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Should they stick with an outdated system or embrace the future with Windows 11?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

I’m excited to unveil Parallels Desktop 20.2.0, the third major release in the Parallels Desktop 20 series—all delivered in just four months!

At Parallels, we’re committed to bringing you powerful, user-focused features designed to bring some value to your everyday work and play.

In this update, we’re introducing innovations for every type of user, whether you run Windows apps on your Mac, manage large-scale IT deployments, or dive deep into development and testing.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s new!

New improvements for Pro users (developers, testers, and tech enthusiasts)

A milestone: introducing the early technology preview of x86 emulation

I’m proud to share a significant milestone — starting with Parallels Desktop 20.2.0 you can use x86 emulation on Apple silicon Macs.

This functionality allows you to run some Intel-based (x86_64) virtual machines (VMs) on Apple silicon Macs via our proprietary emulation engine.

Since we first introduced Parallels Desktop 16.5 with support for Apple silicon Macs, the ability to run x86_64 virtual machines has been a limitation.

And today, after months of hard work, we’re releasing this early technology preview for tech enthusiasts who want to explore its potential.

What does this functionality allow you to do?

We listened to your feedback — it’s important to us!

Many users have reached out to us and requested the ability to run, develop, and test 32-bit Windows apps in a native environment.

Some of you also asked for the ability to run x86_64 Linux virtual machines as an alternative solution to running Linux virtual machines through Rosetta.

That is why you now can:

• Run existing x86_64 Windows 10, Windows 11*, Windows Server 2019/2022, and some Linux distributives with UEFI BIOS via Parallels Emulator.

• Create new Windows 10 21H2 and Windows Server 2022 virtual machines.

* Running x86_64 Windows 11 24H2 virtual machines through x86 emulation isn’t supported currently due to the absence of SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) 4.2 support.

Are there any limitations?

Since the functionality is in the early technology preview stage, it has some significant limitations:

• Performance is slow—really slow. Windows boot time is about 2-7 minutes, depending on your hardware. Windows operating system responsiveness is also low.

• Only 64-bit operating systems are supported. But you can run 32-bit apps. Since there are millions of apps in the world, we couldn’t test all of them. I invite you to give it a try and share your feedback with us.

• There is no support for USB devices which means you won’t be able to connect external devices to your VM.

• Parallels hypervisor can’t be used. All VMs will be booted via the Apple hypervisor. Nested virtualization is not supported either.

You can find more details about the functionality and its limitations in this article.

Please note that we’ve hidden the option to start a virtual machine in our UI to avoid false expectations for the majority of users who don’t actually need it.

I know it’s not a complete solution yet, but I wanted to give you a first look and invite you to share your feedback with us on our Forum or through Support.

It’s important for us to better understand your workflow and what we can do to enhance the feature for your needs.

Automatically sync time and time zone for macOS VMs on Apple silicon

We’re making it easier to manage macOS virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs with the introduction of automatic time and time zone sync.

Why is this important?

Previously, when creating a new macOS VM on Apple silicon, users had to manually set the time and time zone, adding extra steps to the setup process.

Starting with Parallels Desktop 20.2, this sync happens automatically once you install Parallels Tools.

Significant improvements for IT admins and managers

Hybrid licensing and SSO support for Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition

We made a promise—and we kept it.

Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition with the new Management Portal that was recently released, and with it we’re making license management smarter and more flexible.

Organizations that utilize a corporate identity provider (e.g., Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, etc.) can use it to automate license management of Parallels Desktop licenses and enable single sign-on (SSO) capabilities.

IT admins no longer need to manually disable unused licenses.

If an end-user is inactive and doesn’t log in for a month, the license seat is automatically revoked from this user and made available for another user.

The same happens when a user leaves the organization.

The activation process is super simple. Your end users just need to enter their corporate email and voila—the product is activated.

You can also link groups in your identity provider to sublicenses in Parallels My Account to get more visibility over the license keys.

But that’s not everything I wanted to share.

With this update, IT admins and managers have greater flexibility in managing the license keys.

They can allow one group of users to sign in through SSO while enabling other groups to activate Parallels Desktop using a license key.

More details can be found in the Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition Guide.

