For most users, it might not matter if you use Mac or a PC to run Excel.  

However, for power users or anyone who needs to leverage the more advanced features of Excel, you probably want the Windows version. There are advanced features that are only available in the Windows version of Excel that simply aren’t replicated in the version made for Macs. So if you work in an all-Mac company or are otherwise devoted to Macs, this could be a problem.  

In summary: 

• Windows Excel offers more features, better support, and more comprehensive VBA code capabilities compared to Mac. 
• Windows provides advanced features such as forecasting, multi-item clipboard, and live preview that are not available in the Mac version. 

• The most important consideration when deciding between the two versions of Excel? Your individual needs plus how advanced your skills are. 

In this blog post, we’ll help you make an informed decision based on your needs by comparing the features, functionality, and user experience of Microsoft Excel on Mac versus Microsoft Excel on Windows. 

Excel versions: Mac vs Windows 

Primary difference: Windows offers more advanced features for power users of Excel.  

With Microsoft Excel, the Windows version generally offers more features, better support from Microsoft, and more comprehensive VBA code capabilities compared to its Mac counterpart. Experienced Excel users may encounter a range of differences between the two options, including the ability to connect to multiple data sources using the Windows version. 

The Windows version of Excel offers additional functionality such as the autosave feature, the “View Side by Side” feature, and the “smart tag” feature that are not available in the Mac version. Additionally, visual effects are only available for Windows users of Excel. 

Both versions can be acquired from Microsoft stores or common retail stores. The Office 2021 Home and Student version retails for $149.99 in the MS Store, while Office 2021 Home and Business edition retails for $249.99 in the MS Store. Both versions include the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). Read on to compare various popular Excel features and capabilities and how they are different in Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac. 

Keyboard shortcuts and layouts 

Primary difference: Windows Excel offers advanced shortcuts and customization. 

Mac and Windows have distinct keyboard shortcuts and layouts, with Windows generally considered to offer more choices and simpler navigation. This can be beneficial for users with advanced Excel skills. Page Break View, for instance, is only available to Microsoft Office 365 users, and earlier versions of Excel do not include access to this feature. 

The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in Excel for Mac cannot be imported or exported, and installing a new version of Excel will erase any personalized modifications made to it. This can be a disadvantage for power users who rely on customizations to improve their workflow. 

Moreover, certain commonly used shortcuts, including “Paste only formulas” and “Paste Link”, are exclusive to PC and not compatible with Mac. 

Power Pivot and data analysis 

Primary difference: Excel for Windows includes fully functional Power Pivot and dynamic Pivot Charts and Pivot Tables. 

Power Pivot is a valuable tool for business intelligence that enables users to import large volumes of data into a single Excel workbook from various data sources, providing the ability to link heterogeneous data and formulate it into columns, charts, Pivot Tables, and Pivot Charts.  

Unfortunately, the Mac version of Excel does not support Power Pivot. This means users of Excel on Mac are unable to access this powerful and popular function. 

In contrast to the Windows version, Pivot Charts and Pivot Tables in Excel for Mac are static in nature and cannot be automatically adjusted to reflect changes made to their source Pivot Table. This means that they must be manually updated whenever changes occur. These graphs remain static, as if they were a screenshot; they don’t change dynamically with incoming data. Pivot Tables based on the Excel Data Model cannot be filtered if a Mac user opens the spreadsheet. However, this issue will not occur for Windows users. 

While Mac users can access files with Power Pivot exclusive functions, the Power Pivot exclusive functions may not be available. Navigate to File > Options in your Excel on Windows. Select the “Add-ins” tab and choose “Power Pivot” from the list. 

The ability to use pivot tables and pivot charts to perform data analysis and visual data is one of the most valuable features of Excel for many advanced users, making it an essential feature to consider when determining which version of Excel is best for you. 

Visual Basic Editor and VBA limitations 

Primary difference: the Windows version of Excel provides mass distribution and synchronization. 

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a powerful programming language used to create applications within Microsoft products, including Excel.  Unsurprisingly, the VBA language in Excel for Mac is not as comprehensive as it is in Excel for Windows and it’s lacking in several key properties and functions. 

 For instance, extended ASCII characters in VBA typically differ in MacOS, certain macro keyboard shortcuts appear to be reserved, VBA animation is only available with Excel for Windows, and right-click context menus are not editable with VBA in Excel for Mac. 

Because using VBA for Excel on Mac has many drawbacks and lacks certain functionalities, making it more challenging to use than its Windows version. 

Form controls and ActiveX 

Primary difference: Form creation and customization in Excel for Windows.  

Form Controls and ActiveX are alternative form controls (or tools used to create forms) that are only compatible with the Windows OS, so they are not available or supported in Excel for Mac.  

When designing User Forms with Form Controls or ActiveX in Excel for Mac, for instance, the screen resolution discrepancy between Mac (96 dpi) and Windows (72 dpi) can result in reduced readability. This is due to User Forms appearing at only 75% of their size on the Mac. Moreover, Mac UserForms using frames containing list boxes do not always function as expected, with instances of frames changing to a white background and losing the frame surround. 

