Skip to Content

Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Released With Windows 10 and Cortana Support

Parallels today announced the release of Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac with dual support for OS X El Capitan, Windows 10 and always-on access to Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant Cortana. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition and Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition were also released for business customers, developers, designers and power users.

Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac
Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is virtualization software that enables users to use OS X El Capitan and Windows 10 side by side without rebooting, including full support for Windows and Mac apps. The software includes a setup assistant for switching from PC to Mac, one-click optimization settings, Linux and Google Chrome support, advanced security features and more.

The latest version of Parallels Desktop also features Quick Look for Windows documents, Travel Mode for temporarily shutting down resource-intensive services to extend battery life, location services in Windows apps and easy upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Performance improvements include up to 50% faster boot and shut down times, up to 15% longer battery life and up to 20% faster tasks.


Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is $79.99 with a free 14-day trial available, while customers with Parallels Desktop 9 or newer can upgrade for $49.99. Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Business Edition and Pro Edition both retail for $99.99 per year with faster 64GB virtual RAM / 16 vCPUs for each virtual machine and extended premium 24/7 phone and email support.

Related Forum: OS X El Capitan

Popular Stories

macbook air blue

What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

Thursday February 26, 2026 3:57 pm PST by
Along with the low-cost MacBook, Apple could introduce a refreshed version of the MacBook Air next week. Most of the focus will be on the new machine, but the MacBook Air is expected to get some useful internal updates. M5 Chip The next-generation MacBook Air will adopt the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came out last year. Apple's M5...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Teases 'A Big Week Ahead' With Announcements Starting Monday

Thursday February 26, 2026 6:06 am PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook today teased "a big week ahead," with announcements starting Monday. His post included an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac. Apple is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4, with up to five new products...
ipad mini 7 1

Could Apple's OLED iPad Mini Finally Be a Kindle Killer?

Friday February 27, 2026 12:08 pm PST by
With a similar screen size and easy, one-handed grip, the iPad mini has always been the Apple device that overlaps most with dedicated e-readers. Now, amid rumors pointing to an OLED display for the next generation, could the iPad mini finally replace devices such as the Kindle and Kobo? The shift from LCD to OLED could make the iPad mini far more appealing as a reading device. OLED panels...

Top Rated Comments

138 months ago
I always love people who want something for nothing. People who don't value the work of others. $49 to update a program as powerful as Parallels is chump change. If it is too much for you, you don't need Parallels. People are entitled to be paid for their labors.
Thank you Parallels Marketing Manager.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Steve121178 Avatar
138 months ago
I'll pass. VMware Fusion for me.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MuckSavage70 Avatar
138 months ago
Sweet, the yearly Parallels fee.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yaboze Avatar
138 months ago
Thieves. The full price is OK, but upgrades need to be cheaper.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
I guess at some point these guys are going to actually have to innovate on their own, now that Windows 10 is the "last version of Windows" to be released. All I can really remember since ~Parallels 5 is being compelled to upgrade for compatibility with the latest MS OS, not because there were any real features that I needed.
They just keep breaking parallels every time Apple update their OS. So, as long as Apple are giving us free updates, we'll have to keep paying the $50 parallels tax to use our windows only programs.

Happens every year - and yep, I'm sick of it too!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
Thieves. The full price is OK, but upgrades need to be cheaper.
I always love people who want something for nothing. People who don't value the work of others. $49 to update a program as powerful as Parallels is chump change. If it is too much for you, you don't need Parallels. People are entitled to be paid for their labors.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)