Parallels Desktop has released version 20.3, which includes significant updates aimed at improving the experience of running Linux virtual machines (VMs) on macOS. This software allows macOS users to run various operating systems, including Windows and Linux distributions, within virtual environments.
Many developers prefer using Linux VMs as they often face restrictions with company devices or prefer the stability of macOS while still needing Linux capabilities. Parallels is particularly useful for those on Apple Silicon, where it enables the operation of Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.
The key updates in Parallels Desktop 20.3 include:
- A fix for issues affecting installations of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
- Resolution of freezing problems for Linux VMs after installing Parallels Tools.
- Successful installation of Parallels Tools on Fedora 40/41 and CentOS 9/10.
- OpenSUSE Leap 15.6 can now be installed without any issues.
- Fixes for drag-and-drop functionality between CentOS 9 and Ubuntu guests.
Although Parallels does not explicitly support Ubuntu 25.04 as of now, it works similarly to versions 24.10 and 24.04 LTS, with a caveat that sharing folders from the host to the guest is currently not functional—work is in progress to resolve this.
For those using Parallels Desktop on Apple Silicon, notable improvements include enhanced x86-64 emulation for newer distributions and successful reverting to snapshots of x86-64 Linux VMs.
Overall, this update not only enhances stability and performance for Linux guests but also introduces various general fixes that contribute to a better overall user experience with Parallels.
For complete details, users can refer to the full changelog on the Parallels website support page.