The most effective approach for Mac users is to create User Forms in Excel for Windows and verify that they appear as expected on a Mac. The issue of column widths in multi-column list boxes not resizing when constructing User Forms in Excel for Mac can be remedied with code. 

Data connectivity options 

Primary difference: the number of options available in Windows Excel.  

Data connectivity is practically essential to a solid Excel user experience. However, Excel for Mac has certain limitations in terms of the data formats it can read and receive data from. Excel for Mac offers a limited range of data connections in comparison to Excel for Windows; Excel for Mac only offers ODBC SQL, HTML, Text, and Database (Microsoft Query). 

On the other hand, Excel for Windows offers a wide range of data connectivity options, including web, tables/ranges, Access, ODBC SQL, PDF, JSON, XML, and more. Excel for Windows PC can import data from a wide variety of file formats, including PDF, JSON, XML, and many more, which are not supported by Excel for Mac. 

Customization and user interface 

Primary difference: The ability to fully personalize the UI in Excel for Windows.  

Windows offers more customization options and enhanced visuals compared to Mac. Windows provides a range of customization options, including the ability to adjust colors and fonts, as well as more advanced features. 

Mac users, on the other hand, are limited to the default pre-defined options for colors and fonts in Excel for Mac. This means that Windows users can enjoy a more personalized and visually appealing experience when using Excel, while Mac users have fewer customization options and fewer advanced features. 

Advanced features and compatibility 

Primary difference: certain valuable features are only available in the Windows version of Excel. 

Excel for Windows boasts advanced features such as forecasting, multi-item clipboard, and live preview, none of which are available in Excel for Mac. The forecasting feature in Excel for Windows offers a way to forecast seasonal changes and predict future values based on confidence factors. 

The multi-item clipboard allows users to copy and paste multiple items simultaneously, while the Live Preview feature enables users to preview the effect of a change or edit on their work prior to implementing it. 

These advanced features greatly enhance the user experience and functionality of Windows Excel, making the Windows version preferable for more advanced or power users. 

Best of both worlds: use Excel for Windows on Mac with Parallels Desktop 

hardware of choice.  Heavy Excel users or power users may find that the Windows version has more to offer them — it has more features, better support from Microsoft, and stronger options for VBA coding. However, if you only use the basic capabilities of Excel, the Mac version could be enough. 

But what if you didn’t have to choose? After all, you’ve probably already established yourself as a Windows or Mac user, and it’s unlikely that you are going to switch from your preferred operating system or hardware just to use one program.  

Which is why with Parallels Desktop, you don’t have to choose! There’s no need to give up your preferred OS and aesthetics to enjoy the superior features and functionality of Excel on Windows.  

Parallels Desktop allows you to run the Windows version of Excel right on your Mac, marrying the comprehensive functionality of Windows Excel with the smooth, intuitive Mac experience.  

You get the full suite of Excel for Windows features on a Mac, which ensures you can make the most of Excel’s capabilities without needing to switch to a PC. It’s a win-win situation: you get to stay in your beloved Mac environment while benefiting from the power-packed Windows Excel experience. 

Curious? Try Parallels Desktop today! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Excel different on Mac than Excel on Windows? 

Generally, the more recent versions of Excel work the same way on Windows and Mac, so most users won’t find any major differences. However, experienced Excel users or those who require more advanced functionality might come across some differences or distinguishing characteristics. 

As such, it is important to be aware of the minor discrepancies between the two platforms when working with Excel. 

Why does Excel not work well on Mac? 

 Excel does not work poorly on a Mac; however, the Windows version does offer features and capabilities that the Mac version does not.  

What are some key differences between Excel for Mac and Excel for Windows? 

There are some notable differences between these versions. Power Pivot, VBA capabilities, Form Controls and Active X, and data connectivity options along with more advanced features like forecasting, multi-item clip boarding, and live previews are among the elements which may differ between Mac and Windows platforms. 

Interested in getting the best of both the Mac and Windows worlds when using Excel? Try Parallels Desktop for yourself!  

The post Microsoft Excel on Mac versus Excel on Windows appeared first on Parallels Blog.

It is now listed as an authorized solution with Microsoft Support, so you can feel confident in your own set-up as well as supporting users that need to host Arm versions of Windows 11 applications in a virtualized environment on Mac with Apple silicon. 

What does this mean for you? 

IT leaders can now enable their users to run Windows 11 on Arm with Parallels Desktop for Mac, with the assurance that Microsoft has authorized this solution.   

Whether user devices are owned and managed by the employee/contractor or the organization’s IT department, Parallels Desktop bridges the technology gap between the two operating systems by enabling a virtualized environment capable of running Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions as a guest operating system on Mac with Apple silicon.  

Parallels Desktop is the first solution to be authorized and listed by Microsoft, so IT leaders can feel confident in supporting users that need to host Arm versions of Windows 11 applications in a virtualized environment on Mac with Apple silicon.  

Ready to get started? Try Parallels Desktop for Mac now. 

