Parallels Desktop 13.1 Update Brings APFS and HEVC Support in macOS High Sierra - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Parallels Desktop 13.1 Update Brings APFS and HEVC Support in macOS High Sierra

by

Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac received an update on Thursday to include full compatibility with the new Apple File System (APFS) and HEVC video standard included in macOS High Sierra.

With APFS support, Parallels Desktop 13.1 can take advantage of Apple's cross-platform replacement for HFS+, bringing more security and better performance on devices with flash memory.

upgrade beauty picture in picture
New HEVC video support means the virtualization software will be able to benefit from more efficient compression of video files and smoother playback. You can learn more about Apple's new HEVC video codec here.

Elsewhere, there are a host of stability and performance fixes, as listed in Parallels' knowledge database update summary. They include the following:

  • Enables the user to create a new Boot Camp® virtual machine on a Mac® with macOS® High Sierra.
    Enables the user to install a High Sierra virtual machine from the Recovery partition on their High Sierra Mac.
  • Resolves an issue with some Windows shortcuts not working (for example, "Control+Shift+"+"/"-" in Microsoft Excel).
  • Resolves an issue with installing Parallels Tools on Windows XP (Note: Parallels Tools are used for Windows and macOS integration. Do not confuse them with Parallels® Toolbox.)
  • Resolves an issue with Windows not starting when opening a file associated with a Windows application on macOS.
  • Resolves an issue with crashes of BIMcollab ZOOM and TopSolid CAD.
  • Resolves an issue with Zoom In and Zoom Out in APEX 3.
  • Resolves an issue with “Sending as Attachment” not working for Windows files and Mac email client after suspending and resuming a Windows virtual machine.
  • Resolves an issue with OneDrive for Business not shared with macOS, even if that option is enabled.
  • Resolves an issue with Microsoft Windows Start menu not appearing when clicking the Windows icon if Dock auto-hide is enabled.
  • Resolves an issue with copying Windows files to Mac.
  • Resolves an issue with TeamViewer camera not working.
  • Resolves an issue with maximizing Windows applications in Coherence mode.
  • Resolves an issue with installing a macOS older than Mac OS X® Mavericks 10.9 in the virtual machine from the installation image.
  • Resolves an issue with macOS not going to sleep when there is a virtual machine in Coherence mode.

To download the latest update, users can click the Parallels Desktop menu and select Check for Updates.

Parallels Desktop 13 for Mac costs $79.99 for a new license. Existing users of Parallels Desktop for Home and Student can upgrade to V13 for $49.99, with a time-limited offer enabling users of the Desktop Pro Edition to upgrade for the same price (usually $99.99). For more pricing details, see the Parallels website.

Related Forum: macOS High Sierra

Top Rated Comments

112 months ago
Parallels is literally the worst... Instead of just providing consistent updates to their product they decide that you need to buy a new version each year, and they deliberately introduce bugs that push people to do so. Despicable...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
v1597psh Avatar
112 months ago
They still haven't fixed video artefacts ('http://kb.parallels.com/uk/123840') when switching desktop spaces in Full Screen mode which is really annoying after I upgraded to High Sierra. Maybe it's an issue with High Sierra itself.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

microsoft surface laptop 5g

Microsoft Raises Prices for All Surface PCs, Making Them More Expensive Than Equivalent Macs

Tuesday April 14, 2026 4:21 pm PDT by
Microsoft increased prices for all of its Surface PCs this week, with most models priced hundreds of dollars higher than they were when launching. Windows Central highlighted the increases, which now see Microsoft's mid-range models priced above $1,000 and flagship models priced starting at $1,500. A Microsoft spokesperson said the price increase was due to "recent increases in memory and...
MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features

Friday April 24, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
While the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the higher-end MacBook Pro models will be receiving a major redesign by early 2027, and he said that Apple might use "MacBook Ultra" branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely be a...
Apple TV Thumb 3

Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:08 pm PDT by
There are a lot of folks waiting for a new version of the Apple TV because the set-top box hasn't been updated since 2022. There is an update coming this year, but people will need to wait a bit longer because Apple is holding the next Apple TV until the new version of Siri comes out this fall. Design Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing in 2026. The next...