I know that blending the beast that is AutoCAD with our cherished Mac computers is a dream come true.  

I am here to dive deep into why Parallels Desktop is the ultimate ally for running the Windows version of AutoCAD on your beloved Mac computer.  

 
With Parallels Desktop, the entire machine is dedicated to running 3D modelling tasks, and you can connect to USB devices and not be reliant on an internet connection.  

And here’s the thing – using Parallels Desktop has changed the game for me. It’s like adding a supercharger to your already sweet ride.  

Thousands of professionals of people use Parallels Desktop for Mac to run AutoCAD, because it is the easiest and most powerful cross-platform solution to run Windows and Mac.  

For those on the fence, here’s why I reckon it’s a game-changer, especially for running AutoCAD’s Windows side on our Macs. 

Ready to jump and see for yourself? Get your free trial of Parallels Desktop now. : o https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/buy/ 

AutoCAD + Mac = A match made in heaven  

Let’s face it, AutoCAD, Autodesk’s crown jewel has been our trusty sidekick for getting those designs down pat.  

Sure, there’s a Mac version of AutoCAD, but the Windows version has that extra bit of spice we need and are used to.  

That’s where Parallels Desktop shines bright – letting us run that chunk of Windows magic right on our Macs with Apple silicon without missing a step. 

Why deploy AutoCAD on Parallels Desktop?   

1. Synchronized workflow: No more rebooting or juggling two machines. Flick between macOS and AutoCAD without breaking a sweat. 

2. Peak performance: Depending on the project complexity and hardware, AutoCAD runs smoothly on Parallels Desktop. No glitches, just a trouble-free experience that feels native to your Mac. 

3. Inter-OS harmony / best of both worlds: It is incredibly easy to simply drag and drop files, copy-paste content, or share tools between Mac and Windows. This synergy helps amplify productivity allowing us all to work smarter. 

4. Play it your way: Adjust your RAM, CPU, and integration settings to your needs. Give your AutoCAD project the VIP treatment only a Mac with Apple silicon chip can offer. 

The AutoCAD for Windows advantage on Mac  

While AutoCAD on Mac offers an extent of functionalities tailored for macOS, the Windows version has its unique set of perks: 

• A bit extra: Some tools in the Windows version are just a notch above. Take the Tool Palettes – while both versions are solid, the Windows version offers a richer set of default palettes and the ability to create custom tool palettes more intuitively. 

• Tweak it out: The Windows version provides more extensive customization capabilities. This includes the ability to utilize a range of programming languages for automation and personalization. 

• AutoLISP plus more: While both versions support AutoLISP, the Windows version also offers .NET, VBA, and Visual LISP to jazz up routine tasks. Architects can use .NET to develop a custom routine that automates the creation of a specific building component, something they might not achieve as easily on Mac.  

• Plugin playground: An extensive suite of third-party plugins awaits you in the Windows ecosystem. Take, for example, DWG TrueView – it’s a lifesaver for viewing and converting DWG files, but it’s a no-show on the Mac side. Missed tools like this make Parallels and the Windows version feel like finding a rare Pokémon in the wild. 

• Stay in sync: A common scenario is when we have folks on different versions. Parallels Desktop steps in to ensure consistency in project execution and collaboration. Means we’re all speaking the same design language. 

Filling in the blanks with AutoCAD on Mac 

I get that Mac enthusiast love their Macs. But sometimes you want that Windows touch without leaving your Mac comfort zone. That’s the beauty of Parallels Desktop – giving you the best of both worlds. 

To all designers and Mac devotees, using AutoCAD for Windows with Parallels Desktop is like hitting the creative jackpot, an invitation to unparalleled creativity. Dive in, and let your designs resonate with precision, let your work shine with that Mac elegance we all adore. 

Join us on this journey. Your Mac, AutoCAD, and Parallels Desktop – it’s like the ultimate power trio! Download your free trial now! 

The post AutoCAD Mastery: Windows Version + Parallels Desktop on Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

The latest update also delivers full support for the M1 Ultra chip, allowing Mac Studio users to assign up to 128GB of RAM to a Windows 11 VM to give the system even more power. 