User perspective + challenges 

Mac users are passionate about their devices, but often become frustrated when they need to access applications that are only available or perform best on Windows operating systems  

For example, how can a field engineer that prefers a Mac access a Windows-based application such as AutoCAD, Matlab, ArcGIS, or SolidWorks? Or perhaps power users of Excel or PowerPoint may prefer the Windows versions as well.  

In many environments, this means that a Windows device is required as the primary device, regardless of user preference.   

Another option is getting a second laptop. Even though laptops are small and lightweight, carrying two laptops and synchronizing files is an unnecessary hassle.   

Either way, users are not content and potentially less productive, but organizations still need to find a way for their teams to access niche applications. 

Developing in a Windows environment, on a Mac 

Similarly, how can application developers utilize their Mac devices to access a locally installed Windows 11 guest operating system for development work?   

Whether the developer is a contractor or an employee, they need to install tools such as Visual Studio or Notepad++ and/or create and test Windows code in a segregated environment.   

Especially within small enterprises, a centralized virtual machine or device may add complexity to development efforts.   

A much better alternative is to allow the user to choose their favored device type, e.g., a Mac, and enable Windows-based applications to run in a virtualized environment with Parallels Desktop.  

After installation, the Windows 11 operating system can be run in a virtualized environment by the user on a dedicated resource.  

This way both the host and guest can function independently without relying on each other, and files and system resources can be shared between macOS and Windows.   

Then, the desired Windows application(s) and tools can be installed on Windows 11, providing the best of both worlds for the end user.  

H2: Windows 11 licensing  

Licensing the Windows 11 operating system that runs on the Mac device is straightforward.   

The same volume licensing system that addresses enterprise licensing, such as Key Management Services (KMS), can be used to provide Pro or Enterprise licenses to the Windows 11 guest operating system.  

Frequently asked questions 

1. What will change for users of Parallels Desktop for Mac?

New users must download and install the latest version of Parallels Desktop to get started running Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise.  

Existing Parallels Desktop users can continue to use Windows without making changes to their current set-up on their devices. However, if you are not using one of the supported editions of Windows, we recommend upgrading to Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. 

2. Do I have to purchase a new version of Parallels Desktop to access the version certified by Microsoft? 

If you run Parallels Desktop 17 or a later version, you can continue to use Parallels Desktop on Mac with Apple silicon or Apple M-series Mac with Apple silicon. 

3. Do existing users have to upgrade their Parallels Desktop SKU? 

All Parallels Desktop SKUs (Standard, Pro, Business) are supported by Parallels for users to run Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise with Apple Silicon. 

4.Do Parallels Desktop users have to purchase new Windows product keys? 

You will be able to bring your own Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise product keys if they have a key that can be used to activate Windows.  

5. How can I purchase Windows product keys if I don’t have one? 

Organizations can purchase Windows 11 through their normal Windows procurement process. Individuals can buy Windows 11 Pro through the Microsoft site.  

6.I have a working version of Parallels Desktop with Windows 11, can I continue to use it? 

Existing Parallels Desktop users can continue to use Windows without changing their current set-up on their devices. However, if you are not using one of the compatible editions, we recommend upgrading to Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. 

7. Can I install other Windows editions? 

We recommend installing Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise. 

8. How can I get Windows for my Mac with Apple silicon now? 

End users will be able to download and install Windows 11 Pro in two simple steps with Parallels Desktop for Mac. 

IT administrators and organizations deploying Windows Enterprise will require a volume license agreement and will be able to download Windows from Microsoft. You can download this from the Microsoft 365 admin center.  

9. Are there known issues or limitations with Parallels Desktop used with Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise on Mac with Apple silicon? 

Some Windows 11 features may not be available or fully functional when running Windows 11 in a virtualized environment. Access our knowledge base to learn more. 

Ready to jump right in? Learn more about our Microsoft certification and get your free trial of Parallels Desktop!  

Recap: Parallels Desktop is the only Microsoft-authorized solution for running Windows on Mac 

The Parallels Desktop team is proud to be the only solution certified by Microsoft to run Windows on Mac, so you can be confident in choosing it for your own use as well as advising your organization, customers, or teams to use Parallels Desktop. 

Parallels Desktop empowers you with:  

• Security compliance with virtual TPM chips and Secure Boot technologies. 
• Volume license key or key-free activation in a corporate environment with Single Sign-On support and integration with leading identity providers such as Azure, Okta, and Ping Identity, among others.  
• Centralized user and license administration via the Parallels MyAccount web app. 
• The ability to mass-deploy Parallels Desktop using solutions like Apple Remote Desktop, Jamf, Microsoft Intune, and Munki.  
• The ability to provision a corporate Windows image to selected users within the organization. 
• Premium 24/7 tech support. 

The post The Ultimate Solution: Windows 11 in a virtual machine + Parallels Desktop + Mac Computers with Apple silicon appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Parallels® Desktop for Mac is a fantastic way to run Power BI on M1 and Intel-based Mac computers. That said, because Microsoft has not yet released an official Power BI desktop for Mac, users must use Windows virtualization to run it.

