Sluggish system performance? Running out of storage space? It’s frustrating when a device doesn’t run as expected, particularly when the device in question is your beloved Mac.

The good news is that it can be simple to get your Mac to achieve its peak performance—and the solution might be closer than you think.

Let’s explore methods for optimizing your Mac in a range of different ways—from improving performance to reducing storage bloat and everything in between.

Did you know? Parallels Desktop is designed to run Windows and other OSs in virtual machines on Mac but that’s not the only benefit—Parallels Toolbox (included with Parallels Desktop Pro) can improve your Mac’s performance even more. Get your free trial of Parallels Desktop today!

5 ways to optimize your Mac’s memory (RAM)

Your Mac’s random access memory (RAM) affects its ability to multitask and handle software requirements. When it’s overloaded, you’ll see issues with loading times, slower multitasking, and lag.

If you’re encountering RAM issues on your Mac—or if you’re looking to avoid them proactively—try these tips.

1. Monitor your memory usage

Your Mac’s Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor) can help you identify any apps that might be consuming too much memory and bogging down your device.

2. Quit unnecessary apps or processes

Along with memory-hogging apps, your Mac may have background processes or programs running that don’t need to be open. Use your Mac’s Activity Monitor to find and close them down.

3. Assign resources for your Mac and virtual machine

One of the neat things Parallels Desktop can do when you’re running a virtual machine (VM) on your Mac is assign resource usage.

Before startup, Parallels Desktop will check your system to see how many resources like RAM it can reasonably assign.

You can check on your assigned resources by opening your VM’s configuration menu and then going to Hardware > CPU & Memory.

In that menu, you can choose to leave your settings at default or use the allocation slider to specify resources like RAM manually and control your virtual machine optimization on Mac.

4. Consider a RAM upgrade

If your Mac often struggles with the same programs and issues, consider upgrading its RAM. Macs do allow you to do this, and it can help improve performance.

Heads up: You can learn more about troubleshooting and hardware improvements for your Mac on our knowledge base.

5. Use Parallels Toolbox to free up memory

Parallels Toolbox is included with the purchase of Parallels Desktop Pro. It offers over 50 tools that give you quick access to hidden, difficult-to-remember, or nonexistent functions on your Mac and your Windows VM.

One of these resources is the Free Memory tool, which helps you reclaim inactive RAM and improve your system’s responsiveness.

Tips and tricks for disk space management on your Mac

Much like a room that’s too cluttered to move around in, an overloaded storage drive can prevent your Mac from being able to do its best work.

When your Mac is struggling with clutter like random files, duplicates, and unnecessary downloads, try these tips to keep it under control.

1. Use your storage management tool

Macs come with a built-in storage management tool (found in Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage > Storage Settings). This tool helps you clean up large files quickly and effectively.

2. Tidy your folders regularly

Your Downloads and Desktop folders can both become full quickly. Make sure you clean them out regularly to keep your Mac clutter-free.

3. Use the Clean Drive tool in Parallels Toolbox to clear space

Another popular utility in Parallels Toolbox is the Clean Drive tool, which scans your device to locate and clean up free space on your Mac, including running temporary file cleanup. You can learn more about how the Clean Drive tool works in our knowledge base.

You can also try out the Find Duplicates tool in Parallels Toolbox, which does something similar but specifically looks for duplicate files.

4. Uninstall any unused apps

Apps and programs can take up a surprising amount of space. If you have any you haven’t used in a while—or won’t need to use in the near future—consider uninstalling them to save space.

5. Archive your large files externally

Have big files that don’t need to live on your Mac’s internal drive? Archiving them to an external hard drive frees up internal space while keeping those files handy for when you need them.

6. Let your Mac optimize its own storage

Macs have a built-in storage optimization feature that can help you keep clutter under control. By turning on Optimize Storage (found in Apple Menu > About This Mac > Storage > Storage Settings), you can let macOS automatically remove unnecessary files.

How to optimize your Mac’s battery

Looking to extend your Mac’s battery life? Try these battery optimization tips to improve your Mac device’s performance.