“Knowing that Parallels Desktop plays a critical role in enabling users to run Windows, Linux and macOS on their favorite Mac computers, our team delivers yet another solid update to polish user experience of running Windows apps with macOS Ventura’s Stage Manager, as well as to bring support for CentOS Stream 9 ARM to run on Mac computers with Apple M-series chip,” said Elena Koryakina, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Alludo. “The latest version of Parallels Desktop also simplifies migrating existing employees to a new per-user Business license to enable SSO/SAML authentication.”  

What are the top new features in Parallels Desktop 18 update 1?

Parallels Desktop 18.1 update addresses the overall stability and security issues and includes the following additions and improvements across the Standard, Pro, and Business editions: 

Parallels Desktop for Mac Standard Edition  

• Polished experience on macOS Ventura when using Windows 11 in Coherence mode with Stage Manager (new macOS 13 feature). 

• Improved graphics in Windows 11 for a multitude of OpenGL 3D applications as well as some games, including but not limited to World of Warships, Eve Online, Optuma, ANSYS Workbench 2021, Micromine, NS-1, BobCad-Cam, ACCA Edificius. 

• NEW! Added by popular demand from current Parallels Desktop users, support for CentOS Linux Stream 9 (ARM) on Mac computers with Apple M-series chips. 

Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition   

• NEW! With macOS Ventura, Parallels’ engineering team successfully delivers full M1 Ultra chip support with the ability to assign up to 128GB of RAM to a VM.  

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition  

• Improved! This update simplifies the migration process from the regular per-device license to a new per-user license with SSO/SAML integration. For more details, check out our KB article on Parallels Desktop for Business per-user licensing. 

For more details on the fixes and improvements, visit:  https://kb.parallels.com/en/129060

New to Parallels Desktop? Check out what’s new in the latest version 18 and test it for 14 days for free! 

The post Just Released — Parallels Desktop for Mac 18.1 Update Fully Supports macOS Ventura and M1 Ultra Chip appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Earlier versions of Parallels Desktop could connect to a game controller, but the process could be a bit tricky. When developing Parallels Desktop 18, the Parallels product team worked closely with Apple to make considerable enhancements in this area. 

The result? A smooth, simple process: Just connect the game controller to your Mac computer when running Windows in Parallels Desktop and it will automatically connect. 

See for yourself how easy it is: 

Don’t have Parallels Desktop 18 yet? Download a free trial today! 

NOTE: This blog post is a part of a series on new and improved features in Parallels Desktop 18. Stay tuned for more! 

The post Improved Connectivity for Game Controllers in Parallels Desktop 18 appeared first on Parallels Blog.

In recognition of World Backup Day, this post shows you how best to back up the Windows installation on your Mac in Parallels® Desktop. 

Yes, you really should back up! 

A few years ago, I had a Windows installation on my iMac that would no longer boot. In addition, I could not copy the Parallels Desktop file that contained this Windows installation (the “.pvm” file). This quickly led to the conclusion that at least a portion of the hard drive on my iMac had failed. The Apple Tech Support team I contacted was great, but nothing we tried fixed the issue, so Apple authorized a no-cost-to-me hard drive replacement. I was able to backup everything on the disk, except the Parallels Desktop file that contained Windows. If I had made a backup earlier before the drive failed, I would have lost very little. 

This blog post is my attempt to help you avoid the data loss I had. 

But I Have Time Machine (or iCloud Drive), So I Don’t Need to Do This, Right? 

I run Time Machine also, and it is great, and it has saved me on a number of occasions. However, Time Machine is not a good choice to backup Windows on your Mac. Time Machine works by checking every hour for files that have changed on your Mac, and then backs them up. Anytime you start up or use Windows on your Mac, the .pvm file will change. The change might be really small, but Time Machine cannot see that. So, Time Machine backs up the entire .pvm file, which is usually more than 10GB, and can be hundreds of GBs. If this gigantic file is backed up once every hour, you will quickly fill up the Time Machine drive. For the same reason, backing up Windows to iCloud Drive is a bad idea. 

