Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac Improves Windows 11 Support on Apple Silicon Macs

Parallels has released today Parallels Desktop 18 Mac, the latest version of the popular virtualization software for macOS. The new release is optimized for the latest Apple Silicon Macs including Mac Studio workstations, and it’s also ready for the upcoming macOS Ventura.

Last year, Parallels Desktop 17 for Mac was optimized for the first M1 Macs and it also brought support for Windows 11 on ARM. With Parallels Desktop 18, Mac users can now download, install and configure a new Windows 11 VM in just one click and enjoy improved performance on Apple Silicon Macs.

Here are the main new features in Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac:

Windows 11 and macOS Ventura support: Mac users can now set up a new Windows 11 VM in just one click. Parallels Desktop 18 is also ready to support new features coming in macOS Ventura this fall.

Performance improvements: The performance of (Intel) x86 applications has also been improved when saving and reading files from the Mac disk. Parallels also promises that Windows 11 is up to 96% faster on Mac Studio models with an M1 Ultra chip.

Apple’s Promotion display support: Users can enjoy compatibility with Apple’s ProMotion display with automatic refresh rate changes.

Improved USB 3.0 support: Live data streaming devices such as the Elgato HD60, Startech USB 3.0 Video Capture, and more are now fully supported

Gaming controller support: Users can now use Xbox or DualShock Bluetooth game controllers with Windows and Linux.

“We are proud of our engineering team that continues to be at the forefront of innovation to offer a remarkably more powerful and seamless Parallels Desktop for Mac experience to our users, that is integrated with the latest macOS Ventura, optimized for the latest Apple hardware, and offers valuable features to deliver even better productivity and performance,” said Prashant Ketkar, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Corel. “This is as simple and easy to use as it gets, and our users can rely on Parallels Desktop for Mac to focus on the job at hand.”

Parallels Desktop 18 starts at $79.99 for the Standard Edition, which is a perpetual license. For power users, the Pro Edition and Business Edition of Parallels Desktop 18 also offer more features for $99.99 a year. If you already have a subscription, you should receive Parallels Desktop 18 as a free upgrade.