With the update to version 20.3, Parallels Desktop for Mac receives significant improvements that should particularly appeal to developers, streamers and IT professionals. The update not only brings stability and security optimizations, but also significantly expands the functionality of virtual machines on Apple Silicon devices.
- USB device support for macOS VMs on Apple Silicon
- OBS virtual cam integration in Windows VMs
- Optimizations for Linux VMs with the latest kernel
- Bug fixes for snapshot restores and coherence mode
Improved hardware integration and streaming features
A highlight of the update is the new support for USB devices in macOS virtual machines on Apple Silicon Macs. Previously, it was not possible to use USB hardware such as security keys or debugging tools in such VMs. Thanks to adjustments in macOS Sequoia 15 and Parallels Desktop 20.3, USB devices can now be recognized and used in macOS VMs on Apple Silicon Macs for the first time.
For content creators and streamers, the integration of the OBS Virtual Cam into Windows VMs offers new possibilities. Users can now use their OBS feeds directly in Windows applications such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which significantly improves the quality and flexibility of live streams on the Mac.
Stability improvements and extended compatibility
Parallels Desktop 20.3 addresses several stability issues and expands compatibility with various operating systems. A bug has been fixed that caused the suspended state of a virtual machine to be reset when upgrading to version 20.2.0 or later. In addition, problems with restoring snapshots in macOS VMs on Apple Silicon devices after configuration changes have been resolved.
For Linux users, improvements have been implemented to increase compatibility with current kernel versions. The switch to the FUSE API for shared folders in Linux VMs improves stability and significantly increases performance when accessing shared directories.
Conclusion: A solid update for professional users
Parallels Desktop 20.3 offers useful enhancements for users who want to virtualize different operating systems on their Mac. The new features improve the integration of hardware and streaming tools, while the fixed bugs increase stability and reliability. The update is available immediately for all editions of Parallels Desktop 20