1. Monitor your apps’ power usage

Your Mac’s Activity Monitor can help you identify and manage apps that consume too much energy.

2. Switch out power-hungry apps

If you do find apps using too much power, try replacing them with more energy-efficient alternatives.

3. Use Parallels Toolbox’s Energy Saver tool to save energy

Parallels Toolbox includes an Energy Saver tool that can help you extend battery life and simplify battery management for your Mac.

4. Adjust any battery-heavy system settings

Some Mac settings—like display brightness, keyboard backlight, and even some visual effects and animations—can drain your battery faster. Adjusting them can extend your battery life.

5. Switch to the Safari browser

Safari is specially designed to use less power on Macs, so using it instead of other browsers can help your battery last longer. Don’t forget to do some cache cleanup every now and then, too, to keep your browser light.

6 tips and tricks for network optimization on Mac

Your network is as much a part of your experience as your device is. If you’re running into issues loading web-based pages and resources, it could mean you’re experiencing network issues.

To tune up your network, try these tips.

1. Keep your router’s firmware updated

If your Mac is struggling with the network, the problem isn’t always your Mac. Making sure your Wi-Fi router’s firmware is up to date keeps your network in good shape.

2. Use the right Wi-Fi channels

The Wi-Fi channel you use can impact network performance. For example, while a 5-GHz channel will have higher speeds than a 2.4-GHz channel, it has a shorter range—so if you’re too far from a router or pod, you’ll need to switch channels.

3. Use Parallels Toolbox’s Network Usage tool to monitor networks

Parallels Toolbox has a handy Network Usage tool to help you monitor your network usage and identify usage patterns and spikes.

4. Disconnect from your Wi-Fi

Not using your Wi-Fi right away? Disconnecting from it can save your battery and reduce security risks for your Mac.

5. Set up device prioritization

Most routers will allow you to define priority levels for devices connected to your network through your router interface. You can tell it to prioritize essential devices, which should improve bandwidth allocation.

6. Turn on content caching

Content caching is a nifty feature for macOS devices that stores copies of files you access frequently in a temporary storage area. This way, when you open those files, they load much more quickly.

Other ways to keep your Mac current and optimized

Hungry for more ways to keep your Mac in tip-top shape? We’ve got a few extra tips and tricks that may help out.

1. Stay ahead on your updates

Software updates often include fixes and tweaks to improve performance. Making sure you have the latest versions of your OS and apps can keep your Mac running smoothly—and as a bonus, it’s good for your device’s cybersecurity, too.

2. Monitor your CPU usage

Your Mac’s CPU is its brain, and when it’s operating at capacity, the rest of your processes will slow down.

If you’re running Windows or another OS in a VM, Parallels Desktop has a CPU usage monitor in the virtual machine’s window tray that tracks how much of your Mac’s power is being taken up by Windows processes and helps you shut down unnecessary ones.

3. Declutter your dock

Remove any unnecessary items from your dock and menu bar to clear up clutter and keep your device organized.

Maximize the potential of your Mac equipped with Parallels Desktop

With your Mac running at its best, there’s only one thing that can take its performance farther—the right tools. Make the most of your Mac’s potential with Parallels Desktop and enjoy the best of both the Mac and Windows worlds on one device.

Opt for Parallels Desktop Pro and you get Parallels Toolbox included with your purchase.

Start your free trial of Parallels Desktop today.

As part of the Parallels team, I’m always listening to our users and working to make your experience better.

With the latest update (20.3.0), Parallels Desktop introduces several powerful new enhancements for users—from video creators and streamers who need more flexibility for their broadcasts to IT admins and developers who need more control over their devices.

Let’s dive in!

Ready for a closer look at everything that’s new in Parallels Desktop 20.3.0? Start your free trial today.

New x86_64 emulation capabilities

First up, I’d like to say thank you to the talented folks at FEX, an open-source emulator that runs x86 games and other apps on ARM64 hardware. Their product is the basis for the new emulation engine in Parallels Desktop.

Let me also say thank you to every one of you who used the emulation engine and shared your feedback.