Parallels Desktop for Mac supports Windows 11 on both M1 and Intel-based Mac computers, and delivers superior performance and compatibility with favorite Windows programs.

How well will Power BI run on an M1 Mac?

Before launching Parallels Desktop for Mac for M1 Macs we had more than 100,000 users test programs such as Power BI to confirm that it indeed does work on an M1 laptop. Mac applications that are originally created for Intel-based Mac computers work on Mac computers with Apple M1 chip out of the box by utilizing the Rosetta framework – a translation process that enables running Intel x86_64 applications on Apple M1 chip.  

Which version of Mac works best with Power BI?

Most users report that a minimum of 8 GB of RAM should be assigned to process data sets. We recommend Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro or Business editions since you can assign up to 128 GB of RAM to your setup.

Click here to download a 14-day free trial of Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro edition and try it for yourself!

The post How Do I Run Power BI on a Mac? appeared first on Parallels Blog.

“TPM” is not something talked about in the Mac community, so it is not surprising if you don’t know about it. However, that all changed this summer. 

In this blog post, I will present a short overview of TPM and explain why a Mac user – and, in particular, a Parallels® Desktop user – needs to know and care about TPM. 

What is TPM? 

The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a specification for a chip to be added to Windows PCs. The goal of TPM is to improve security on these PCs. When a TPM chip is available and enabled on a PC, a variety of security features can be added to Windows, including: 

• BitLocker –  A full volume disk encryption feature included with Microsoft Windows. 
• Secure Boot – A security standard designed to ensure that a device boots using only software that is trusted by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). 
• Windows Hello – A set of Windows log-in technologies including fingerprint recognition and face authentication. 

Since the release of the TPM specification in 2009, more than 20 manufacturers have released certified TPM chips. Apple, of course, is not on this list. (Apple has alternate security technologies including FileVault, Touch ID, Face ID, and GateKeeper, all powered by the Apple T2 Security Chip — a secure enclave hardware chip.) 

Why should I care, and what changed in June 2021? 

In June 2021, Microsoft announced and previewed Windows 11 and included TPM as a requirement to run Windows 11, on a PC, or in a virtual machine. (Microsoft released Windows 11 on October 5^th, 2021.) 

Fortunately, Parallels Desktop added support for a virtual TPM (vTPM) in version 15, released in 2019. Like many other features in Parallels Desktop, vTPM is an implementation on the Mac of a Windows component or feature. vTPM uses several of the Apple security technologies to implement the features of TPM. As far as Windows is concerned, the Parallels virtual machine has a TPM chip, and thus Windows 11 can be installed and can be used in Parallels Desktop. vTPM was added to Parallels Desktop 15 because multiple enterprise customers needed TPM in their highly secured corporate environments, and some corporate applications require TPM support as a security requirement. The vTPM feature was not enabled by default in Parallels Desktop 15 or 16, because this feature was only needed by certain enterprise customers, and vTPM was only available in the Pro and Business Editions of Parallels Desktop. 

This is all changing due to Windows 11. 

All the editions of Parallels Desktop (Standard, Pro, Business, and the App Store Edition) starting with version 17.1.0 include the vTPM feature, and will enable vTPM by default for all virtual machines that must have it: 

• Intel-based Mac computers, for all Windows 11 virtual machines, both new and existing. 
• Apple M1-based Mac computers, for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 virtual machines, both new and existing. As Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds do expire eventually, we recommend upgrading a Windows 10 Insider Preview VM to a Windows 11 Insider Preview VM at the earliest convenience. This will also reportedly improve compatibility with “regular” (Intel-based) Windows applications. 

Consequences of enabling the TPM chip 

After adding a virtual TPM chip to a VM, Parallels Desktop creates an encrypted file within the virtual machine bundle that acts as a TPM storage. This storage must be secured, so Parallels Desktop encrypts this file using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 128-bit key length and puts the password in Mac System Keychain, which, in turn, is in encrypted physical storage, and only Parallels Desktop (or a Mac admin) can read the TPM password from the Mac Keychain. 

Such an implementation ensures that users don’t have to come up with a password and enter it every time they start a VM, plus we all have too many passwords to remember. Users can continue running their virtual machines as usual, up to the moment when one wants to transfer the VM to a new hardware.  

For a VM with TPM chip added, just copying the PVM bundle to a new Mac is not enough. The VM will NOT start without the corresponding record in the Mac Keychain that contains a password to decrypt the TPM file. It is not easy to copy this record to a new Mac, but it is possible. We have prepared detailed instructions on how to do it in this Knowledge Base article. 

Apart from the nuance above, virtual machines will not be affected in any other way – Windows will continue to work as usual, as well as all Windows applications.  

Here are some of the questions you might be asking: 

Because my Windows 11 VM in Parallels Desktop has a vTPM, does that mean that I can enable other Windows security features in that VM like BitLocker and fingerprint recognition? 

Yes, you can enable other Windows technologies that require a TPM. You can see the details about enabling fingerprint recognition in this blog post. 

Will an existing VM run slower after vTPM is enabled? 

No, adding a vTPM to a VM has no noticeable performance effect. 