What You Need 

The steps below will work for any version of Windows. (Or, for that matter, any version of Linux, macOS, or any other OS that you have installed in Parallels Desktop on your Mac.) All you need is a high-capacity, speedy external drive attached to your Mac. For my home setup, I have a 10TB, external USB drive which I purchased new for about $175 USD. You will need to have this external drive connected to your Mac, and it should be visible on the Mac desktop. 

Only 3 Steps Needed to Back Up Windows in Parallels Desktop 

1. Shut down Windows 

2. Reclaim any extra space 

3. Manually copy the .pvm file to the external drive 

Notes: 

1. You must really shut down Windows. Not suspend Windows, not just close the Parallels Desktop window where Windows is running, but manually shut down Windows. Step 2 requires that Windows has shut down. 

2. The file that Parallels Desktop stores Windows, all your Windows applications, your Windows configuration setting, and (perhaps) any files you have created in Windows is called a Mac .pvm file. (Figure 1 shows all my .pvm files, though you may only have one .pvm file.) These pvm files grow as you install new Windows apps and create new files. Usually, but not always, these pvm files shrink when you delete apps and files. However, over time there can be some “empty” space that remains in the file. You should remove this by using the “Reclaim…” button shown in Figure 2. In that figure, this “empty” space is over 40GB, so it is definitely worth reclaiming this before you go on to the next step. 

3. Just manually copy this pvm file to the external drive. For me, copying a 120GB pvm file to my external drive takes about 9 minutes. 

I recommend that you also add a recurring item to your calendar, reminding you to back up Windows. You can do this once or twice a month, depending on how much work you are willing to lose in case of hardware failure, or other problems. 

Restoring Windows From a Backup 

Suppose calamity strikes, and you have to restore your backup of Windows. No problem! Just copy the backup pvm file back to the same folder on your Mac where it was located when you backed it up. You will lose whatever work you have done since you made the backup, but this will usually be a lot smaller loss than if you had never backed up at all. 

I hope this helps you evade the big data loss that I experienced when my hard drive failed. Let us know your experience and tips in the Forums or on Facebook and Twitter channels. 

The post Tips for Backing up Windows in Parallels Desktop for Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Video 1 shows you what Universal Control does and how easy it is to enable it. Basically, Universal Control gives you the ability to use a single mouse and keyboard with several nearby Macs and iPads that are all signed into the same iCloud account.  

Several others have remarked that Universal Control seems “magical” in how seamless the transition from one Apple device to another is. Achieving this feeling of seamless magic takes a great deal of behind-the-scenes work and I suspect this is the main source of the delay in releasing Universal Control. I, for one, am glad that Apple took the time to work on all the details of this feature before releasing it. 

I have tested Universal Control with Windows 11 on ARM running in Parallels® Desktop 17.1.1 and it appears to work just fine, see figure 1. I could drag files from my iPad Pro to the Windows 11 desktop or to a Windows app, and I could drag files from Windows 11 to my iPad Pro.  

I didn’t show it in the video, but Universal Control also works between several Macs. In Figure 2, you can see that I have set up Universal Control between an iPad Pro, an M1 MacBook Pro, and an Intel MacBook Pro. All these devices are signed into my iCloud account. 

Now you might think Universal Control seems a bit like Sidecar, a feature released with macOS Catalina in 2019. While there is some visual similarity, there is one big difference: in Universal Control, it is iPadOS you are interacting with on the iPad; in Sidecar, you are interacting with macOS on the iPad screen. More details comparing Universal Control and Sidecar are described in this excellent MacRumors article, Universal Control vs. Sidecar: What’s the Difference? 

Stay tuned for future blog posts showing how Parallels Desktop will make use of other new macOS/iPadOS features as they are released by Apple. 

Download the free, full-featured 14-day trial of Parallels Desktop and see for yourself. Let us know about your experience on Facebook or Twitter.

Also, you can download PDF Expert here: iOS and Mac.

The post Of Course, Universal Control Works With Parallels Desktop for Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

You might have heard the BIG news from Google about the early access release of Chrome OS Flex – a “standalone” version of Google’s OS that can be installed on both Windows and Mac computers, aka “the cloud-first operating system for PCs and Macs”.  

If you haven’t yet, check out Google’s blog post about it or this article in Macworld or go through this excellent review by Ars Technica. 

