16 ) of Parallels and their fixes.

https://kb.parallels.com/125039

The fixes are all to download and installed Parallels 16.x The bugs may or may not apply to you.

I upgrade my Mac Mini that runs as a headless server to Big Sur 11.1 and tested out several apps, including Parallels 15 Everything worked fine so I upgraded my Macbook as well.