5 cool new things you can do with Parallels Desktop 20

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Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac is here and it's still the best virtualization software for macOS. I thought last year's release was a pretty big update, with support for Touch ID in Windows 11 VMs, but this one looks to be even more exciting. For one, you can now use Parallels Desktop to sign in to an Apple account on a macOS Sequoia virtual machine, enabling a whole new range of use cases – from Apple Intelligence to iMessage.




If you're new to Parallels or Mac virtualization in general, you might be surprised at how much it can do. It's a fun tool for people who like playing around with VMs, and it's also essential software for people who need to run Windows 11 apps on their new Mac. Let's break down five of the most exciting features of Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac.

I received a Parallels Desktop 20 for Mac license for testing, but Parallels had no influence on the content of this article.


5 Run the macOS 15.1 beta and use Apple Intelligence

Experience all the benefits of Apple Intelligence without the risks


Parallels Desktop 20 includes a few key upgrades that, taken together, allow you to run the macOS 15.1 beta and take advantage of Apple Intelligence. First of all, the software officially supports macOS Sequoia. You can download the macOS 15.1 Sequoia developer beta recovery image from Apple's developer downloads page, load it into Parallels, and create a VM with the developer beta in it. This allows you to test upcoming Apple Intelligence features before they are officially released without putting your system at risk from bugs or instability.

A macOS 15 computer virtualizing a macOS 15.1 operating system.

A macOS 15 computer virtualizing a macOS 15.1 operating system.


I managed to test the macOS 15 developer beta with Parallels Desktop 19, but it wasn't that useful. This version doesn't support signing in to an Apple account, but Parallels Desktop 20 does – and we'll explain why that's important later. This means you can join the Apple Intelligence waitlist using your Apple account using your virtual machine. If accepted, the VM automatically begins fetching the necessary models and files to use the AI ​​on the device.

Parallels hasn't revealed much about it yet, but the company plans to bring Apple Intelligence to Windows 11 when the stable version of macOS 15.1 Sequoia rolls out.

4 Use Copilot to manage VMs with the Visual Studio Code extension

Making customizations to your virtual machines has never been easier

The Visual Studio Code extension in Parallels 20.

Source: Parallels


For developers and professionals using multiple virtual machines, Parallels Desktop 20 integrates with Visual Studio Code with a free extension. The VS Code extension itself has been around for a while, but this year there is support for Microsoft Copilot. You could already be using a Visual Studio Code extension to manage and interact with all of your Parallels Desktop virtual machines from a unified hub. Thanks to Copilot support, you can now use natural language to issue commands to control VMs, simplifying the entire process.

3 Run Windows 11 on Arm with your Apple Silicon Mac

Parallels is the official way to use a Windows on Arm virtual machine within macOS

Windows 11 on Arm shows the XDA homepage.

If you've been following the Windows world lately, you've probably noticed that Windows on Arm has taken off in a big way since the first wave of Qualcomm Snapdragon X laptops launched. While the platform may not be great at running games, it is quite powerful when it comes to productivity. That's good news for Mac users because Parallels Desktop 20 is the official way to use Windows 11 on Arm with Apple Silicon Macs.


Parallels itself has improved optimization for some apps such as ArcGIS Pro, LabVIEW and Ninja Trader. Additionally, any apps ported to Windows on Arm as part of the Snapdragon movement should also work with Windows 11 VMs in Parallels Desktop 20. The Prism emulator, which is part of Windows 11 on Arm, is also being improved, which should result in an increase in performance when running non-native apps in VMs.

2 Use the new Parallels AI package

The Visual Studio Code extension lets you use 14 development toolsets in closed environments

The Parallels AI Development package runs with VS Code.

Source: Parallels


AI is the buzzword of the year (and last year, actually), and Parallels Desktop 20 is trying to get in on the trend with the Parallels AI Package. The idea behind the AI ​​package is that it is a cost-effective way to test AI models and functions in isolated virtual machines. The package includes 14 development toolsets that help run small language models in an offline VM. It's built into the Visual Studio Code extension and there's an official YouTube video to get you started.

1 On macOS Sequoia VMs, sign in with your Apple ID

This addition to Parallels Desktop 20 on Apple Silicon Macs addresses a massive limitation

Shows a macOS VM signed in to an iCloud account.

As an experienced Parallels user, I never thought I would see the day when you could activate a Parallels virtual machine with an Apple account. Well, that's exactly what you can do in Parallels Desktop 20 with macOS Sequoia – albeit with some limitations. iCloud Backup, Find My, iCloud Mail, Apple Media Services, and Apple Wallet are not available for use with VMs. Interestingly, some of these features Are available if you use iCloud.com within the virtual machine.


Still, you'll find that many macOS Sequoia features that require an Apple account work with Parallels Desktop 20. Apple Intelligence is the big problem, especially while it's in beta. However, staples like iMessage and iCloud Drive are fully functional. In practice, this means that you can probably use macOS VMs as usual with a typical Mac, without encountering the obstacles that were common when using previous versions of Parallels Desktop.

The Apple Intelligence setup window.

There are so many features on macOS that rely on iCloud and your Apple account that the lack of support has been a glaring limitation in the past. With Parallels Desktop 20 and macOS Sequoia now supporting signing in to an Apple account with a virtual machine, Parallels' virtualization suite is much more compelling.


Who Should Buy Parallels Desktop 20?

Parallels is arguably the best virtualization software for macOS and now even better for Apple Silicon computers. The ability to sign in to an Apple account, use the latest versions of macOS Sequoia and Windows 11, and take advantage of Windows on Arm's growing app support are real benefits of this year's release of Parallels Desktop. For power users and developers, AI and VS Code support provides a secure environment for testing workflows and managing multiple VMs simultaneously.

Personally, I'm looking forward to trying out all the Apple Intelligence features early by running a developer beta of macOS Sequoia on my iMac throughout the year. It's my main work machine, so I won't be installing a development beta on it directly. It's too risky, but Parallels offers me the opportunity to test the latest AI tools completely risk-free.


If you enjoy experimenting with virtual machines or rely on them for your work, Parallels Desktop is worth it. However, I would recommend paying extra for the one-time purchase rather than opting for the annual subscription. This will save you money in the long run if you don't want to upgrade every year.

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Parallels Desktop 20

Parallels Desktop 20 is the latest edition of the top virtualization software for macOS and ChromeOS. The standard edition is available for $100, but there are also Pro and Business versions for a higher fee. You can choose between a cheaper subscription or a one-time purchase.

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