Simplified deployment: Introducing support for Configuration profiles

How is this support helpful for new deployments?

As of now, you can easily deploy the Parallels Desktop application from the MDM App Catalogs and deliver information about the Parallels Desktop activation experience with the help of configuration profiles.

Configuration profiles can be created right from the iMazing Profile Editor app.

Simply choose how end users will activate—with a license key or via SSO.

Once the profile is created, push it to the end users’ Macs and Parallels Desktop will apply this configuration the next time they start up.

Delivering Parallels Desktop settings can be done through the Parallels Desktop Management Portal (available in Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition).

The option to deploy the Parallels Desktop application, virtual machines, licensing information, and the settings using the deployment package is still available.

How can it be helpful for existing installations?

In response to the request from IT administrators, the Parallels Team has implemented support for managing the activation experience on managed Macs.

Once the configuration profile is deployed to the target Macs, if an end user tries to activate the Mac using a different key, Parallels Desktop will automatically reactivate with the key defined in the configuration profile.

It will also prompt the user to sign in with SSO based on the selected activation method. As a result, IT admins can ensure the end users get the proper experience and don’t face any challenges with activating Parallels Desktop, even if the product is uninstalled and reinstalled later.

I’m excited to share that Parallels Desktop is the first end-point virtualization solution that offers this kind of functionality.

Improvements for Windows app users

Writing Tools for Windows apps: Enhanced usability

We’ve made it even easier to use Writing Tools powered by Apple Intelligence with your favorite Windows apps. Now you can access them directly from the context menu in:

• Microsoft Outlook (classic)

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft PowerPoint

This integration makes polishing your text smoother than ever, whether you’re editing emails, documents, or presentations.

The 20.2.0 update also includes a range of fixes to enhance the overall stability and reliability of Parallels Desktop.

We’ve addressed key issues reported by users to ensure a smoother and more seamless experience. Learn more here.

The M chip is perhaps Apple’s most important release in the 2020s (so far).  

Introduced in November 2020, the M1 chip was the first one designed exclusively for macOS.  

Its speed, efficiency, and power have provided a notable boost to the complete Mac experience. 

Before the M1 release, Apple used Arm technology in its iOS devices (iPhone and iPad). Arm chips were used in Macs from 2016 to 2020 and are still commonly used in Windows machines.  

Still, the M1 chip delivers faster performance and exceptional power efficiency, including a 2X longer battery life.  

Following the successful release of M1, Apple unveiled the M2 chip in 2022, the M3 chip in 2023, and the M4 chip this past May.  

It’s a safe bet that the M5 chip will be released in 2025. Of course, it’s expected to be faster than all its M series predecessors.  

Try Parallels Desktop for Mac and run all your favorite apps on the M chip Apple computers, including Windows-exclusive apps. 

What are the differences between each M chip version?

There are significant differences among M chip versions, each with generation-over-generation updates and improvements. Let’s take a closer look:  

M1 chip

Released in 2020, the first M1 chip integrates the CPU (central processing unit) with the GPU (graphics processing unit) on a single piece of silicon. Consequently, enabling it to perform faster and extend MacBook’s battery life.  

Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, said at the M1 announcement, “There has never been a chip like M; our breakthrough SoC (system on a chip) for the Mac.  

It builds on more than a decade of designing industry-leading chips for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and ushers in a whole new era for the Mac.”  

The M1 chip is available in MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac models.  

M1 Pro

The M1 Pro offers increased performance with more CPU and GPU cores, making it 70 percent faster than the M1.  

 A PC chip’s peak performance paled compared to M1 Pro’s 1.7x higher CPU performance while using less than 70 percent power.  

The M1 Pro chip’s integrated graphics performed 7x faster than the 8-core PC laptop chip with its 16-core CPU.  

The M1 Pro is available on MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iMac, and iPad Pro.  

M1 Max

When it launched in the fall of 2021, the M1 Max was the largest chip Apple had ever built.  

With a 10-core CPU similar to the M1 Pro, it added an impressive 32-core GPU, making its graphics processing capabilities 4x faster than the original M1.  

It performed like the highest-end GPU for the largest PC laptops but required far less power.  

The M1 Max allows for faster performance while it generates less heat and uses quiet fans.  

