Install Windows

If you have a Windows installation source (a DVD disc, an image file, or a USB storage) and a valid Windows product key, you can install Windows on your Mac and use it with Parallels Desktop.

To install Windows:

1. Open Parallels Desktop (in the Applications folder) and choose File > New.
2. If you have a Windows installation disc, insert it into the DVD drive. If you have a USB storage with Windows, connect the storage to the Mac.
3. Click Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file.
4. Parallels Desktop scans for and lists installable operating systems. If you see the version of Windows you want to install, select it and do one of the following:
   • If you want Parallels Desktop to install Windows automatically, click Continue and go to step 6.
   • If you want to install Windows manually, select Install operating system manually in the left bottom corner of the window, click Continue and go to step 7.
5. If the Windows installation source didn't show up automatically in Step 4, click Choose Manually to browse for it manually. You can browse from the following sources:
   • DVD: If you have a Windows DVD, insert it into the DVD drive. Once Windows is detected, click Continue. If your Mac doesn't have a DVD drive, you can use an Apple SuperDrive, another Mac's DVD drive via Remote Disc, or make an image from the disc.
   • Image File: If you have a Windows image file, click Image File and drag the image to the Parallels Installation Assistant window. Once Windows is detected, click Continue.
   • USB Drive: If you have a bootable USB installer with Windows, click USB Drive and connect the drive to the Mac. Once Windows is detected, click Continue.
     Note: Parallels Desktop may fail to detect some operating systems (for example, the latest Linux distributions). If this happens but you're sure that the operating system can be installed, click Continue, specify the OS type manually (if it's not listed, choose Other), and follow the onscreen instructions.
6. Enter a Windows license key. If you don't have any, you can follow the links in the assistant to purchase a key online from the Microsoft Store.
   Note: If you choose not to enter a key now and the specified image contains multiple Windows editions, you will be asked to select the edition you want to install.
7. Choose what for you're going to primarily use Windows. Its settings will be tuned to best fit your needs.
8. Choose where you want to store Windows from the Save to menu.

   By default, Parallels Desktop stores Windows in the /Users/<username>/Parallels folder.

9. If you want to pre-set things like how much memory Windows uses or whether it starts automatically when you open Parallels Desktop, select Customize settings before installation. You can also adjust these settings after the operating system is installed.
10. Click Create.

    The assistant installs Windows.

Once Windows is installed, you can start it up by opening a Windows application or by clicking the power button in Control Center.

When you install Windows, Parallels Desktop creates an administrator account with a blank password. Once the installation is complete, it is recommended that you change this password.