I don’t have a spare Mac or PC that I can erase to try out this new OS – and I’m guessing you probably don’t either. No problem: you can install this OS in a new virtual machine (VM) in Parallels® Desktop for Mac. Read on to learn step-by-step how to do this. Actually, using Parallels Desktop to install an OS for testing is my preferred approach. 

Chrome OS Flex is a lightweight, secure Linux-based OS that is easy for businesses to manage thanks to Google’s cloud-based management. We’re very excited about this release and, of course, want to make sure that Parallels Desktop users can get a sneak peek at it today. And yes, you can! All you need is:  

1. Mac computer with Intel processor. 

2. Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac (or newer). 

3. Google Chrome browser. 

4. 8GB + USB flash drive. 

5. Pre-configured Parallels Desktop VM template for this OS. (Download here, or use manual instructions below) 

1. Create a Bootable Media With Chrome OS Flex Installer 

1. Install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension to your Chrome browser on macOS. 

2. Open the utility (the easiest way is via Spotlight or Launchpad) > click “Get Started” > click “Select a model from a list” > locate and select “Google Chrome OS Flex” in the manufacturer dropdown > select the product. 

3. Select the USB device and click “Continue” (the data will be erased!). 

4. Click “Create Now”. 

2. Create a VM 

1. Open Parallels Desktop Installation Assistant: File > New… 

2. Select “Install Windows on another OS…” and click “Continue”. 

3. Click “Choose Manually” > check the option “Continue without a source” and click “Continue”. 

4. In the dropdown, select Other > Chromium OS > click “OK”. 

5. Check the option “Customize settings before installation” and click “Create”. 

6. Navigate to Hardware tab > set 4096 MB of memory. 

7. Select Graphics settings on the sidebar > set “Auto” in the dropdown. 

8. Select Mouse & Keyboard on the sidebar > set the mouse option to “Optimize for games”. 

9. Scroll down the sidebar with options and select Boot Order > check “External device” and move it to the top. 

10. In the dropdown “External boot device” select the USB device that you have prepared. 

11. Close the configuration window and click “Continue”.  

12. Always allow Parallels Desktop to access the USB device. 

Note: After you’ve downloaded the pre-configured VM, simply open it in Parallels Desktop and repeat steps 9-12. 

3. Install Chrome OS Flex to the Virtual Machine 

1. Once you’ve booted the VM, click “Get Started” > select “Install CloudReady 2.0” and proceed. 

2. Wait for the installation process to be completed. 

3. Once completed, shut down the VM > open its configuration > Hardware > Boot Order > uncheck “External device” and deselect the flash drive from the dropdown. 

4. Now you have a standalone Chrome OS Flex VM. Enjoy!  

Figure 1 shows Chrome OS Flex running in Parallels Desktop on my Intel iMac. 

Don’t forget, since there are no Parallels Tools for Chrome OS Flex your mouse will be “captured” when you click in the Chrome OS Flex window on your Mac. To get the cursor back on the Mac, simultaneously hold down the control and option keys. 

That’s all, folks! Let me know your experience with the Chrome OS Flex VM here on Parallels Forums. 

The post Run Chrome OS Flex in Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

A Guide for playing Windows games on a Mac 

I’ve been playing computer games since I was six years old. My cousin had an all-new NES console, and we, like millions of other kids, were so obsessed with it (Battletoads tune playing in the head).  

Ever since, I have played video games, mainly PC, and don’t miss any new trending or noteworthy Steam releases. So even though I am a Parallels® employee, I am also a gamer and want to share my gaming experience on a Mac. Well, not just “a” Mac, but on “the” Mac – the MacBook Air with Apple’s remarkable M1 chip (2020).  

This chip… it’s really something. It’s been a year now since Apple released these computers, and there are hundreds of glowing articles and reviews about it, so I won’t comment on this. I just hope that you already have this machine if you’re reading my post (or maybe planning to grab one). If not, there are many YouTube reviews to catch up on (*grin*). I’m not even talking about this-year’s MacBook Pro upgrade. 

So, the question is: can I play an average PC game, or even a AAA title of the time, on MacBook Air, with 8 GB of RAM, in Windows 11 powered by Parallels? 