We released the 20.2.1 update earlier this year, addressing a popular issue related to the inability to create x86_64 machines on Apple silicon Macs with M4 chips.

We included a preview in our 20.2 update for early adopters, and now, the 20.3.0 update delivers a fix for x86_64 Linux virtual machines that can be imported without serious issues like freezes or crashes.

Support for macOS OBS virtual camera in Windows

Most of you are familiar with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), the popular open-source broadcasting software.

Many users have expressed that they’d like to use an OBS virtual camera setup on their Mac inside a Windows virtual machine for apps like Zoom or Microsoft Teams—but until now, that wasn’t possible.

With Parallels Desktop 20.3.0, the OBS virtual camera feature in macOS is available inside your Windows virtual machine (VM).

This means you can now select your OBS feed in Windows apps—giving you more control over how your livestreams look and function.

Watch the video below for a quick look at how you can use and customize the OBS virtual camera in software like Microsoft Teams.

USB device support for macOS VMs on Apple silicon Macs

Imagine you’re a developer testing an app, an IT admin configuring security keys, or a tech enthusiast experimenting with macOS in a virtual environment.

You boot up your macOS VM on an Apple silicon Mac, plug in your USB device—and nothing happens.

Not the best experience, right?

For the longest time, macOS VMs on Apple silicon Macs simply couldn’t recognize USB devices.

This meant security professionals couldn’t test authentication keys, developers couldn’t debug hardware-dependent software, and testers couldn’t validate device compatibility.

That changes with Parallels Desktop 20.3.0!

Thanks to the adjustments introduced in Apple’s framework with macOS 15, USB passthrough is now a reality for macOS VMs on Apple silicon.

With 20.3.0, you can connect a range of external USB devices directly to your macOS VM, unlocking new workflows for development, security testing, and beyond.

Heads up: While many USB devices are now supported, audio devices and iPhones are not at the moment. Additionally, this feature is only available on Macs running macOS 15 or higher.

Enhanced Mac integration for the Dragon Medical One app

Many Parallels Desktop customers working in the healthcare industry rely on the Dragon Medical One app to create voice-enabled clinical documentation on their Windows virtual machines.

Previously, dictated text from Dragon Medical One was limited to the Windows environment, creating workflow limitations for clinicians who work across both Windows and macOS.

In May 2025, that limitation will be gone.

Healthcare specialists can now dictate using Dragon Medical One in their Windows VM running in Coherence view mode and have the text appear directly in a designated macOS app.

This cross-platform text input is triggered by a defined action—such as pressing a specific button on a Nuance PowerMic Microphone—offering a more efficient documentation process that connects Windows and macOS.

Enhanced activation control for managed Macs

In Parallels Desktop 20.2, we introduced new activation management features to help IT admins speed up software deployment on managed Macs.

By using MDM configuration profiles, admins could define whether users activate Parallels Desktop with SSO or a license key, reducing confusion and support requests.

Now, we’re taking it a step further.

With this update, IT admins can enforce SSO activation as the only method for managed Macs.

Once admins deploy this configuration profile, users will no longer be able to activate Parallels Desktop with a license key or trial—ensuring strict compliance with organizational policies.

Even if a user uninstalls and reinstalls the software, the system will continue to require SSO activation from the start.

This added level of control means fewer activation-related tickets for IT teams and a smoother onboarding process for end users.

Touch ID to authenticate Parallels Desktop installation

We know that manually entering your Mac admin password can be a hassle.

That was something we all had to do when installing and managing Parallels Desktop settings locked with a Mac admin password on Macs with macOS 15.

Now, you can simply use Touch ID to authenticate, making installation and settings management more convenient in Parallels Desktop.

New to Parallels Desktop for Mac? Get your 14-day free trial of Parallels Desktop Pro Edition now. 

Updates for Parallels Desktop Enterprise customers

If you’re an Enterprise user, look out for future updates about the new Lock VM feature and the Parallels Desktop configuration profile in the Jamf library, along with much more!

The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” may need to be updated to say that a screen capture or screen shot says a thousand words, because so many professionals rely on their Macs to capture an image or video of their screens to share. 

