Connect External Devices

Parallels Desktop allows you to use USB, Thunderbolt, and FireWire devices with Windows.

Many external devices, such as mice and printers, are available by default to both Windows and macOS when you connect them to your Mac.

Some external devices, such as an Apple iPhone, can only be used with either macOS applications or Windows applications, but not both at the same time. When you connect such a device, you can choose whether you want to use it with macOS or Windows.

To connect an external device:

1. Connect the device to your Mac.
2. If Windows is running and the device can't be used with both Windows and macOS at the same time, you're prompted to choose which one you want to use it with. To use the device with macOS applications, click the Mac icon. To use it with Windows applications, click the Windows screen.

   

You can connect up to 12 USB 3.0 , 15 USB 2.0 and 32 USB 1.1 devices to your Mac and use them with Windows. You can connect and use up to 30 USB printers.

Important: To be able to use a USB device with Windows applications, you may need to install Windows drivers for the device. Typically you can download drivers from the manufacturer's website.

You can also set what happens when any new external device is connected and set particular external devices to always be used with either macOS or Windows .

Connect a Common Access Card reader

A Common Access Card (CAC) reader can work simultaneously in macOS and Windows.

1. Connect the CAC reader to your Mac.
2. When you're prompted to choose Windows or the Mac, click the Windows screen. The CAC reader becomes available to both Windows and macOS.