Can I enable vTPM for my other VMs, macOS VMs, or Linux VMs? 

Yes, you can, but the vTPM feature will not be used by a macOS or Linux VM, so there is no reason to do so. The consequences listed above will still apply, even though the guest OS is not making use of the vTPM. 

The post “What is a ‘TPM’, and why should I care?” appeared first on Parallels Blog.

As the expression goes, “May you live in interesting times.”

This is such an interesting time to be a Parallels® customer: macOS Monterey release imminent, Windows 11 released on October 5^th, iOS and iPadOS 15 released, Parallels Desktop 16.5 and Parallels Desktop 17 released in 2021, Windows on ARM, TPM chips, M1 Mac computers, Intel Mac computers, high-priority security patches from Apple and Microsoft, and more – with what sometimes seems like daily changes. 

Here are just a few of the recent important points or changes: 

• Windows 11 released on October 5^th (Congrats to Microsoft!) 
• Windows 10 on ARM is no longer available from Microsoft 
• Windows 11 now requires a TPM chip, even in a VM (There are consequences of adding the TPM chip, please note, and be sure to read the vTPM section below.) 
• macOS Monterey release imminent 
• vTPM support in Parallels Desktop 16 – a Pro feature only on the Intel Mac 
• Parallels Desktop 17 vTPM support on Intel and M1, and in all Parallels Desktop 17 editions 
• Windows Insider Previews – usable or not? 

Note: Parallels Desktop 17.1.1 or newer simplifies the setup experience for Windows 11 with automatic download and installation. The process is similar to the installation on Mac computers with Intel processors. Download the latest version.

Parallels Desktop 17 Update Enables vTPM by Default 

Final changes to the system requirements for Windows 11 require a computer, both physical and virtual, with a TPM chip installed. Considering that virtual machines “will continue to work as long as the hardware requirements are met”, Parallels Desktop 17 (starting version 17.1.0) will enable the virtual TPM chip by default for all virtual machines that must have it: 

• On Intel-based Mac computers, for all Windows 11 virtual machines, both new and existing. 
• On Apple M1-based Mac computers, for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 virtual machines, both new and existing. As Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds do expire eventually, we recommend upgrading a Windows 10 Insider Preview VM to a Windows 11 Insider Preview VM at the earliest convenience. This will also reportedly improve compatibility with “regular” (Intel-based) Windows applications. 

Consequences of Enabling the TPM Chip 

After adding a virtual TPM chip to a VM, Parallels Desktop creates an encrypted file within the virtual machine bundle that acts as a TPM storage. This storage must be secured, so Parallels Desktop encrypts this file using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 128 bits key length and puts the password in the Mac System Keychain, which, in turn, is encrypted physical storage, and only Parallels Desktop (or Mac admin) can read the TPM password from Mac Keychain. 

Such an implementation ensures that users don’t have to come up with a password and enter it every time they start a VM, plus we humans tend to forget and lose passwords. Users can continue running their virtual machines as usual, up to the moment when one wants to transfer the VM to a new hardware.  

For a VM with TPM chip added, copying the PVM bundle to a new computer is not enough. The VM will NOT start without the corresponding record in the Mac Keychain that contains a password to decrypt the TPM file. It is not quite easy to copy this record to a new Mac, but it is possible. We have prepared detailed instructions on how to do it in this article. 

Apart from the nuance above, virtual machines will not be affected in any other way – Windows will continue to work as usual, as well as all Windows applications.  

Here are Some of the Questions You Might Be Asking 

Should I install Windows 11 in Parallels Desktop? 

Most Parallels Desktop users run a VM with the latest Windows release, and that is now Windows 11, so the answer is “Yes”, you should have a Windows 11 VM. 

Should I upgrade an existing Windows 10 VM to Windows 11? 

Again, here the answer is “Yes”, for the reasons stated above. 

Should I upgrade from Parallels Desktop 16 or 16.5 to Parallels Desktop 17? 

The new features and the performance improvements in Parallels Desktop 17 are compelling reasons to upgrade. If you currently have an active subscription to Parallels Desktop, upgrading to a new version, at no cost, is one of the main benefits of a subscription, so the answer to this question is also “Yes”. 

Let us know in the forums how the Windows 11 VM in Parallels Desktop is working for you. 

The post Windows 11 in a Parallels Desktop VM: An Update appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Age of Empires, Overwatch and many other games play well. 

On an M1 Mac, operating systems in Parallels® Desktop virtual machines must be ARM-based operating systems, and this has led to many misconceptions. I have seen people make the following statements: 

“Only ARM apps can run in an ARM operating system.” 

“Some Microsoft apps may run in an ARM OS, but no others will.” 

Both these statements are false. 

Even more false statements abound about Windows games. So, in this blog post I will set the record straight about games, and I will show you several Windows games running on an M1 MacBook Pro in a Windows 11 VM in Parallels Desktop 17. 

I won’t keep you waiting any longer: this short video shows four different Windows games running on an M1 Mac. 

