Parallels 16 for M1 Macs Gets Technical Preview 2 Update With New Features

Back in December, Parallels released a Parallels Desktop 16 for M1 Macs Technical Preview Program, which is designed to allow Parallels to run Windows on ‌M1‌ Macs.

mac mini macbook pro macbook air m1
Parallels today released a second Technical Preview, introducing new features and various improvements to the software for a better usage experience. The update adds support for suspending and resuming a virtual machine, improves stability, and more, with the full feature list below.

New features
- Added support for suspending and resuming a virtual machine.
- Support for installing Parallels Tools in the following Linux distributives: Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10.7 or later, and Fedora Workstation 33-1.2 or later.
- Compatible Linux installation images are now automatically detected in the Installation Assistant.

Improvements
- Improved overall stability.
- Resolved the issue with ARM-based Linux ISO images being recognized as Intel-based ones.
- Resolved the issue with missing sound when a virtual machine is created from a VHDX image.
- Resolved the issue with not being able to select an ISO image as an installation source when VHDX is specified in the drop-down menu.

Known issues
- During the Parallels Tools update, the virtual machine's screen may freeze for several minutes, please simply wait.

The Parallels software can run Windows using Microsoft's Arm-based version that's available through the Windows Insider program, but there's no publicly available version of Arm Windows that can be purchased.

There are also several limitations to the software. It is not possible to install or start an Intel x86 based operating system in a virtual machine, and ARM32 applications do not work.

Current release versions of Parallels are not able to run on ‌M1‌ Macs, so ‌M1‌ Mac owners who want to use the software will need to participate in the Technical Preview program.

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays

Friday January 16, 2026 7:07 pm PST by
Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest. A new iPad Air is...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Friday January 16, 2026 12:12 pm PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday January 18, 2026 3:51 pm PST by
iOS 27 is still many months away, but there are already plenty of rumors about new features that will be included in the software update. The first beta of iOS 27 will be released during WWDC 2026 in June, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense...

Top Rated Comments

Maconplasma Avatar
64 months ago

Parallels (Apple Silicone) = VirtualPC

What was old is new again?
Silicon and Silicone are two entirely different things. ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LavenderCaptain Avatar
64 months ago
Ahhhh, Connectix Virtual PC... The good old days, where my expensive PowerMac was soundly whooped by any budget PC...

... I think I still have the manuals and CDs somewhere, I should sell them on eBay :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mdw1 Avatar
64 months ago

worthless. APPLE gated community only on APPLE silicon

Thats why I'm sticking with Intel.

So your Video encodes 2 minutes faster on ARM.

BIG DEAL. Backwards compatibility and choices RULE.
Every damn laptop I have had before this M1 has been so hot while holding it on my stomach but this one doesn't get hot at all, NEVER go back to Intel.....
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikeyy00 Avatar
64 months ago
People like to **** on the M1.. but I'm frankly impressed that a Beta version of Parallels running an insider preview of Windows can play x86 games faster than my 2017 Macbook Pro running Windows via Bootcamp.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
64 months ago
I'm curious if Parallels could somehow negotiate with Microsoft themselves to be an OEM, and sell Windows ARM themselves and install automatically thru the interface, without having to get it externally.

Otherwise I think if that doesn't happen (or MS doesnt allow purchase of ARM separately), Parallels as a company is probably dead in a few years, once the old Intel Macs begin to be outdated.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TouchMint.com Avatar
64 months ago
I would love a full windows on m1 but maybe it’s just not possible. Arm windows does me no good.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)