Running Windows 11 through Parallels Desktop can provide a smooth experience, but sometimes a virtual machine may become slow or less responsive. There are several settings and checks that can help improve its performance.
Check CPU and Memory Allocation
The amount of CPU and RAM assigned to the virtual machine can have a significant effect on performance.
In Parallels Desktop, shut down the Windows virtual machine and open:
Actions > Configure > Hardware > CPU & Memory
Parallels normally provides recommended settings automatically. Assigning too many resources to Windows can actually reduce performance because macOS also needs enough resources to operate properly.
Keep Enough Free Storage
Low storage space on the Mac can affect the performance of both macOS and the Windows virtual machine.
It is useful to regularly remove unnecessary files and make sure there is enough free space available on the Mac's main storage drive.
Keep Parallels Desktop Updated
Performance problems can sometimes be related to software bugs or compatibility issues. Checking for updates ensures that you are using the latest available build of your Parallels Desktop version.
You can normally check this from:
Parallels Desktop > Check for Updates
Close Unnecessary Applications
Running many applications on both Windows and macOS at the same time can increase CPU and memory usage.
If the virtual machine becomes slow, try closing programs that are not currently needed on both operating systems.
Check Windows Task Manager
Sometimes the performance problem may actually be caused by a Windows application rather than Parallels itself.
Open Task Manager in Windows and check CPU, Memory and Disk usage. If one application is consuming an unusually high amount of resources, it may be responsible for the slowdown.
Use the Appropriate Configuration
Different users run Windows for different purposes. Someone using Microsoft Office may require fewer resources than someone using development tools, graphics applications or other demanding software.
It is therefore better to configure the virtual machine according to the workload rather than simply assigning the maximum possible CPU and RAM.
Final Thoughts
Good Parallels performance depends on balancing resources between macOS and the Windows virtual machine. Checking CPU and memory allocation, available storage, running applications and software updates can help resolve many common performance problems.
What settings have worked best for improving Windows 11 performance in Parallels Desktop on your Mac?
Check CPU and Memory Allocation
The amount of CPU and RAM assigned to the virtual machine can have a significant effect on performance.
In Parallels Desktop, shut down the Windows virtual machine and open:
Actions > Configure > Hardware > CPU & Memory
Parallels normally provides recommended settings automatically. Assigning too many resources to Windows can actually reduce performance because macOS also needs enough resources to operate properly.
Keep Enough Free Storage
Low storage space on the Mac can affect the performance of both macOS and the Windows virtual machine.
It is useful to regularly remove unnecessary files and make sure there is enough free space available on the Mac's main storage drive.
Keep Parallels Desktop Updated
Performance problems can sometimes be related to software bugs or compatibility issues. Checking for updates ensures that you are using the latest available build of your Parallels Desktop version.
You can normally check this from:
Parallels Desktop > Check for Updates
Close Unnecessary Applications
Running many applications on both Windows and macOS at the same time can increase CPU and memory usage.
If the virtual machine becomes slow, try closing programs that are not currently needed on both operating systems.
Check Windows Task Manager
Sometimes the performance problem may actually be caused by a Windows application rather than Parallels itself.
Open Task Manager in Windows and check CPU, Memory and Disk usage. If one application is consuming an unusually high amount of resources, it may be responsible for the slowdown.
Use the Appropriate Configuration
Different users run Windows for different purposes. Someone using Microsoft Office may require fewer resources than someone using development tools, graphics applications or other demanding software.
It is therefore better to configure the virtual machine according to the workload rather than simply assigning the maximum possible CPU and RAM.
Final Thoughts
Good Parallels performance depends on balancing resources between macOS and the Windows virtual machine. Checking CPU and memory allocation, available storage, running applications and software updates can help resolve many common performance problems.
What settings have worked best for improving Windows 11 performance in Parallels Desktop on your Mac?