Freezing issue when running macOS VM on Parallels

Discussion in 'macOS Virtual Machine' started by ToryF, Aug 24, 2023.

Tags:
Page 1 of 4
  1. ToryF

    ToryF Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    Every other thing seems to work fine except sometimes the macOS VM freezes for a few seconds before working. The most noticeable moment is during mouse scrolling.
    The guest VM freezes and unfreezees itself after some seconds.
    Any workaround on this will be appreciated.

    Issue on M1 machine
     
    ToryF, Aug 24, 2023
    #1
    OrionS likes this.
  2. CraigB18

    CraigB18 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Best Answer
    So I've been fighting this issue for months now. I opened a ticket with Parallels and after a lot of back and forth, providing them with information, they basically said they don't have a resolution right now, but that the information I provided would be sent to the development team to try to work out a solution. That was over 2 months ago. Well, I finally stumbled upon something that seems to easily resolve the issue every time. It's not a permanent fix, but it at least makes my macOS VM usable again.

    So, you're all going to think I'm crazy, because this solution seems completely ludicrous. But give it a try. It reliably works every time for me on multiple macOS VMs on an M4 Macbook Air. All you have to do is open Safari and navigate to the website bitwarden.com (yes, the website for the Bitwarden password manager). That's it. In my case, as long as Safari is open and sitting on bitwarden.com, the problem completely goes away. Insane.

    So, my procedure is, as soon as my macOS VM boots, I immediately open Safari, navigate to bitwarden.com, and then, since I don't use Safari (I use Chrome), I just let Safari drift to the back of my open Windows. As long as it's open and sitting on that website everything works. If I navigate Safari away from that site the problem starts up again. The same thing works with opening that website in Firefox, although things seem to be a little more smooth with Safari. However, if I open bitwarden.com in Chrome, the problem does not resolve. Go figure! Also, keep in mind that minimizing the Safari window also makes the fix stop working. The window has to be open, so like I said, I just let it drift to the back.

    Now, why this works, I can't even fathom. I'm guessing that maybe there is some sort of code in the Bitwarden website (maybe javascript of some sort?) that somehow forces something in macOS to remain active, thereby inhibiting the scrolling freezes. Of course, that's a total guess. I assume there may be other websites that would do the same thing, but I know Bitwarden works. I hope they don't change their website anytime soon! I sent this solution in to Parallels in hopes that if nothing else, maybe they can put in a workaround that mimics whatever the Bitwarden website is doing.

    Anyway, give it a try! I'm hopeful that it will be helpful to more people than just me!
     
    CraigB18, Feb 3, 2026 at 9:02 PM
    #65
    MikeG29 likes this.
  3. Trishna Oobeyram

    Trishna Oobeyram Staff Member

    Messages:
    392
    Hello!
    In order to proceed with further investigation, kindly provide us with the below information:
    1. Reproduce the issue.
    2. Collect a technical report (right-click Parallels icon in Dock > Help > Send technical data > check "Attach screenshots..." > press Send Report) and send the report's 9-digit ID in a reply.
    Thank you!
     
    Trishna Oobeyram, Aug 24, 2023
    #2
  4. ToryF

    ToryF Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    Technical report 433906410 has been sent to Parallels.
     
    ToryF, Aug 24, 2023
    #3
  5. ToryF

    ToryF Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    I have to remake new report with a video
    Technical report 433953510 has been sent to Parallels.
     
    ToryF, Aug 25, 2023
    #4
  6. NiallN

    NiallN Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Hello,

    Same issue here. It has been happening for a very long time, but recently seems to have gotten worse.
    For me, it used to be that the VM would freeze for a while when attempting to scroll with the mouse or when popup notifications were displayed. Occasionally the machine would hang indefinitely. Lately, that has been happening more often, forcing me to either Quit or sometimes Force Quit the VM.
    Interestingly, the issue only manifests when scrolling with the mouse (trackpad, I'm using a MacBook Pro) but if I grab the scrollbar instead and move it manually the VM does not hang.
    When the machine is hung, it will typically be using 2 or 3 CPU cores at 100%, suggesting some kind of spin.
    Also, along with this issue, I have found then when installing or updating Parallels Guest Tools it will hang indefinitely at 100%.

    I have submitted a technical report for the last instance of a crash after I had to Quit the VM because it was frozen, the ID is 433957663.

    Any help is much appreciated.
    As with OP, I am on an M1 Mac. Specifically, Apple M1 Max, MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021. Running the latest macOS build: 13.5.1 (22G90)
     
    NiallN, Aug 25, 2023
    #5
  7. ToryF

    ToryF Bit poster

    Messages:
    5
    Am using the same type of Mac config with you and the mouse is Apple Magic Mouse
     
    ToryF, Aug 25, 2023
    #6
  8. JayS13

    JayS13 Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Exact same issues... on my '23 MBP / M2 Max / macOS build 13.5.1 (22G90), with both onboard trackpad and external Apple trackpad (Bluetooth connected). Hopefully this is sorted quickly; the issue is rendering the vm useless.
     
