One of the really useful things nowadays about Macs is that you can run Windows on them if you need to.

This is the only solution if you want to run Windows only applications or games on your Mac (although there are now arguably other better gaming solutions for Mac around).

Since there’s no official Netflix app for Mac users either, installing Windows on your Mac allows you to use the official Windows Netflix app if you frequently have problems streaming Netflix on your Mac.

There are various ways of running Windows on macOS however and some are definitely better than others.

Here are the best ways to install Windows on a Mac in order of ranking.

Virtualization software like Parallels or VMWare Fusion (two of the best apps to run Windows software on your Mac without partitioning your hard drive for Boot Camp) isn’t free, though these. Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows 30+ tools in a lightweight, powerful, all-in-one application for Mac ® and PC. Easy to use and economical—a whole suite of tools for a fraction of the cost of individual apps, packaged in one simple interface. Much to my surprise, running Windows 10 on Mac using Parallels Desktop 13 is a lot easier, and you will really like using it! For those unfamiliar, a virtual machine is basically a virtual simulation of a real machine, which allows you to run a full-fledged operating system on your computer without needing to partition the hard drive. Easily convert your existing Windows Boot Camp partition to a new Parallels Desktop virtual machine. Not just for Windows Run a wide array of operating systems including macOS, Windows 10, 8.1, and 7, Linux, Google Chrome, and more.

1. Virtual Machine

A virtual machine like Parallels (also known as a virtual environment or virtualization software) allows you to run Windows “virtually” within macOS.

This option is by far the most convenient for most users because it allows you to use your Mac as normal but switch to a a Windows application at any time when you need it.

You have full access to the rest of your Mac apps while enjoying the convenience of having the Windows available too.

Virtualization software like Parallels have got this off to a tee nowadays with Coherence Mode blurring the line between macOS and Windows so that you can work in both with almost no separation between the two.

The main disadvantage is that you need to purchase virtualization software in order to run Windows and macOS at the same time the best being Parallels.

The main rival to Parallels is VMWare Fusion but we’ve found that nothing comes close to Parallels in terms of ease of setup, use and support.

The good news however is that since the release of Windows 10, it’s become even cheaper to install Windows on a Mac using virtualization software because you can now install Windows on your Mac for free.

This is because Microsoft now allows you to download a free ISO image of Windows 10 and you only need to pay for a license if you want to activate it.

Note that Parallels and VMWare are by far the best virtualization tools for Mac but there is also the free VirtualBox but it’s considerably more complicated to setup and maintain for the average user.

Here’s a closer look at installing Windows using Parallels vs VMWare Fusion.

Parallels

For those new to Mac or running Windows on their Mac for the first time, we highly recommend using Parallels because it makes both installing Windows on a Mac and switching between Windows and macOS so easy and seamless.

Parallels was one of the first solutions to run Windows on Mac and over the years they’ve refined it so much that it makes using Windows on Mac a pleasure.

Installing Windows on Mac with a virtual machine used to be a very complex affair but Parallels has now made it easy enough for just about anyone to use.

The latest version of Parallels 14 for Mac has also been optimized for gaming by dedicating 1GB of Video RAM (VRAM) to games and has a 3D engine specifically designed for the demands of gaming.

Parallels also supports all types of external devices connected to your Mac so you can connect a USB, Firewire or Thunderbolt device and access it within Windows.

Parallels also has the advantage that you can run Windows and macOS at the same time whereas with Boot Camp, you can only run one at a time.

Although both Macs and Parallels have come a long way in the past few years, Parallels still isn’t suitable for all games. Games such as FIFA that rely on DirectX 11 or OpenGL for 3D graphics are still not supported.

Split View is another great feature that is ideal for multitasking, as it makes it possible for users to run more than one application all at the same time, without having to switch windows. Parallels Desktop 11 Crack Multilingual comes in many languages such as Portuguese, Italian, English, Russian, French, Spanish, Chinese. Parallels for mac 11 activation key.

This is a shame because the latest generation of Macs have Intel NVIDIA graphics cards that are more than capable of handling the demands of DirectX and OpenGL.

For games that require either DirectX or OpenGL, your only option is to install Windows with Boot Camp (see option 2 below).

You can choose to either pay a one-off payment for Parallels of $79.99 or pay $79.99 per year, the advantage to the latter being you get free annual upgrades and you get Parallels Access for free which allows you to access your Mac from anywhere with an iOS or Android device.

Most users will only need the Home & Student Version of Parallels to install Windows on Mac, not the more expensive Pro or Business versions.

Note that if you need to run Parallels on more than one Mac, Parallels only allows you one license per Mac per purchase – you cannot install multiple copies of Parallels on multiple Macs unless you purchase a separate license for each. VMWare Fusion (see below) does not have these license limitations.

Until May 31st 2019 you can get 10% off Parallels with Coupon Code: PRLS10.

If you want to learn more, check out our full Parallels Desktop review.

Pros:

Very easy to install Windows

Superb integration between Windows and Mac

Excellent for gaming

Fast Startup and Shutdown time

Optimized for macOS Mojave and Windows 10

Cons:

Updates aren’t free

Requires a separate license for each Mac you want to install it on

Doesn’t support DirectX or OpenGL

VMWare Fusion

The other major virtualization software for running Windows on Mac is VMWare Fusion. In our experience, Parallels is more updated for the latest releases of Windows and macOS, easier to setup use and better supported than VMWare Fusion.

However, it’s still a very good virtual environment and worth taking a closer look at.

VMWare Fusion is generally for more advanced users with more customization options and is less geared towards beginners on Mac.

However, over the years it has been more user friendly and is now an equally viable option as Parallels for general users. In fact, all of the above applies to VMWare Fusion with a few small differences.

The main difference between VMWare Fusion and Parallels is generally in speed and functionality.

VMWare Fusion isn’t quite as fast at handling Windows on a Mac so if you’re planning on using some memory hogging application on Windows or using it for gaming, you might find it a bit slow.

Parallels is also easier to setup and holds your hand through the whole setup process.

Like Parallels, installation of VMWare is very simple offering. Unlike Parallels however, there’s no option to purchase Windows during installation so you must make sure you have a copy of Windows available when you install it.

Alternatively, if you have a PC already, you can import your current Windows operating system plus files from the PC to your Mac.

Simply install a small application on your PC, connect your PC to your Mac with a network cable and VMWare fusion will transfer all of your Windows files to your Mac.

Finally, connectivity is just as good in VMWare Fusion

Parallels Best Option For Windows On Mac