Parallels Desktop has acquired an replace to model 20.3, which brings a number of new and improved options, together with x86_64 emulation enhancements, OBS digital digital camera assist in Home windows VMs, Contact ID authentication, and way more. The brand new replace comes simply over three months after the final replace to model 20.2.
Parallels Desktop permits Mac customers to run Home windows, Linux, and even macOS digital machines on their Mac alongside their standard macOS desktop. Parallels permits customers to develop, check, and debug throughout a number of platforms and lets customers carry out their inventive {and professional} duties within the app’s high-performance digital machines.
In the present day’s replace brings a number of enhanced options, together with x86_64 emulation enhancements, USB passthrough for macOS VMs, OBS digital digital camera assist in Home windows VMs, Contact ID assist, and extra. Right here’s the rundown.
x86_64 emulation enhancements
Parallels Desktop now affords improved x86_64 emulation on Apple Silicon-powered Macs, whereas additionally bringing full compatibility with Apple’s newest M4 chips. Extra customers can now run legacy x86_64 apps on their new Apple {hardware}. The brand new emulation engine relies on FEX, an open-source emulator that runs x86 video games and different apps on ARM64 {hardware}.
USB passthrough assist for macOS VMs
Beforehand, macOS VMs on Apple Silicon Mac had been unable to acknowledge USB gadgets. This prevented safety professionals and builders from testing authentication keys, debugging hardware-dependent software program, or validating system compatibility. USB passthrough is now enabled on macOS VMs on Apple Silicon-powered machines, permitting the usage of exterior USB gadgets in your macOS VMs, supplied you’re working macOS 15 or later. Sadly, audio gadgets and iPhones nonetheless aren’t supported in the meanwhile.
OBS digital digital camera assist in Home windows VMs
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software program) is the favored open-source broadcasting software program bundle utilized by streamers on YouTube, Twitch, and different video social networks. Till now, OBS customers have been unable to make use of an OBS digital digital camera setup on their Mac inside a Home windows digital machine for OBS and different apps, like Zoom.
Parallels Desktop 20.3.0 makes the OBS digital digital camera characteristic in macOS obtainable inside your Home windows digital machine. This implies customers can now choose their OBS feed in Home windows apps, offering them with extra management over how reside streams look and performance.
Contact ID assist for set up & settings
Customers can now authenticate to Home windows utilizing Contact ID, skipping the necessity to kind their admin password for a extra handy expertise. Contact ID can be utilized to authenticate when making set up and settings modifications extra handy in Parallels Desktop.
Enforced SSO activation by way of MDM
The replace additionally permits IT admins to require SSO-only activation for managed Macs, making certain safety and compliance.
As soon as directors deploy this configuration profile, customers will now not be capable to activate Parallels Desktop with a license key or trial. This ensures strict compliance with organizational IT insurance policies. Even when a person decides to uninstall and reinstall the software program, the system will nonetheless require SSO activation from the beginning. The added management ought to lead to fewer activation-related tickets for assist desks, in addition to a smoother onboarding exercise for customers.
Enhanced Mac integration for the Dragon Medical One app coming in Might
Many Parallels Desktop customers within the healthcare trade use the Dragon Medical One app to create voice-enabled scientific documentation on their Home windows digital machines.
Beforehand, dictated textual content from the app was restricted to the Home windows atmosphere, creating workflow issues for clinicians who work throughout each the Home windows and macOS platforms. That limitation will likely be a factor of the previous in Might 2025.
Healthcare specialists will be capable to dictate utilizing Dragon Medical One of their Home windows VM working in Coherence view mode and have the textual content seem instantly in a chosen macOS app.
Parallels Desktop is accessible with a free trial and presently prices $74.99 for a one-year subscription. It affords a 30-day money-back assure.