Parallels Desktop for Mac is software providing hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors, and since version 16.5 also for Apple silicon-based Macintosh computers. It is developed by Parallels, since 2018 a subsidiary of Corel.

History

Released on June 15, 2006, it was the first software product to bring mainstream virtualization to Macintosh computers utilizing the Apple–Intel architecture (earlier software products ran PC software in an emulated environment).

Its name initially was ‘Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X’, which was consistent with the company’s corresponding Linux and Windows products. This name was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we’ve got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product…”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.

On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.

Version History

• 2007: The first official release of version 2.5 was on February 27, 2007, as build 3186.
• 2007: On June 7, 2007 build 4124 was released as the first publicly available version of Desktop 3.0.
• 2008: Version 4.0, released November 11, 2008.
• 2009: Parallels Desktop 5.0 officially released on November 4, 2009.
• 2010: Parallels Desktop 6.0 officially announced on September 9, 2010 and launched on September 14.
• 2011: Parallels Desktop 7.0 officially announced on September 1, 2011 and released on September 6.
• 2012: Parallels Desktop 8.0 officially announced August 22, 2012 and released September 4.
• 2013: Parallels Desktop 9.0 officially announced on August 29, 2013 and released on September 5.
• 2014: Parallels Desktop 10.0 released August 20, 2014 for Mac includes support for OS X 10.10 “Yosemite”, and ends support for Snow Leopard.
• 2015: Released August 19, 2015, Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac includes support for Windows 10 and is ready for OS X 10.11 “El Capitan”.
• 2016: Parallels Desktop 12 released August 18.
• 2017: Parallels Desktop 13 released August 22, for Mac provides macOS High Sierra readiness and support for upcoming Windows 10 features.
• 2018: Parallels Desktop 14 released August 21, supports macOS 10.14 “Mojave”.
• 2019: Parallels Desktop 15 released August 13.
• 2020: Parallels Desktop 16 released August 11.
• 2021: Parallels Desktop 17 released August 10.
• 2022: Parallels Desktop 18 released August 9.