Skip to Content

Got a tip for us?Let us know

a. Send us an email
b. Anonymous form

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

Wednesday August 19, 2015 5:20 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

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 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.

maxresdefault

What’s New in Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac Parallels

Watch on YouTube

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.

Tags: Cortana, Microsoft, Parallels 11, Windows 10

Related Forum: OS X El Capitan

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone Duo optimized apps Zoom Feature

Zoom and These Microsoft Apps Now Optimized for iPhone Duo

Monday November 2, 2026 6:14 am PST by Joe Rossignol

Over the weekend, the video calling app Zoom was updated with iPhone Duo optimization. On the device's large inner display, users can now see shared content such as the host's desktop and other participants on a call at the same time. In addition, four Microsoft apps were updated with iPhone Duo optimization today: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. Microsoft Outlook was already optimized ...

• 28 comments

Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry

Friday October 30, 2026 7:58 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple faces Russian data retention and disclosure requirements after being added to the country's state surveillance registry, Bloomberg reports. Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, listed Apple and Microsoft on October 2 as "organizers of information dissemination," a classification that carries obligations to preserve communications and make data available to Russian security...

• 113 comments

Apple Launching Five New Products Today

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:59 am PST by Tim Hardwick

Apple is launching five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from today: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...

• 27 comments

Top Rated Comments

147 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)

147 months ago

I'll pass. VMware Fusion for me.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

147 months ago

Sweet, the yearly Parallels fee.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

147 months ago

Thieves. The full price is OK, but upgrades need to be cheaper.

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

147 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)

147 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)

Read All Comments

Latest Stories

Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year

Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28

Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More

'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo

Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More

More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try

Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro

Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California

Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro

Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad

Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing

Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More

The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update

Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More

Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week

MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount

Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year

Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season

Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design

OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today

Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera

Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers

Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking

Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27

Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has

iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart

First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available

Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record

Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature

Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac