PSA: Version 26.2.0 (57363) on Apple Silicon Breaks Input on "Other OS" VMs

S

SaulB1

recently upgraded my instance of Parallels to version 26.2.0 (57363) and instantly regretted it. I have a FreeBSD 14.2 virtual machine configured as "Other" OS that started kernel panicking on every boot. The worst part is, I've heard that this is usually resolved by updating the operating system, but I can't even navigate the BIOS/UEFI screens because the virtual machine receives NO keyboard input no mater what I do. My Linux VM and Windows VM are unaffected.

I tried running the FreeBSD 15.0 netboot isntaller and that didn't make a difference. I tried removing as much hardware from the VM as I could, and no difference. Even just attaching a boot cd with no network devices and no printer sharing, I still can't get any input in the UEFI/BIOS screen.

When I recreated the VM and marked it as 'Other Linux", I get input in the BIOS/UEFI screen, but it can't initialize the graphics card.
I had to open a support ticket and the chat agent helped me downgrade to 26.1.2 (57293)
 
Just wanted to share in case anyone else is experiencing the same issue! Rreach out to support or use an older installer to fix it.
 
SaulB1 said:
Just wanted to share in case anyone else is experiencing the same issue! Rreach out to support or use an older installer to fix it.
Click to expand...
That is only a mitigation to get you back up and running and not a fix for the problem. They need to fix this issue quickly in order to properly resolve the problem.
 
According to the pre-ticket chat bot, Parallels 26.2.0 has dropped support for FreeBSD.
Apparently in a scorched earth way that not merely drops support for it, but rather explicitly prevents it.
LyNJzgh.png


I can confirm that downgrading to version 26.1.2-57293 allows FreeBSD to run. But you may have to find it on your own, as the "Download Parallels Desktop" link only allows selecting by major version. Not minor.
 
Will Dormann said:
According to the pre-ticket chat bot, Parallels 26.2.0 has dropped support for FreeBSD.
Apparently in a scorched earth way that not merely drops support for it, but rather explicitly prevents it.
LyNJzgh.png


I can confirm that downgrading to version 26.1.2-57293 allows FreeBSD to run. But you may have to find it on your own, as the "Download Parallels Desktop" link only allows selecting by major version. Not minor.
Click to expand...
Hmm, sounds like Parallels does not want a premium virtualization solution after all. FreeBSD is far superior to every Linux distribution. Parallels needs to fully support FreeBSD.
 
AndrewT47 said:
Using the "Other Linux" machine type works, the "Other" type is broken in 26.2.1 in a way that interrupts could never work.
Click to expand...
Thank you for testing, that is just strange that it works as FreeBSD is better than Linux and is not Linux. Of course some people believe that macOS is a derivative of Linux.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ah, interesting!
Selecting "Other Linux" does indeed allow the keyboard to work at the boot menu.
However, it seems that once the display mode changes in the FreeBSD 15 installation ISO, nothing is displayed on the screen. Even with the 3D options disabled in the VM settings.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 11.34.48 AM.png
    Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 11.34.48 AM.png
    755.6 KB · Views: 4
But, it seems that if you edit the config.pvs file for the VM and change <Type>1</Type> to <Type>0</Type>, it works.
Not sure if this is exposed anywhere with the Parallels GUI, or perhaps if you get it from another VM OS preset (I've only tested a few).
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 11.40.21 AM.png
    Screenshot 2026-01-26 at 11.40.21 AM.png
    527.3 KB · Views: 3
The only <Type>1</Type> that I found in the file was for the network adapter. Changing it from 1 to 0, makes the virtual machine not compatible.
upload_2026-1-28_9-43-58.png
I also tried the other suggestion of making it another Linux, but it did not work either.
 
The problem isn't that FreeBSD support was dropped, it's that Parallels accidentally broke the "Other" preset for guest OS type. If you want to be able to install FreeBSD, you should:
1. Select "Other Linux" as the OS type at VM creation time
2. In the config.pvs for the VM, go to the <Video...> section of the file and change <Type>1</Type> to <Type>0</Type>

If you want to edit an existing FreeBSD VM that was created as "Other" type and have it work in the current Parallels version, in the config.pvs file for the VM:
1. Change <OsType>255</OsType> to <OsType>9</OsType>
2. Change <OsNumber>65535</OsNumber> to <OsNumber>2559</OsNumber>
3. Go to the <Video...> section of the file ensure that it has <Type>0</Type> to ensure that the video works in the VM
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-01-30 at 9.41.06 AM.png
    Screenshot 2026-01-30 at 9.41.06 AM.png
    106.7 KB · Views: 3
The most recent 16-CURRENT snapshot should work with "Other Linux" out of the box without changing the video type. I found a workaround for the virtio GPU driver under Parallels Desktop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top