Shut Down or Suspend Windows

When you're finished using Windows applications, you can leave Windows running in the background as you work with your Mac applications. Or you may want to stop Windows from running so more of your computer's resources are available for your Mac applications. There are a few ways to stop Windows. You can:

  • Suspend Windows
  • Pause Windows
  • Shut down Windows
  • Stop Windows

Suspend Windows

Suspending Windows conveniently freezes all running Windows applications and settings in their current state.

Do one of the following:

  • Quit Parallels Desktop.
  • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Actions > Suspend.
  • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Suspend.

The next time you start Windows or open a Windows application, you resume your progress from exactly where you left off.

When Windows is suspended, you can safely quit Parallels Desktop and resume your progress later.

Note: If you are using macOS Lion or later and you shut down or restart your computer, or quit Parallels Desktop, Windows is automatically suspended. The next time you start up Parallels Desktop, you can resume working with Windows from where you left off. If your Windows is encrypted, you will have to resume it manually.

Pause Windows

You can temporarily pause from using Windows and free your computer's resources, such as RAM and processor cycles, to be used by your Mac applications by doing one of the following:

  • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Actions > Pause.
  • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Pause.

To resume using Windows after pausing it, do one of the following:

  • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Actions > Resume.
  • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Resume.

If you quit Parallels Desktop while Windows is paused, you're prompted to either Suspend or Stop Windows first.

Shut Down Windows

Shutting down Windows in Parallels Desktop is just like shutting down Windows on a PC. All Windows applications close, giving you the opportunity to save your progress if necessary, and Windows stops running.

To shut down Windows, do one of the following.

  • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Actions > Shut Down.
  • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Shut Down.

Stop Windows

To stop Windows and all open Windows applications immediately, do one of the following:

  • Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and choose Actions > Stop.
  • If the Parallels Desktop menu bar is visible at the top of the screen, choose Actions > Stop.

Important: When you stop Windows this way, none of your data or progress is saved.
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