If you are a Mac user who’s looking for the quickest, most straightforward way to take screen captures and screenshots on Mac, I’ve got you covered.  

Ready to capture screens and snap screenshots on your Mac? Get started with Parallels Desktop with a 14-day free trial.   

5 ways to take a screenshot on Mac 

There are five ways you can capture screenshots using your Mac.  

Unlocking your Mac’s full potential goes beyond knowing how to open a browser and finding your favorite apps.   

Learning how to capture and share what’s on your screen effectively can streamline your workflow, improve collaboration, and help you share your creativity.   

Let’s look at several methods for capturing screenshots on your Mac like a pro.   

1. Capture a portion of your screen   

The simplest and most commonly used way to capture a screenshot is to use the Command-Shift-4 keyboard shortcut.  

This method is like the snipping tool you may be familiar with from using PCs.   

Here is how to take a screenshot of a portion of your screen on Mac:    

Press Command-Shift-4 to change the pointer to a crosshair.  

Select the area of the screen you want to capture by dragging the cursor.  

After releasing the mouse button, the screenshot appears as a PNG image on your desktop.   

You can use it as a supporting image in a blog or social media site or send it as an email attachment.   

2. Capture your entire screen 

This shortcut captures your entire screen, making it useful when you want to show what’s happening on your screen or share an error with IT support.   

Other tabs and chat boxes will be visible in the screenshot, so be sure to close out anything that you don’t intend to share.  

Here’s how to take a screenshot of your entire screen on Mac:  

Press Command-Shift-3 to take a screenshot of the entire screen.  

The screenshot will appear as a PNG image on your desktop.  

You can then upload it to a messaging platform like Slack or Teams or add it to an email.   

3. Take a screenshot of a single active window 

Highlight a dynamic feature, like the menu bar with an item selected.   

Active screenshots are great for creating tutorials, documenting interactions with software or websites, or similar dynamic processes.   

Here’s how to copy a screenshot of an active page on Mac:  

• Press Command-Shift-4 to change a pointer to a crosshair.  

• Tap on the spacebar on your keyboard. The cursor will change to the camera icon.  

• Select the active application window you want to capture by moving your cursor and highlighting the active window.   

• Click the mouse button on the window you want to capture. The screenshot will appear as a PNG image on your desktop.  

Alternatively, you can paste the screenshot by navigating to the location you want to share the image (Slack, Teams, etc.) and press Command-V.  

4. Customize your screenshot or record your screen  

This shortcut lets you capture a customized screenshot by selecting the size or window to screenshot. It also gives you easy access to the recording button.   

Here’s how to customize your screen or record on your screen on Mac:    

• Press Command-Shift-5. A clip box with a white-gloved hand will appear on your screen   

• Drag the corners of the box to select the sections you want to screenshot.   

• Use the options at the bottom to adjust your screenshot. Select the entire screen, choose a different window, or use the recording button to take a video of all or a portion of your screen.   

The screenshot or recording file will appear on your desktop.    

5. Take a screenshot of your Touch Bar (if available) 

In some cases, you may need to take a screenshot of the items in your Touch Bar.   

While this is a less common application, it can be helpful if you are working with IT support or writing a detailed tutorial.   

Here’s how to take a screenshot of the Touch Bar on a Mac:  

• Open System Preferences and select Keyboard. 

• Click on “Customize Control Strip” and drag the Screenshot button to your Touch Bar. 

Use this button to take screenshots as needed. 

How to screen capture an active window on a Mac 

Using the screenshot menu 

You can screen capture an active window by performing the following steps: 

• Open the Mac screenshot menu by pressing Shift + Command + 5. 

• A small bar will appear at the bottom left of the screen with three icons. Choose whether to screen capture a specific window, a highlighted section, or an entire screen. 

• Click the “capture” button when you’ve selected the area you want. 

• Choose where you’d like to save the screen capture, the length of time you want to record, and more in the Options menu. 

Without using the screenshot menu 

If you’d like to take a screen capture in an active window without using the screenshot menu, follow these steps: 

• Click Shift + Command + 4. 