And the answer is: YES, just go for it! I don’t promise that the game you want to play will work flawlessly, but it’s worth giving it a try! Claim a free 14-day trial of Parallels Desktop 17 and just give it a go.  

Before you try 

Before we move on, I must confess that things aren’t always perfect—yet. Please note the following facts: 

1. Many games will be more playable if your Mac has 16 GB or more RAM rather than 8 GB. 

2. Some games won’t launch due to various reasons: incompatibility with Windows on ARM, missing DirectX 12 support, etc. 

3. Games that use anti-cheat software most likely won’t work. 

However… 

4. There is a nice wiki site called applegamingwiki.com that shares a list of Windows games that work well in Parallels Desktop. It’s worth checking out! 

5. All in all, you’ll never know until you try. Right? 

So, what games work well? Many! From classic early 2000s PC games to 2021 releases—there are so many games to play. I will be talking specifically about games you can play only in Windows OS, but with Parallels Desktop and Apple’s crazy-fast M1 chip, Windows games on a Mac get a significant upgrade. 

Get on board 

Interested? Cool! I promise the whole process won’t take much effort.  

1. First, download and install Parallels Desktop for Mac. This link will always download the latest version. 

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install Windows. It’s easy. 

3. If you’re new to Parallels, sign up and enjoy the full-featured 14-day trial. 

4. Once in Windows, download Steam or any other game launcher that you need to install your games. If you’re new to PC gaming, Steam is the best. 

5. Now, let’s tune Windows for gaming. 

Tune the system for gaming in two clicks 

Parallels Desktop is so easy to use, but it houses dozens of optional cool features under the hood. One of them is the Gaming profile. When this profile is enabled, Parallels Desktop provides more RAM and CPU power to Windows, enters full-screen view for better immersion, and toggles the mouse mode for better compatibility with games. 

To enable the Gaming profile: 

1. Shut down Windows via the Start menu and open its configuration. 

2. Click “Change…” and select “Games only”. 

3. Now close the configuration menu and start Windows. 

Tune in-game settings 

There are two main graphic settings that you should check if performance is not acceptable:  

1. Resolution: Many games will launch at the maximum resolution, which requires greater resources. Try lowering the resolution to Full HD (1920*1200) and check how the game runs. 

2. Texture quality: If you suffer from heavy stuttering, lowering texture quality should help.  

3. You can also try to tweak other quality and effects settings. I know, it’s not fun, but this is PC gaming (*grin*). 

Pro tips 

Treat Parallels Desktop as your virtual PC tower on the Mac, so if you are familiar with RAM banks and thermal paste, I have some more insights to share.  

1. By default, Parallels Desktop takes around 30% of Mac RAM for Windows. In the gaming profile that’s half of Mac resources. 

2. In any configuration, Windows will always take up to half of its RAM for graphics. So, if your game needs 3GBs of graphics memory, you must have 6GBs of RAM assigned to Windows. 

3. If you have 8GB of RAM total on your Mac, you can assign 6GB to Windows and give it a try. Just remember to quit most Mac apps (Safari in the first place) to free RAM for Windows and macOS to sustain the system. 

4. To increase RAM, shut down Windows > open its Configuration > Hardware > CPU & Memory. 

5. You can also assign 6 CPU cores to Windows and give it a try. 

Some of my favorite Windows games 

I love both well-known classic Windows games, as well as many fascinating indie projects. I want to share some of my favorite titles that I really enjoy playing in Parallels Desktop on my Mac. 

Fallout New Vegas (2010) 

This is the best roleplaying Fallout chapter for me, and it still looks quite nice and is interesting to play. 

Journey (2020) 

This game is unique in every aspect—it’s a beautiful adventure that finally made it to PC. It used to be a PlayStation-exclusive game since its original release in 2012.

Twelve Minutes (2021) 

For me, this is one of the most exciting games released this year. It delves into the time loop concept quite nicely, and features James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. 

Last Stop (2021) 

This exciting indie project is an interactive drama set up in London, featuring some supernatural elements with a pretty enjoyable story. 

