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Parallels Desktop

Desktop virtualization for running Windows and other operating systems alongside macOS on a Mac.

CaskVirtualization & ContainersAuto-updatesApple silicon · IntelDisabled
Homepage
From homebrew/cask
30-day installs11
1-year installs370Last 365 days
Latest version20.4.2-55999Jun 4 · Jun 4
Download size191MBarm64 / x86_64 · dmg
Release cadenceIrregular0 releases in 30 days

Parallels Desktop is a Virtualization & Containers app for Mac. It needs macOS 12 or later.

About

Parallels Desktop is a Mac application for running virtual machines, including Windows environments, alongside macOS. Its official product information describes using Windows applications next to Mac apps and moving content between the two systems.

  • Run Windows applications in a virtual machine on a Mac, including on Apple silicon Macs.
  • Use Windows and macOS applications side by side, or display Windows in full screen or Coherence mode.
  • Share files between Mac and Windows, including opening Mac files from the Windows environment and dragging and dropping content.
  • Connect Mac hardware and devices, such as the camera, microphone, keyboard, mouse, USB devices, printers, and scanners, to Windows.

Install this Homebrew cask with brew install --cask parallels@20. The cask requires macOS 12 or later and installs Parallels Desktop in /Applications. It conflicts with the parallels, parallels@18, and parallels@19 casks. The product site notes that using Windows 11 on Apple silicon involves the Arm version of Windows; Windows itself is a separate operating system to set up.

Official product information · Homebrew cask details

New What’s new in 20.4.2-55999 From Homebrew commits

This release has no separate notes.

See all 1 release

Install and uninstall

Homebrew installs the app in your Applications folder.

Install without Homebrew

Download the same file Homebrew uses: download.parallels.com/desktop/v20/20.4.2-55999/ParallelsDesktop-20.4.2-55999.dmg

SHA-256 only checks that the download is complete; it is not a security certification. See the SHA-256 and download address

Uninstall command
$ brew uninstall --cask \parallels@20

A regular uninstall removes the app and keeps its settings and caches.

Deep clean (optional)
$ brew uninstall --zap --cask \parallels@20

--zap also deletes the settings, caches and other files listed in the Homebrew definition. They can include data shared with other apps and cannot be restored, and it does not guarantee that nothing is left.See which files are removed

Facts and sources

Version 20.4.2-55999
Recorded by Homebrew on Jun 4

Questions

Is Parallels Desktop safe?

Parallels Desktop is in Homebrew’s official catalog and has not been disabled. Since September 2026, Homebrew disables apps that fail macOS Gatekeeper checks. When installing, Homebrew checks the download from download.parallels.com against its SHA-256 checksum. It was installed 11 times through Homebrew in the last 30 days.

How do I completely uninstall Parallels Desktop on a Mac?

Run brew uninstall --cask parallels@20. To delete its settings and caches as well, run brew uninstall --zap --cask parallels@20. That also deletes 28 files and folders, including ~/.parallels_settings.

Does Parallels Desktop run on Apple silicon (M1 and later) Macs?

Homebrew installs it on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs, from the same download. It needs macOS 12 or later.

Where does Parallels Desktop store its settings and data?

Its settings are in ~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels.desktop.console.plist. Its data is in ~/.parallels_settings. These locations come from Homebrew’s clean-up list.

What is the latest version of Parallels Desktop?

The latest version is 20.4.2-55999, added to Homebrew on Jun 4. Parallels Desktop updates itself; to update it with Homebrew, run brew upgrade --cask --greedy parallels@20.