Change Virtual Machine Configuration at Runtime

Parallels Desktop allows you to connect or disconnect certain devices at runtime or switch some of them for using other media.

Generally, the following virtual devices can be connected or disconnected at runtime:

  • Floppy disk drive
  • CD/DVD-ROM drives
  • Network adapter
  • Sound device
  • USB device
  • Shared folders

If printer and serial ports are present in the virtual machine configuration, you can also manage them at runtime.

To configure any of these devices, use the necessary command from the Devices menu in the menu bar. This menu is available only when the virtual machine is running.

Connecting a CD/DVD or a Floppy Drive

If you have several CD/DVD drives connected to your virtual machine, in the Devices menu they are listed in the same order as they were connected. The first CD/DVD drive will be CD/DVD 1, the second will be CD/DVD 2, and so on.

Connecting a Network Adapter

You can set up any of the three network modes: Shared Networking, Bridged Networking, or Host-Only Networking.

Connecting a Sound Device

To connect or disconnect a sound device, choose the type of output (or input) device or Mute option respectively.

Connecting a USB Device

Parallels Desktop automatically detects all USB devices plugged into your Mac computer. The devices that are currently connected to the virtual machine appear in the list from the Device menu. You cannot use a USB device in macOS while it is being used by the virtual machine.

Connecting a Shared Folder

The Shared Folders options available at runtime are similar to the settings in the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog.

You can

  • share all Mac disks or Home Folder only with the virtual machine
  • share Windows guest operating system disks with macOS
  • add a new shared folder

Connecting a Serial Port

To connect or disconnect a serial port, click the Devices menu, select the corresponding serial port, and choose the appropriate command in the displayed menu.

Connecting a Printer Port

To connect or disconnect a printer port or to connect a printer or an output file to a printer port, click the Devices menu, select the corresponding printer port, and choose the appropriate command in the displayed menu.
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