Parallels Desktop Help - Start Windows

Start Windows

To use Windows applications on your Mac, your Windows virtual machine must be running.

The simplest way to start Windows is to open a Windows application. If Windows isn't already running when you open a Windows application, it starts automatically in Coherence mode.

Note: Coherence mode is not available in the App Store edition. For more information on the differences between the Standard and App Store editions, follow this link.

Important: If Windows was previously shut down, you may need to enter your Windows password.

You can also start Windows by doing the following:

Open Parallels Desktop.
In Control Center, double-click on the Windows virtual machine.

Note: The Control Center lists all virtual machines that are registered in Parallels Desktop. If a virtual machine is stored on an external drive and it's not connected to your Mac, the virtual machine icon is displayed as a question mark (?). To start such a virtual machine, connect the external disk to the Mac.
Click anywhere in the Windows window that appears.

Windows starts and you can begin using Windows applications alongside macOS.

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Open a Windows Application