With Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can use Windows that you set up earlier using VMware Fusion, Microsoft Virtual PC, and Virtualbox. The instructions are pretty straightforward but pay attention to the prerequisites.
Note: Parallels Desktop doesn't support the import of third-party virtual machines on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
Prerequisites
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Due to architecture differences, there is no possibility to convert VMWare virtual machine into Parallels Desktop from Intel-based Mac to a Mac with Apple M-series chip.
- Make sure you have deleted previous tools from your virtual machine (old Parallels Tools or VMware tools, etc.)
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Fully shut down your virtual machine prior the migration - do not suspend the virtual machine, and do not put it in hibernate mode.
Migrate the virtual machine
1. Open Parallels Desktop and select File > Open on menubar.
2. Select the Windows data file you want to import, then click Open.
Note: You can also simply drag a Parallels .pvm file to the list of the Parallels Virtual Machines (Control Center) to add it to Parallels Desktop.
- Parallels Desktop data files end with .pvm.
- VMware files end with .vm (.vmx for older versions).
- Virtual PC files end with .vmc.
- VirtualBox files end with .xml or .vbox.
3. Start Windows.
4. Select Actions > Install Parallels Tools and follow the onscreen instructions.
Note: If you cannot convert a VMware virtual machine to Parallels Desktop and get the error message below, we advise you to check the solution outlined in this article: KB 112419.
Error 41300: Failed to convert the virtual machine
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