Question

• How can I change a serial number of my virtual machine?

Answer

NOTE: This feature is available only in Parallels Desktop Pro and Parallels Desktop Business editions.

Find the current serial number

First of all, we need to find the current serial number of your virtual machine.

To find it, do the following:

macOS\OS X virtual machine

Open Terminal on macOS\OS X virtual machine > execute the command:

    ioreg -l | grep IOPlatformSerialNumber

On macOS\OS X virtual machines serial number is usually presented in a 12-capital letters format.

Here's the example:

Windows virtual machine

Open Command Prompt on Windows virtual machine > execute the command:

    wmic bios get serialnumber

On Windows virtual machines serial number usually has UUID of your VM.

Here's the example:

Linux virtual machine

Open Terminal on Linux virtual machine > execute the command (with quotes):

    dmidecode | grep "Serial Number"

On Linux VMs as on Windows virtual machines serial number usually also has UUID of your VM.

Here's the example:

Change the serial number

Changing serial number using Boot flag

• Set the Boot flag:

  Go to virtual machine configuration > Hardware > Boot Order > Advanced settings > in Boot flags field paste the flag below alongside with a new serial number next:

      devices.smbios.serial=
  

  Here's an example:

  

          Start your virtual machine and check:

Changing serial number by editing configuration file (more complicated):

• Edit config.pvs file:

  Right-click on the virtual machine in Control Center > choose Show in Finder > right-click on .pvm file with the name of your virtual machine > select Show Package Contents > open config.pvs file with TextEdit.app > in text editor press CMD + F to show search bar > in search bar type: "SerialNumber" without quotes > it will take you to the exact string we need. Paste the required serial number.

          Here's an example:

• 

  Start your virtual machine and check: