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Parallels Desktop 18
Still the best way to run Windows, macOS and Linux on a Mac
From $99.99; upgrades $69.99 From
parallels.com
Needs macOS 10.14 or later, 4GB of memory VERSION UPDATE
Windows 11 for ARM virtual machines have extensive options to support devices including games controllers.
A YEAR AGO, Parallels delivered the first virtualization app to make full use of Apple silicon Macs, including Monterey virtual machines (VMs). Five new Mac models later, including the first M2 Macs, Parallels Desktop 18 remains the only commercial app to run macOS as a guest on those Macs.
Unlike open–source rival UTM, Parallels can’t emulate different architectures: it runs ARM guests on Apple silicon Macs, and Intel x86 guests on Intel Macs. On Apple silicon Macs, this new version still virtualizes Windows 10 and 11 for ARM, four Linux distros for 64–bit ARM processors, and macOS from Monterey onwards, but not Big Sur. On Intel Macs it will virtualize Windows from XP and earlier to 11, almost any Linux distro using Intel kernel 2.6.29 or later, macOS from 10.7 to 13, and others including Solaris, BSD and a special version of Android.