Supported Guest Operating Systems

You can install the following guest operating systems into Parallels Desktop virtual machines.

If your Mac has the Apple M1 chip

Please note that if you have a Mac with the Apple M1 chip, you can install and use only ARM-based versions of operating systems in Parallels virtual machines.

 

Parallels Tools

Windows

Windows 11 (when released)

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Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview

You can see how to install Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview in the video available at https://www.youtube.com/embed/-DFdF6zIx-Y?start=86&rel=0

Additional useful information about installing Windows on a Mac with the Apple M1 chip can be found in the article available at https://kb.parallels.com/eu/125375/

Windows on ARM can run most of the regular Windows x86 applications. You can download Parallels Desktop, activate the trial period and install the Windows application you need. If it doesn't work, please let us know at the Parallels Forum (https://forum.parallels.com/forums/parallels-desktop-for-mac-feature-suggestions.769/).

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Linux

Ubuntu Linux 21.04, 20.10, 20.04

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Fedora Workstation 34, 33-1.2

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Debian GNU/Linux 10.7

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Kali Linux 2021.2, 2021.1

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macOS

macOS 12 Monterey (when released)

If your Mac is equipped with an Intel processor

Please note that if you have a Mac with an Intel processor, you can install and use only Intel-based versions of operating systems in Parallels virtual machines.

 

Parallels Tools

Windows

Windows 11 (when released)

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Windows 10

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Windows 8.1

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Windows 8

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Windows Server 2022 (when released)

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Windows Server 2019

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Windows Server 2016

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Windows Server 2012 R2

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Windows 7 (SP0-SP1)

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Windows Server 2008 R2 (SP0-SP2)

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Windows Vista (Home, Pro, Business, Ultimate) (SP0-SP2)

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Windows Server 2003 R2 (SP0-SP2)

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Windows XP (SP0-SP3)

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Windows 2000 (Pro, Server) SP4

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Linux

Ubuntu 21.04, 20.10, 20.04, 19.04, 18.04 LTS, 16.04 LTS

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Linux Mint 20, 19, 18

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Debian GNU/Linux 10, 9

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elementary OS 5

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Kali Linux 2020.2, 2019, 2018

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RHEL 8, 7, 6

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CentOS 8, 7, 6

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Fedora 34, 33, 32, 31

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OpenVZ 7

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Mageia 7

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OpenSUSE 15.2, 15.1, 15

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SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15

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Gentoo Linux

Manjaro Linux 21, 18

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Boot2Docker

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Android

Android x86 (available only as a free system when downloaded using Installation Assistant)

macOS

macOS 12 Monterey (when released)

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macOS 11 Big Sur

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macOS 10.15 Catalina

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macOS 10.14 Mojave

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macOS 10.13 High Sierra

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macOS 10.12 Sierra

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OS X 10.11 El Capitan

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OS X 10.10 Yosemite

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OS X 10.9 Mavericks

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OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

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Mac OS X 10.7 Lion

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Mac OS X Server 10.6 (Snow Leopard Server)

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Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 (Leopard Server)

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Solaris

Solaris 11, 10

BSD

FreeBSD® 12, 11

OpenBSD 6

eComStation

eComStation 2, 1.2

ReactOS

ReactOS 0.4

Parallels Desktop for Mac emulates PC hardware, so other operating systems (not present in the list above) may be also installed and work in Parallels virtual machines. You can download Parallels Desktop, activate a trial period and install the operating system you need. If it doesn't work, please let us know at the Parallels Forum (https://forum.parallels.com/forums/parallels-desktop-for-mac-feature-suggestions.769/).

Please also note that Parallels Desktop does not include operating system installation discs or their images. You should purchase them separately.

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