• Click and drag the crosshair cursor to create a highlighted section. When you let go of the mouse, you’ll have the screen capture on your Mac’s desktop. 

How to take a screen recording on a Mac 

There are several ways to take a screen recording on your Mac. 

Using the Screenshot toolbar 

• Press Shift + Command + 5 to record the entire screen, a portion that you select, or a still image.  

• Click “Record Entire Screen” or “Record Selected Portion” option. 

• When you’re ready, click “Record” or press Command + Control + ESC to stop recording.  

Using the QuickTime player 

You can also take a screen recording using the QuickTime player.  

• Start by opening the QuickTime player.  

• Select File > New Screen Recording. This will bring up the screen recording toolbar.  

• Use the options menu to choose what to record, including the area you want to record or the entire screen. You’ll have to select the area prior to clicking the record button. 

• You can also choose to use your own voice over with the built-in microphone or if you want mouse clicks to show in the recording.  

• Choose where to save the recording at this point as well.  

• To begin, click the record button. To stop the recording, click the stop button or press Command + Control + Esc.  

How to use the snipping tool for a Mac Screen capture 

To use the built-in snipping tool on a Mac, you can use the following keyboard shortcuts or the Screenshot app. 

Keyboard shortcuts 

• Command + Shift + 3 = capture the entire screen and save to the desktop 

• Command + Shift + 4 = capture only a selection portion of the screen 

• Command + Shift + 4 + Space = capture a window.  

Press the Control key combined with any of the above screenshot shortcuts to save the screen capture to the clipboard.  

Using the Screenshot app 

To use the Screenshot app to access the Snipping tool on Mac, open the app and select whether to capture or record.  

Click on Options to set a length of time to record and where to save the file.  

Click capture or record to start and stop to finish.  

Editing screen captures on a Mac 

To edit the screen captures you take on a Mac, right click on the screenshot or capture and choose to open it with Preview.  

From there, you can crop, mark up, resize, or otherwise annotate the screenshot. 

What happens if the screen capture area tool or screenshot app isn’t working on macOS?   

Sometimes the keyboard shortcuts may not work on your Mac.  

You press the buttons or make the right clicks, but nothing happens.   

There are a few reasons why this might happen — and it’s usually related to your settings.   

Parallels Desktop users, for example, may find that updating their MacOS makes tools that worked previously stop working.   

In this case, you’ll need to give Parallels Desktop permission to record the screen.  

If you are a Mac user, the issue might be your system settings. Start by navigating to the Apple menu, then select:     

System setting > Keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts > Screenshots  

Make sure all the items on the list are checked off. Try the shortcuts above again, and you’ll likely find they work.   

How do you take a screenshot on a Mac without pressing buttons?   

What if you don’t have a keyboard or your keyboard isn’t working?  

Good news—you can still take a screenshot using just your mouse!   

Here’s how:   

• Select the Finder icon in your Dock (that’s the little blue and gray face).   

• Choose “Applications,” then find the “Utilities” folder.   

• Within the Utilities folder, you’ll see a camera icon labeled “Screenshot.” Double click.   

• The tool will open, allowing you to use the same options as Command-Shift-5, including adjusting your screenshot, taking a recording, and other actions.    

Another option is to add a screenshot tool to your Touch Bar:   

• Navigate to System Preferences > Keyboard > Customize Control Strip.   

• Drag and drop the screenshot button to the Touch Bar.   

How to save your screenshots and screen captures directly to your clipboard on Mac  

Want to save your screenshots to your clipboard to copy and paste elsewhere? You can save your screenshots directly to your clipboard instead of saving them as files on your desktop.  

This is useful if you want to paste the screenshot into another application, such as an email, document, or image editor.  

Here’s how to do it:  

• To capture your entire screen and save it to your clipboard, press Control + Shift + Command + 3.  

• For a selected portion, press Control + Shift + Command + 4, then select the desired area.   

• For a specific window, press Control + Shift + Command + 4, then press the Spacebar, then click the window.   

Then you can paste the screenshot into your document or image editor using Command + V. 