I purposely made sure you could see the Mac desktop in the video, and included the launch of Parallels Desktop 17, the launch of Windows 11, and the launch of each game to emphasize the environment in which each game was running. To keep the video short, I only included enough game play so that you could see that the game was working fine. (Full disclosure: I also only included a small amount of game play so that you couldn’t see my poor game skills in some of the games!) 

Here are all the configuration details of the setup I used to make this video: 

Mac
Parallels Desktop
VM operating system
Game versions	Age of Empires II Definitive Edition,  version: 101.101.51737.0 7126076  Overwatch version: 1.63.0.0.85660  Kingdom Run Frontiers version: kr2-desktop-5.4.07  Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition version: 5.3.29582331

Here are some of the questions you might be asking: 

Do all games run in a Windows 11 VM? No, for many of the same reasons that all games don’t run on the Windows PC you bought last year: 

• Some games require a specific video card. 
• Some games require high-end features in a video card. 
• Some games require specific Windows libraries that may not be in your system. 
• Some games require more memory than you have in your system. 

Will the game I want to play run in a Parallels Desktop VM? Unfortunately, there is no easy way to predict this with complete accuracy, but here is a loose guide you can follow: 

Does the game require DirectX 12? If so, then the game probably won’t run in a VM. 

Does the game require one of a few specific video cards? If so, then the game probably won’t run in a VM. 

Was the game released in the last few months? If so, the game may not run in a VM nor on the Windows PC you bought last year. 

Otherwise, it is likely that the game will run in a VM.  

Can I get a refund if the game I want to play doesn’t run or doesn’t play well in Parallels Desktop? Even better than a refund, you can test the game without any payment to either Parallels or Microsoft. There is a 14-day free, full-featured trial of Parallels Desktop 17. If you are using an M1 Mac, no payment is required to use the Insider Preview of Windows 10 on ARM or Windows 11 on ARM during this 14-day trial. (If you are using an Intel Mac, you already know that at first launch Parallels Desktop will offer to download Windows 10 for you.) If the game you want runs and plays well, then you can purchase both Parallels Desktop and Windows. 

I hope this sets the record straight about playing Windows games on an M1 Mac in Parallels Desktop. Please let us know in the Forums about your game play experience in Parallels Desktop – whether it is positive or negative, and on either an Intel Mac or an M1 Mac. 

The post Yes, you can play Windows games on an M1 Mac using Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

I really like using the Apple Touch ID feature on my MacBook Pro: instead of having to type my long and complex macOS password, I just tap my finger on the Touch ID sensor in the upper right of the MacBook Pro keyboard. In this blog post I will show you how to set up an inexpensive USB fingerprint reader to get the same functionality for a Windows 10 virtual machine (VM) running in Parallels Desktop on any Mac. 

This 9-second video (Video 1) shows the final result: logging into a Windows 10 VM on my iMac running macOS Big Sur with my fingerprint, not with a password or PIN. 

Here are steps to get the same result for your Windows 10 VM: 

1. Purchase a USB fingerprint reader 

I wish I could tell you that any fingerprint reader will work, but that is unfortunately not the case. I tried to use one fingerprint reader on three different computers but it did not work for me on any of them. 

I did have success using another reader that is featured in the above video 1: PQI My Lockey Mini USB Fingerprint Reader for Windows 7, 8 & 10). The current price for this reader is $40. 

2. Get your VM ready to use the USB fingerprint reader 

The group of technologies used to sign in to Windows is called Windows Hello. Windows Hello includes support for passwords, PINs, and advanced features like facial and fingerprint recognition, and security keys. (Figure 1). To use fingerprint recognition, you need the following set up in your VM: 

• Login password 
• Login PIN
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 

When you first setup a VM in Parallels® Desktop, the VM is configured with the same username as on your Mac and a blank password. If you haven’t already created a real password, you will need to do so now. Then also set up a PIN. You can accomplish these first two tasks from the Sign-in options window shown in Figure 1. 

Setting up TPM  is a little trickier and has some significant implications for your VM. On a PC, TPM is a hardware component that is used to implement security-related features like BitLocker and Secure Boot. Parallels Desktop implements support for TPM with a virtual TPM (vTPM), an advanced feature in Parallels Desktop Pro Edition and Parallels Desktop Business Edition. The vTPM support is not enabled by default in a new VM. 

To add vTPM to an existing VM, shut down the VM and open its Configuration window and click on the Hardware tab. At the bottom of the list of hardware in your VM, click on the “+” sign and choose “TPM Chip”. You will see a “Are you sure…?” dialog. (See the next paragraph about this dialog.) When you click on the “Add” button, you will see that a TPM Chip has been added in the list of virtualized hardware of this VM. (Figure 2). 

So, why is the “Are you sure…?” dialog before a vTPM chip added? Once a vTPM chip has been added to a VM, that VM won’t work on any other Mac. In addition, if you later remove that vTPM chip, the VM may fail to boot on any Mac. You can read more about this in the Knowledge Base article about vTPM chips. 

3. Connect the USB Fingerprint Reader 

The fingerprint reader must be connected only to the VM, and not shared with the Mac. In addition, be sure to check “Remember my choice” so that the USB fingerprint reader will be correctly connected to the VM when Windows reboots. (Figure 3.) 

