Both Intel and M1 Macs can run Windows 11 thanks to Parallels 17

Parallels has always been a favourite solution for Mac users to run Windows and Windows-based apps on their devices. And now, Parallels Desktop 17 is here to bring Windows 10 and the next Windows 11 to both Intel and M1 based Macs.

However, Intel-based Macs can run more versions of operating systems than M1-based ones. Windows for example can go all the way back to Windows 2000 and XP and it can also support 12 different Linux distros. M1 based Macs however will only support Windows 10 and 11 and four Linux distros.

Parallels 17 comes as a Universal binary so Mac users doing a fresh install don’t have to wonder which version they should use. The installer will check the mac and install the appropriate version.

But what is of greater importance is that most Intel-based 32 and 64-bit apps, even resource-intensive ones like CAD software and games, will run on the Apple M1 chip Macs thanks to Microsoft’s built-in emulation for Windows.

Adding more speed and features

Parallels Desktop 17 is faster across the board and has a host of new features. Some of the improvements include:

• Regardless of the system used, Parallels Desktop 17 resumes Windows and Linux up to 38% faster. OpenGL graphics runs up to 6 times faster than the previous version.
• M1 specific improvements include up to 20% faster Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview disk performance and up to 28% better DirectX 11 graphics performance. They will also enjoy greater security with the new virtual TPM chip that enables BitLocker and Secure Boot. Gaming performance gets a boost with a new driver delivering smoother Windows UI responsiveness, video playback experience, and improved frame rates in many 2D action-platformer games.

• Long-time favourite Coherence Mode will completely block out pop-ups and alerts to enjoy an uninterrupted and distraction-free workflow.

• An Automatic Resource Manager is designed to evaluate and advise on the optimal amount of Mac hardware resources for virtual machines to ensure the best performance every time.

• Users can now drag and drop any text or image between Mac and Windows applications. Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac now supports USB 3.1, enabling use of additional USB storage devices.

There is also a Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Pro edition that has additional features like:

• Users can easily convert a linked clone to an independent virtual machine in just two clicks.
• The Parallels Desktop plugin for Visual Studio now supports Mac computers with an Apple M1 chip. The plugin installation process with Visual Studio 2019 has been simplified.

Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac Business Edition allows businesses running Macs greater control. New features include:

• As a universal binary application, Parallels Desktop 17 makes it possible to create just one mass deployment package that can be used with both Intel- and M1-based Mac computers.
• Business administrators can now provision pre-configured Windows virtual machines to a mixed fleet of Mac computers with both Intel and Apple M1 chip. IT managers can now specify download links and descriptions in Parallels My Account for both Intel and Apple M1 chip Mac computers, and Parallels Desktop will automatically download the proper image for each individual employee.

Pricing and availability

All three versions of Parallels Desktop 17 is available now online. The price depends on the version and whether the user is upgrading from a previous version with a perpetual license, buying an annual subscription, or a new perpetual license.