    JayS13, Sep 5, 2023
    #7
  9. AshishR

    AshishR Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Any update on this ? Facing the same issue
     
    AshishR, Sep 13, 2023
    #8
  10. PatrickH29

    PatrickH29 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Hely,
    my Macbook Pro with a M2 Max and macOS 13.5.2 shows the same issues when running Mac Based VMs.
    Patrick
     
    PatrickH29, Sep 18, 2023
    #9
  11. winkydink

    winkydink Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    The network performance of a MacOS VM on my M1 Macbook Air is essentially unusable. It works for 1-2 minutes and then hangs for 30-60 seconds.

    Does Parallels even have a QA department? There's no way this should have been missed in testing.
     
    winkydink, Sep 18, 2023
    #10
  12. MartinB35

    MartinB35 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Since upgrading to 19 on an M2 Air, freezing makes this product unusable. The support and QA from Parallels on this is directionally proportional to how fast their website and forum load and inversely proportional to their price increases: below zero.
     
    MartinB35, Sep 24, 2023
    #11
  13. AnthonyD14

    AnthonyD14 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Same problem here since Parallels 19. This product is basically unusable right now for work. It freezes multiple times and freezing times go from 5s to 3m.

    Laptop: M2
     
    AnthonyD14, Sep 27, 2023
    #12
  14. NiallN

    NiallN Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    I upgraded both my host machine and my VM to macOS 14.0 Sonoma today and that has resolved the freezing issue when scrolling. The scrolling can be a bit choppy still, but no freezes any more.
    Given that, I can only guess that this is caused by a bug in Apples VirtulizationFramework and not Parallels itself.
     
    NiallN, Sep 27, 2023
    #13
  15. Pramesh Boodadoo

    Pramesh Boodadoo Team Manager Staff Member

    Messages:
    620
    Hello @ToryF ,
    Please note, we have created a case to further investigate the issue that you are facing with reference 43****7.
    We have requested some additional information for further investigation through your email.
    Thank you.
     
    Pramesh Boodadoo, Sep 29, 2023
    #14
  16. ClaudioR2

    ClaudioR2 Bit poster

    Messages:
    1
    Hi. I'm using parallels for Mac Pro Ver 19.1.0 (54729) with a Windows 7 VM. After upgrading to Sonoma 14.1, the VM does not work or works extremely slow. It freezes all time.
    Any help??

    Thanks!!
     
    ClaudioR2, Oct 31, 2023
    #15
  17. PatrickH29

    PatrickH29 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    Hi,
    I'm absolutely shocked by Parallels. There is literally no progress on this topic. This problem exist for months and no updates.
    How can such a major issue not been solved in time. The Parallels software is unusable for me.
    I've only chosen to switch to Parallels as they're officially support Windows 11 on Mac ARM and they're recommended my Microsoft.
    The update and release cycle of Parallels is crazy: Only one minor and one patch version after the release of version 19 in August 2023: https://kb.parallels.com/en/129860
    Is there anything we can do to speedup the progress to solve the issue?
    Thanks
    Patrick
     
    PatrickH29, Nov 22, 2023
    #16
  18. PatrickH29

    PatrickH29 Bit poster

    Messages:
    3
    PatrickH29, Nov 22, 2023
    #17
  19. FrancescoC8

    FrancescoC8 Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Hi, I have the exact same issue with Mac OS VMs on my M1 Ultra. I rely on this for my daily work and it has become UNUSABLE.
    Please provide an update on this ASAP. it is negatively affecting my work.
    Thanks
     
    FrancescoC8, Feb 23, 2024
    #18
  20. Wiktorl

    Wiktorl

    Messages:
    1
    Hi, I have similar problem. MacBook Pro Apple M1 Pro, Mac OS X Sonoma 14.3.1, guest Windows 11. When I run Parallels Desktop Mac freezes randomly (every few minutes) for few seconds- mouse cursor change into waiting. When I write on keyboard and have some key pressed when it happens the key is repeated several dozens times.
     
    Wiktorl, Mar 1, 2024
    #19
    ParallelsU842 likes this.
  21. FrancescoC8

    FrancescoC8 Bit poster

    Messages:
    2
    Has anyone solved it? I opened a ticket citing this very discussion and they are asking me if it freezes during BOOT o afterwards... haven't even READ IT. :(
     
    FrancescoC8, Mar 7, 2024
    #20
Page 1 of 4

Share This Page