Why would you need to capture your screen or take a screenshot on a Mac? 

Taking a screenshot on a Mac is easier than ordering takeout, thanks to the different shortcuts offered.   

With just a few taps, you can take a screen capture to share with coworkers, add to a blog post, or save a favorite image or photo.  

You can use screenshots, screen captures, or screen recordings to help troubleshoot technical issues, or create tutorials, demos, and how-to guides. 

Screen captures facilitate connection and engagement. Your audience sees what you see.  

Technical teams, such as developers collaborating on code or app testing, can provide instant feedback and address gaps in performance or functionality. 

Sending a screen capture reduces time and frustration attempting to both describe and understand a problem for a team member and the IT department.  

Demonstrating workflows, features, and user interfaces in a recording are more effective and appealing for both internal and external users, because they can understand how things are done by seeing it happen.  

Streamline your day by mastering the Mac screenshot or screen capture 

The screenshot and screen capture option on Macs are a simple but essential process. Knowing how to quickly snag a screen capture helps improve collaboration at work, trouble technical issues, or share moments of creativity. Or just to save a hilarious picture or meme for later!  

Knowing these shortcuts and screenshot tricks will help you work faster and more efficiently.   

Ready to capture screens and snap screenshots on your Mac? Get started with Parallels Desktop with a 14-day free trial.   

Microsoft has made it official—Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025.  

Here’s what that means for you.  

• No more free monthly updates or bug fixes: Your OS will no longer receive critical patches to address vulnerabilities.  

• No more feature updates: You’ll miss out on tech advancements that streamline workflows and keep you competitive.  

• Security risks: Without ongoing support, systems running Windows 10 will face increased exposure to cyber threats. 

IT professionals and their organizations face a critical decision.  

Should they stick with an outdated system or embrace the future with Windows 11? 

Making the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 isn’t just about meeting deadlines or purchasing the latest upgrade. 

It’s about seizing an opportunity to enhance security, productivity, and compatibility in a rapidly evolving workplace. 

Using insights from Parallels Desktop usage data, I uncovered how businesses are adapting to the change, why Windows 11 matters, and the steps you need to take to prepare.  

Start your Parallels Desktop Pro free 14-day trial today and stay one step ahead of the game. 

The shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is happening in virtual machines 

Our data is clear—Windows 11 adoption is rising.  

Over the last two years, Windows 11 usage in Parallels Desktop virtual machines has grown dramatically from 74% to 91%, while Windows 10 has steeply declined from 26% to just 9%.  

However, not all businesses are making the shift.  

Why?  

One word: hardware.  

Businesses are struggling to migrate to Windows 11 of the more advanced hardware requirements of Windows 11.  

Legacy PCs or older PCs generally don’t meet the requirements for Windows 11. 

Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 features like the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, enhanced security protocols, and high-performance capabilities necessitate the latest processors and chipsets.  

These are more common in newer PCs that many organizations have yet to adopt.  

This is where virtualization shines (at least if you have Macs available). 

With virtualization tools like Parallels Desktop, running Windows 11 on older or Intel-based Macs becomes seamless.  

If you are an IT admin or otherwise responsible for your organization’s fleet, you can swap out legacy PCs for Intel or silicon Macs equipped with Parallels Desktop.  

Parallels Desktop allows Mac users to run Windows 11 efficiently, without hardware limitations.  

Parallels Desktop gives businesses a quick, cost-effective path to modernization without needing to buy new PCs.  

If new devices are in the budget, businesses have the flexibility to consider purchasing Macs plus Parallels Desktop can get the best of both worlds. 

For IT leaders who need to manage multiple licenses or a fleet of Macs at their organization, Parallels Desktop Business Edition or Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition are the solutions you need. 

See what hardware you need to run Windows 11 vs Windows 10 on Intel Macs or Macs with Apple silicon with Parallels Desktop.  

Apple silicon Macs and Windows 11—A perfect pair 

The transition is even more striking among businesses using Apple silicon Macs. 