The M1 Max is available on MacBook Pro and MacBook Studio models.  

M1 Ultra

In the M1 series, M1 Ultra is the M chip on steroids.  

It is the UltraFusion packaging of two M1 Max dies, thus creating a powerful system on a chip.  

As a result, it produces 2.5 terabytes of bandwidth—four times higher than its competing PC.  

Mac M1 Ultra is exclusive to Mac Studio, providing access to apps designed for iPhone and iPad plus universal apps.  

M2 chip

Launching the next generation of Apple’s silicon, the M2 is exclusively designed for Macs.  

Like its M1 predecessor, it maintained its focus on power and efficiency and delivered a CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. 

The SoC design of M2 has 50 percent more bandwidth than M1, with up to 24GB of fast unified memory, enabling it to handle larger and more complex workloads. 

The M2 chip is available on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iPad Pro, and Mac Studio. 

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is available on the Mac Mini and the MacBook Pro. 

M2 Max

M2 Max is the answer for users who require heavy media tasks.  

The M2 Max was the most powerful chip Apple put in a laptop until the M2 Ultra debuted. It has the power to function in GPU-in-depth tasks and machine-learning applications.   

The M2 Max is available on MacBook Pro and Mac Studio. 

M2 Ultra

Inspired by its precursor, the M1 Ultra, the M2 Ultra is created from two M2 Max chips with UltraFusion technology.  

It offers scaled-up workflows, transcodes, exports video, runs intricate particle simulations, and works within 3D environments.  

When the M2 Ultra chip was released in June 2023, it made the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro the most powerful Mac desktops ever released up to that point.   

The M2 Ultra is available on Mac Studio and the Mac Pro.  

M3 chip

The M3 series was released in the fall of 2023, introducing the first three-nanometer technology.  

Apple surprised the industry by releasing the three models all at once, rather than their usual practice of releasing them in waves.  

Laura Metz, director of Apple’s Mac product marketing team, stressed how important it was for the M3 series to democratize features and ensure they are accessible to all users while also building their systems for real-life workloads.   

The M3 chip series introduced the Apple 3nm (or 3-nanometer), allowing more transistors to be packed into smaller spaces while elevating speed and efficiency.  

The devices with M3 chips include the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and the iMac. 

M3 Pro

The M3 pro streamlines workflows for creatives, coders, and researchers. This efficiency was accomplished by making the GPU 40 percent faster than the M1 Pro.   

The MacBook Pro comes with the M3 Pro chip.  

M3 Max

The M3 Max is designed for users who require complex applications like 3D graphics and video editing due to its architectural improvements to the performance and efficiency cores. 

M2 Ultra

Despite the success of its predecessors, the M1 and M2 Ultra, and anticipation for the M3 Ultra, Apple scrapped releasing it. Instead, they skipped over this version and went straight into the M4 chip series. 

M4 chip

In May 2024, Apple released the iPad Pro powered by an M4 chip, making it the second-generation three-nanometer technology.  

The M4 series comes with advanced machine-learning features for future software releases.  

Building on the M series legacy, the M4 offers power-efficient performance while making the iPad Pro the most powerful device of its kind.  

Devices with M4 chips include iPad Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, and the MacBook Pro. 

M5 chip

The M5 chip is anticipated for release in 2025, leaping further into performance efficiency.  

At this time, Apple has not shared what M5 will bring; however, it is expected to continue to build off the previous series.  

There are speculations that new iterations like the Pro, Max, and Ultra will follow the M5.  

It is worth pointing out that all the M series chips are 100% carbon neutral, aligning with Apple’s carbon neutral plan to have net-zero climate impact across its business by 2030.   

Parallels Desktop works beautifully with M chip Macs

Parallels Desktop allows Mac users to run Windows, Linux, and more on all M chip Macs.  

As the only Microsoft-authorized solution running Windows on Macs with Intel and Apple silicon, the Parallels Desktop team continues to collaborate closely with Apple to bring our millions of users with the latest updates so that they can feel confident investing in their Mac.   

Elevate your Mac experience running Windows and Windows applications. Choose from over 200,000 apps to work, study, and play.  

Want to try it for yourself? Get your free trial of Parallels Desktop now.