Guest blog by Sylvester Sebastian Nino, Parallels Support Team

While working with Parallels Desktop and helping our customers, I often go through our knowledgebase as the best source of product-related information. For instance, recently, I helped a customer over the phone convert his virtual machine from VirtualBox to Parallels Desktop by simply going through the steps listed in the related KB article. Everything worked as expected.

It was then, while helping the customer, that I finally noticed the views count–wow, that’s a darn popular article! I hadn’t known how interesting this question is to our customers. Now that I know, I decided to write a blog about it to make all the steps even clearer. So let’s do it! Read on for the instructions on how to convert your existing VirtualBox VM to Parallels Desktop.

I’m not going to take a lot of time to tell you why you should switch. Simply put, it’s everything. Functionality, stability and, of course, the variety of the features and cross-platform interaction. Instead, let me jump straight to the point.

Load Balancing with Parallels RAS Load balancing plays a critical role in application and desktop delivery by spreading workload between servers and providing reliable access to published resources. Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) offers the ability to load balance RDSH servers as well as its internal components, such as RAS Gateway.

Step 1

Before converting your VirtualBox to Parallels Desktop, delete the snapshots (if any) in your VirtualBox VM. Snapshots could interfere with the process of conversion. Then shut down your VM.

Step 2

Install Parallels Desktop. You will see the New Virtual Machine Wizard once it’s set up:

Step 3

Click on the Parallels Desktop icon at the top of the navigation pane and select Open from the dropdown menu. Select your VirtualBox VM—you can simply type in “.vbox” in search box.

The Parallels Wizard will now show you the expected VM name and location (which you can change) and will prompt you to click Continue.

Step 4

Now Parallels Desktop will convert your VirtualBox VM to its format.

Believe me or not, but…that’s it! Parallels Desktop will now start your VM and automatically install Parallels Tools—please don‘t interrupt this process. It has to complete on the first VM start.

As you can see, converting VirtualBox to Parallels Desktop couldn‘t be easier! I hope this post was useful, and don’t forget to follow Parallels Support on Twitter.

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You can use Apple's built-in Boot Camp software to install Windows on your Mac, which will require you to partition your hard drive in order to make a space for the new operating system. You don't, however, have to partition your hard drive in order to use Windows on a Mac.

You can use a virtual machine instead. A virtual machine is what it sounds like. It's a virtual simulation of a real machine. You can install a virtual machine program onto your Mac and use it to open and run a full operating system like Windows, right on your desktop without having to partition your hard drive at all. You can have both operating systems running at the same time!

One of the most popular virtual machine programs for Mac is Parallels Desktop. It's been around for a long time and is kept up to date with support for the latest computers and operating systems.

Here's how to get Parallels Desktop on your Mac and then install and run Windows 10 from within your macOS operating system without having to switch hard drive partitions.

Check your system and hardware requirements

Before getting started with this guide, make sure you have the minimum requirements for hardware. Here are the hardware system requirements to install Parallels Desktop.

• A Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9, Intel Core M or Xeon processor
• Minimum 4 GB of memory, 16 GB is recommended
• 500 MB for Parallels Desktop application installation
• Additional disk space for the guest operating system (at least 16 GB is required for Windows 10)
• SSD drive is recommended for better performance
• Internet connection for product activation and select features

Your Mac operating system should also be no older than four years.

• macOS Catalina 10.15
• macOS Mojave 10.14
• macOS High Sierra 10.13
• macOS Sierra 10.12

Additionally, your Mac must be able to support Windows 10.

• MacBook (2015 and later)
• MacBook Air (2012 and later)
• MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
• Mac mini (2012 and later)
• iMac (2012 and later)
• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• Mac Pro (2013 and later)

Before you start: Back up your Mac

This is one of those aweful mistakes that people make, thinking that they don't need to back up their Mac before doing something big. First offf, you should be backing up your Mac on a regular basis, but even if you don't do so multiple times per day, you should definitely do so right now, before you continue with this guide. Seriously. Back it up.

How to run Windows on Mac using Parallels Desktop 15

Of course, you'll need Parallels Desktop and Windows 10 in order to download and install them. Parallels Desktop costs $80 for a standard license. The Pro Edition and Business Edition are both $100 per year. You can either buy a full license right now, or start with the free two-week trial and make your full purchase later.

You'll also need a copy of Windows 10. You might already have a license or you might need to buy a copy. You can load Windows 10 right from within Parallels Desktop and you'll be up and running as soon as the installation is complete.

How to download and install Parallels Desktop 15

Step one is to download Parallels desktop. You can either buy a full license right now, or start with the free two-week trial.

Once the program is finished downloading, follow these steps to complete the installation process:

1. Double-click on the ParallelsDesktop.dmg file to open it (it might be in Finder or on your desktop, you can search for it in Spotlight if it's not easy to find).
2. Double-click on Install in the Parallels Desktop window that appears.

3. Click Open if you are asked to confirm that you want to install Parallels Desktop.

4. Accept the License Agreement.
5. Enter the Administrator Name and Password for your Mac when prompted.

Once Parallels Desktop is installed, it will automatically take you to a page where you can download Windows 10. If you already have a copy of Windows 10, you can skip the step. If not, click Install Windows to begin the installation process.

If you already own a copy of Windows 10, click Skip and then click New from the Parallels Desktop dropdown menu. You can then select your copy of Windows 10 from the available options.

After Windows 10 has installed on your Mac, you'll be directed to sign into your Parallels Desktop account. If you don't already have one, you can create one right now.

After signing in or signing up for a Parallels Desktop account, Windows 10 will pop up in a new window. It sort of looks like you're just using a new program or web browser, but you've got a virtual simulation of Windows 10, in its entirety right on your Mac!

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about how to run Windows 10 on your Mac using Parallels Desktop? Put them in the comments section and we'll help you out.

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