• 97% of Apple silicon Mac users running Parallels Desktop run Windows 11 VMs versus 54% running Windows 10 VMs. * 

• Meanwhile, Intel-based Mac users demonstrate slower adoption, with 55% of them using Windows 11 VMs. 

Why the difference? 

The performance and efficiency of Apple silicon, coupled with Windows 11’s advanced features, are creating a powerful synergy that forward-thinking businesses can’t afford to ignore. 

Why upgrading to Windows 11 matters  

Switching from Windows 10 to Windows 11 isn’t just about avoiding disruption. It’s a strategic move designed to help organizations thrive in an evolving tech landscape.  

Here’s what’s at stake when you make the leap.  

1. Enhanced security 

Cyberattacks and ransomware threats have doubled in recent years, and Windows 11’s zero-trust security model directly addresses these challenges.  

For example, when the Log4Shell outbreak hit, over 50% of affected installations were already end-of-support on Day 0. These systems, previously overlooked for upgrades, became critical overnight.   

By using TPM 2.0 and encryption features, the OS keeps your data safer than ever—a necessity for businesses of all sizes. 

Aleksandr Sursiakov, Senior Director of Product Management, shared his thoughts, “Software and hardware upgrades are often deprioritized to optimize expenses, but EoL and EoS deadlines pose serious cybersecurity risks. Once EoL passes, vulnerabilities may be exposed and exploited immediately without patches. Organizations should plan transitions 6 to12 months in advance, as upgrades and procurement take time and should be phased to prevent disruptions. If upgrades aren’t feasible, sandboxing mitigation strategies like virtualization, remote access, or browser isolation can help. Some vendors also offer costly extended support for those unable to meet deadlines.”   

2. Improved productivity 

Streamlined interfaces and advanced features available in Windows 11 empower teams to work smarter, not harder.  

Features like Snap Layouts, Widgets, and Microsoft Teams integrations support multitasking and collaboration to simplify the workflows that drive productivity. 

3. Future-proofed compatibility 

Software vendors are prioritizing Windows 11 since staying on older systems like Windows 10 could lead to compatibility issues.  

As the Windows 10 support deadline grows near, software updates, driver support, and even security patches will become less frequent.  

By upgrading to Windows 11, businesses ensure that they will continue to benefit from improved security and receive the latest updates, support, and compatibility with third-party applications.  

How to prepare for the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 

Transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on a Mac doesn’t have to be a struggle if you have a Parallels Desktop license.  

Follow these steps to ensure an easy migration for your Macs and teams. 

1. Back up your data  

Before making changes, back up your files. Use an external drive or trusted cloud storage solution to safeguard your data.  

2. Install and set up Parallels Desktop 

Want to run Windows 11? No problem if you have a Mac and a Parallels Desktop license. 

With Parallels Desktop installed, you can quickly set up Windows 11—whether you’re working on a Mac with Intel or Apple silicon.  

3. Installs Window 11 

Once you have Parallels Desktop installed, you must install Windows 11 in a virtual machine on your Mac.  

The time to make the move to Windows 11 is now  

The shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 marks a key inflection point for both individuals and businesses, and the Parallels Desktop data sends a clear message about the future of work and the software that powers it.  

With the support deadline for Windows 10 quickly approaching, now is the time to act and prioritize solutions that ensure your organization is ready for the change.  

The data is evident—those leading the charge toward Windows 11 adoption are already reaping the benefits of heightened security, improved collaboration, and long-term compatibility.  

Stepping into the future early secures your spot in an evolving workplace driven by innovation.  

Businesses that adopt Windows 11 early are positioning themselves for success in 2025 and beyond 

Looking for an affordable, quick way to run Windows 11 on virtual machines on MacBooks?  

With Parallels Desktop, you can leave expensive hardware upgrades behind while keeping pace with industry-leading trends.  

Start your Parallels Desktop Pro free 14-day trial today and stay one step ahead of the game. 

If you’re interested in an IT-managed solution, please reach out to our sales team for a conversation about Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition. 

*Note that Parallels Desktop users can run more than one Windows VM on the same MacBook, so the total percentage may exceed 100%.