4. Configure the USB Fingerprint Reader 

In the Sign-in options window, click on the Windows Hello Fingerprint. In the area that opens, you will see the “Set up” button. (Figure 4.) Clicking on this will begin the process of registering your fingerprint(s).

You will be instructed to repeatedly lift and rest your finger on the reader.  When you do this, a stylized fingerprint will gradually fill in. (Figure 5.)

5. Reboot Windows 10 

You should see fingerprint as one of the choices when you click on “Sign-in options”. Choose the fingerprint option (Figure 6.) and use your finger to login to Windows 10. 

Let us know in the Parallels Forums, on Facebook or Twitter how the process of setting up a fingerprint reader went for you, and if you like having this option to log into Windows 10. 

The post How to Use a “Windows Hello” Fingerprint Reader in Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

It’s finally here! We’re so excited to introduce a new version of Parallels® Desktop: Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac.  

With Parallels Desktop, you can run Windows, Linux and other popular operating systems on your Mac without rebooting. For 14 years, we’ve been the #1 solution for over 7 million users worldwide. 

Learn more about the hottest new features in Parallels Desktop 16—and stay tuned for more blog posts coming this week detailing everything you need to know about Parallels Desktop 16. 

What are the top new features in Parallels Desktop 16? 

Incredibly fast  

This version of Parallels Desktop is THE fastest version ever released. It starts up twice as fast as previous versions. Plus, Windows resumes and quits up to 20% faster.  

Improved graphics 

Parallels Desktop 16 users can now run even more graphic-heavy, resource-hungry Windows apps with ease. Version 16 delivers up to 20% faster DirectX 11 and improved OpenGL graphics support for both Windows and Linux so you can run more Windows applications and games, including DIALux evo 9, ProPresenter 6, Samson Connect and more. Plus, the new version includes the world’s first support for applications with 3D capabilities running in a macOS Big Sur VM. 

Parallels Desktop users collectively run more than 200,000 Windows applications and with Parallels Desktop 16 can run even more applications.  

Ready for macOS Big Sur and other OSes 

Parallels invested more than 25-person-years of engineer programming to take full advantage of the new architecture in macOS Big Sur. We also revamped kernel extensions to deliver our best Windows-on-Mac performance ever. That’s why we’re proud to say that version 16 is optimized for macOS Big Sur 11.0 (when released) with a refreshed design, easier setup, and much more. Plus, our developers continue to update Parallels Desktop for future releases of Windows, macOS and Linux. 

Better productivity 

• Wouldn’t it be nice to get extra screen time while traveling? Windows in Travel Mode now uses less energy and extends battery life by up to 15%. 
• 10% of Parallels Desktop users are short on available disk space. We’ve included a feature that will help you better manage disk space, with the option to reclaim available disk space to Mac automatically. 

• Set “Do Not Disturb” on your Mac and Parallels Desktop will make sure that Windows 10 doesn’t disturb you either. This is especially useful when you’re in an important presentation. 

• Do you usually work with a Trackpad instead of a mouse? Now you can zoom and rotate objects smoothly in Windows applications with Trackpad gesture support.  

Enhanced integration 

Every year we develop new features to perfectly integrate Mac and Windows with each other. In Parallels Desktop 16, we’ve added some powerful new features that make it even smoother to run Windows apps as if they were native on the Mac. 

• Do you want to use duplex printing from Windows applications, with paper sizes ranging from A0 to envelope? Good news—you now can with new print options. 

• Now you can confidently work on Mac files in Windows by engaging the “safe removal check” to ensure files in shared folders aren’t accidentally deleted.  

Linux and Mac VMs 

Everyone who is passionate about using Linux virtual machines (VMs) has reason to cheer. With version 16, you can be more productive when working with Git repositories in Linux Shared Folders with up to 75% faster “git status” execution. In just one click, you can use and download the latest Linux distributions including Ubuntu 20.04, CentOS 8, Fedora 32 and Debian 10. Plus, Linux OpenGL improvements now let you run Steam.  

Do you want to achieve picture-perfect quality and performance using macOS Big Sur in a VM? You can now, thanks to the first-in-the-world Metal graphics acceleration in a VM with macOS Big Sur. 

Parallels Desktop and Apple Silicon 

We’re all very excited about this demo shown at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which depicts a prototype of a forthcoming version of Parallels Desktop running on Mac with Apple Silicon. Parallels and Apple work closely to bring virtualization capabilities to Mac with Apple Silicon. Learn more.

New features in Pro Edition and Business Edition 

For our professional and business customers, we recommend Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition and Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition. Of course, all new features of Parallels Desktop 16 are included in these editions. Pro Edition and Business Edition now offer improved virtual machine deployment, including export capabilities to reduce the network load when deploying to many Mac devices on a corporate network. For developers, Parallels Desktop 16 enables users to name their custom networks for more organized testing.  

Check out all new features that are exclusive to Pro Edition and Business Edition.  