Mirror’s Edge (2008) 

It was so unexpected to get this game from DICE (Swedish creators of Battlefield) back in 2008. It was truly something new, a first-person parkour game that defined the genre.  

The Final Station (2016) 

Could a small-budget side-scrolling postapocalyptic survival pixel-art game be something interesting? Oh, yes, this is it! 

The Disney Afternoon Collection (2017) 

Back to the basics, all of the best 8-bit NES games with Disney characters: Darkwind Duck, Chip ‘n Dale, TaleSpin, DuckTales—it’s all back here on your PC! I mean, your Mac! Perfect nostalgic moment to share during the holidays. 

To wrap up 

There are so many more games I would love to list (Half-Life must be there, I know), but I feel like I have taken too much of your time already. If you like my post, leave a comment—a game you’d like to play or an experience you’d like to share! Thank you for reading and stay safe. 

The post Playing Windows Games on a MacBook with Apple M1 Chip Using Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

This probably explains my interest in the game “while True: learn(),” since that is a game in which you program visually. (Figure 2) Once I saw it, I had to have that game, which is available from Steam and the Epic Game Store for both Windows and Mac, and from the Apple App Store for both Mac and iOS. 

Video 1 shows the use of the Windows version of this game on a Mac in Parallels® Desktop. This short video does not do justice to the full depth of this game or convey how much it can teach the user about machine learning. 

Many Windows games can be used on the Mac with Parallels Desktop. Download the free, full-featured trial of Parallels Desktop and see for yourself. Let us know about your experience on Facebook or Twitter.

The post Programming Can Be a Game appeared first on Parallels Blog.

As I have detailed in a previous post, many newly released games don’t work well in Parallels® Desktop. (There are several reasons for this that are all explained in that earlier post.) So, it is a real treat when a new game works well in Parallels Desktop out of the gate. Humankind is just such a treat. 

Humankind, released on August 17, 2021, is a turn-based, 4X strategy game in the same general category as the Civilization series. (“4X” is an abbreviation for “Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate”, a sub-genre of strategy games.) In Humankind you develop a civilization from the Neolithic Era to modern times. (Figure 1) 

Humankind has both Windows and Mac versions. Normally, when a game has a Mac version, I don’t bother testing it in Parallels Desktop. However, the Mac version of Humankind has two caveats: 

1. The product is not compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina or above. 

2. M1 chips are not supported. 

While I have an Intel Mac, all of the Mac computers I have run either macOS Big Sur or macOS Monterey, so for this reason I decided to test the Windows version of Humankind in Windows 11 in Parallels Desktop. 

As you can see in Video 1, Humankind runs great in Windows 11 on my Intel iMac using Parallels Desktop 17.1.1. (While I have no video for this, I also tested Humankind on my M1 MacBook Pro, and it also worked great there.) Artwork in the video title screen credit: Pooterman and used with permission of the artist. 

I am looking forward to developing an Athens-like, science-based civilization in Humankind on my iMac in the coming months. Please tell us in Parallels Forums about the games you play in Parallels Desktop, and also the ones you want to play in future releases of Parallels Desktop.

The post Playing the game ‘Humankind’ on a Mac with Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

The Hide Menu Icons tool in Parallels® Toolbox can help you manage these icons and hide the ones that you don’t need all that often. In this blog post I will show you how to use this tool.

Using the Hide Menu icons tool, you can just drag the icons that you don’t need to see all the time to a “Hidden icons” area. This is very easy to do as you can see in Video 1. As also shown in the video, quickly accessing these hidden icons is also easy to do.

While it is possible in the macOS to hide some of these menu bar icons (Figure 2), this is a separate, individual action for each icon, and to unhide the icon, even momentarily, requires undoing this action. This can quickly become tedious. The Hide Menu Icons tool handles this in a uniform action for all the tools, and momentarily unhiding an icon only requires you to move the cursor to the top of the screen.

I hope this tool helps you take control of the menu bar icons on your Mac.

Do you have an idea for another tool that can be added to Parallels Tools? If so, let us know in the Parallels® Forums.

The post How to Control the Icons in the Mac Menu Bar Using Parallels Toolbox appeared first on Parallels Blog.