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Install and Update Parallels Tools

Parallels Tools are a set of utilities that help you use guest operating systems in the most comfortable and cohesive way. For example, with Parallels Tools you can move the mouse seamlessly between your host and guest operating systems, change the virtual machine's screen resolution by simply resizing its window, view synchronized time and date settings between your host and guest operating systems, and more.

If you installed a Windows guest operating system using Express Installation, Parallels Tools were installed automatically and you don't have to do anything else. Otherwise, it's recommended that you install Parallels Tools to get the most out of Parallels Workstation.

To install or update Parallels Tools:

  1. Start the virtual machine in which you want to install Parallels Tools and log in to the guest operating system.
  2. Choose Virtual Machine > Install Parallels Tools to install Parallels Tools for the first time, or Virtual Machine > Update Parallels Tools to update to the latest version.

    Note: If the Install Parallels Tools option is unavailable, Parallels Tools may not support your guest operating system. To see the list of guest operating systems supported by Parallels Tools, choose Help > Parallels Workstation Help and see the Parallels Tools Overview section.

    The Parallels Tools installation wizard opens.

  3. Click Install.
  4. When the installation is complete, click Reboot to restart the virtual machine.

For detailed information about Parallels Tools, choose Help > Parallels Workstation Help.