Special gift for Parallels Desktop users 

In all subscriptions of Parallels Desktop 16, users get more than 30+ single-click utilities from Parallels Toolbox for Windows and Mac, plus Parallels Access to remotely access your PC or Mac from your iOS or Android device or any web browser.  

Check out all the recently released features in Parallels Toolbox and Parallels Access. 

There are lots more new features to discover! Check it out yourself and let us know which feature you like most in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter.  

How to get your copy of Parallels Desktop 16  

 If you… 

…are an existing customer, upgrade now. 
…are a new customer, purchase your copy here—or test it for 14 days for free. 
…have just recently purchased Parallels Desktop 15, check out our Tech Guarantee to see if you get a free upgrade. 

The post Just Released! Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Chrome is the most popular browser in the world, according to ComputerWorld. Two years ago, Microsoft announced that it would move its Microsoft Edge browser over to Chromium, the open-source foundation on which Chrome is based. That effort has finally come to fruition with the release of a new version of Microsoft Edge, available for Windows (10, 8 and 7), macOS®, iOS and Android. (There was actually a rumor that Apple® was going to do a Chromium-based version of Safari, but this turned out to be false.)

I have installed this new Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser on my Mac®, iPad®, iPhone® and in my Windows 10 virtual machine. (See figures 1, 2 and 3).

Microsoft Edge browser on Mac, iPad, iPhone and in a Windows 10 VM

This new version does feel “snappier” than the other browsers I have used. That speed plus its nifty features is making me consider setting Microsoft Edge as my default browser.

This blog post is not a full review of any of the new versions of Edge. (For full reviews of Edge, please see PCWorld, PureInfoTech, or Digital Trends). I have spent several hours with the Windows 10 and the macOS versions (and a bit less with the iPadOS version). The functionality and features of the Windows 10 and macOS versions appear to be identical. Personally, I like the macOS version better mostly because I just find the user interface of the Mac more natural and intuitive than that of Windows. However, I can easily see how others might prefer the Windows 10 user interface. The good news is that you will get the same Edge functionality regardless of your user interface preference.

While this is a new version and has lots of differences from older versions, it is still Microsoft Edge. So, if you install this new Edge in your Windows 10 VM in Parallels Desktop for Mac, it will replace the existing Edge. As expected, all your bookmarks and other settings can be easily imported from other browsers you have installed.

There are several ways to get this new Chromium-based Edge, but the best way is to download it directly from Microsoft.

What do you think: will this new browser tempt you to change from your current default browser? Let us know in the comments. 

Want to test the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser on your Mac? Try Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days and test it in your Windows 10 virtual machine.

The post Chromium-Based Microsoft Edge Browser Released appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Almost all users who purchase a subscription for Parallels Desktop do so with one goal in mind: to install Windows on Mac. Parallels Desktop Mac Business Edition will help you and your employees easily work with Windows programs on Mac, running even the most demanding applications effortlessly. 

Before proceeding, you should have already signed up for Parallels My Account. In this article, you’ll learn how to how to install and activate Parallels Desktop. Only then can you install Windows on Mac. 

How do you install Windows on Mac?

Installing Windows on Mac is a crucial step to being able to run Windows applications on a macOS® device. To be able to do this, you first need to install a Windows virtualization tool on your Mac computer, such as Parallels Desktop. Parallels Desktop is not only perfectly compatible with any Windows program—it’s also fast, secure, and designed for rapid mass deployments.

How to install Parallels Desktop 

1. Download the Parallels Desktop installer to your Mac.
2. Double-click the .dmg installation file to mount it in Finder, then double-click Install.
3. Read through the Software License Agreement and click Accept.
4. Once prompted, enter your local Mac user password to finalize the installation.

Next, you’ll activate Parallels Desktop Business Edition.

How to activate Parallels Desktop Business Edition

1. Start Parallels Desktop by double-clicking the icon. 
2. If the first screen that opens is the Installation Assistant, Skip it for now. The Installation Assistant helps you install Windows—you can run this at a later time. 
3. Go to the Parallels Desktop dropdown menu, and then click Account & License.

4. This opens the Sign-in dialog box.

5. Click on the Business Edition button at the lower-left corner, which opens the Enter Business Key dialog. This then prompts you to enter your Parallels Desktop Business Edition license key. After entering it, click Activate.                                

6. If your activation was successful, you’ll see a confirmation message.

And just like that, your Parallels Desktop Business Edition is installed, activated and ready for Windows installation!

Read “How to Install Windows 10 in Parallels Desktop for Mac” for the complete instructions on how to install Windows on Mac.

Experience how easy it is to install Windows on Mac

With Parallels Desktop Business Edition, you can install Windows on Mac across your organization without breaking a sweat. Try it out yourself. Download the free trial now.

References:

• Parallels Desktop Business Edition Quick Start Guide: Read more
• Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition product page: Read more
• How to Install Windows on Mac blog: Read more
• Install Windows on your Mac using Parallels Desktop: Read more
• Does Windows come with my purchase of Parallels Desktop for Mac? Read more

The post How to Activate Parallels Desktop and Install Windows on Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.