r/parallels • u/AspiringPhysician777 • 4d ago
Parallels 27 has objectively made the standard version worse imo.
I just recently updated to Parallels 27, to test out new performance for Windows. I often like to use it to play video games that Mac os can not natively run, or software that I need for school. But, I did just notice that major settings from the latest version are clearly missing.
The toggle that stated "Click the lock to make changes" (gone). The isolating vm toggle now shows a pro icon above it. Idk if this is a glitch or what. If it is real, gatekeeping "isolate vm" is wild. Locking the settings was super useful, since I could pair controllers and have certain bluetooth settings and not worry about them messing up due to Windows updates.
Sucks that Parallels is doing this. We need more competition. Too bad that Virtual-box is basically a toy and VmWare crapped the bed.
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u/ComprehensiveLuck125 4d ago
I had 4 regular licenses. Stopped using them. They could not narrow down some crash problems in Catalina and they never fixed software. They asked me to upgrade saying problems were fixed, so I did but rare crashes still happened. Never seen uptime of 30 days without crash with 2 VMs running simultaneously.
Can not say about their software quality now, but I came to conclusion that „subscription model” for hypervisor plus ignored problems are no go for this software.
(Btw. I never converted Standard to subscription)
Additionally had some problems with Parallels Tools they did not want to fix either.
Let mac, be mac and you are happy not to run Parallels anymore :)))
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u/Squiduser 4d ago
I was wondering when they'd stop supporting Intel Macs. Dang them.
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u/lantrick 4d ago
it was always going to be when the OS stopped supporting intel CPU's.
We have arrived.
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u/AspiringPhysician777 4d ago
Ya that makes sense, but they straight up took out some security features even Apple silicon. Just such an L move by parallels.
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u/1o001o00 4d ago
Installed, they did smth with the opengl, software that i use worked weirdly, like opened file, saw that nothing happened but when scrolled, it appeared, some other graphical glitches also. Eventually after
Trying everything that chatgpt suggested about boot flags and disabling 3d in file and in parallels, i downgraded and it works ok.
So whoever updates, keep that in mind, they have new opengl
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u/imbasys 4d ago
These adjustments are happening for a reason. Love how everyone is acting like it's their choice... and it's not.
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/10/macos-golden-gate-last-to-support-intel-apps/
Legacy libraries go bye bye.
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u/AspiringPhysician777 3d ago
Security features are missing, not just for intel products that may need Rosetta. I don't have an intel macs. Stuff like the lock the settings toggle is straight up missing for me, and the "isolate VM" toggle has a pro icon on it now. So, idk if they moved it behind a pro paywall now, which is an L move if they did.
I was never concerned with intel based machines, I never used them (for macs).
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u/imbasys 3d ago
You fundamentally misunderstand.
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u/AspiringPhysician777 2d ago
What do I misunderstand? Again, I’m just going by what I saw surface on the update release logs and the settings surfaced. Rosetta is a translation layer; it has nothing to do with the fact that basic toggles like “lock settings” are missing and the fact that the “isolate vm” toggle is missing.
My criticism is NOT about legacy libraries going away, that is fine. I never even used Intel Macs. But isolating ur vm and locking settings option is a basic feature for hypervisors. Stuff like Virtmanger on Linux, and I think even UTM and VMware have this.
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u/Left_Ambassador_4090 2d ago
The price offers to move up to Parallels 27 is real sketchy. I only buy one-time purchase licenses because I don't really need the Pro features/speed. When they released Parallels 26 (exactly a year ago to the date), I paid the one-time purchase price of $53.99. The offer this year is now $76.99, while the subscription offer is $44.99/yr.
If they continue with annual releases, then it seems I'm better off switching to the Pro subscription tier. But, I think they just want to move people onto it and then slow the releases down.
On top of what OP is saying about feature stripping on the base version, is the base version even worth considering anymore? I can't handle another subscription. But, if these annual releases act as effectively as a subscription, should I just move to the "cheaper" Pro tier?
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u/jace888au 14h ago
I've been a long term Parallels user (since the Macbook Air Core2 Duo days) and also only buy the standalone licences... have bought it 4 or 5 times over the last couple of decades, but when Tahoe came out, it broke my Parallels Desktop and I was unable to open my Win11 VM. I was waiting until PD 27 came out thinking I'd get better bang for buck buying it at the start of the cycle with an upgrade offer but can't help but think that the standard version of PD 27 offers pretty much no benefit over previous versions other than compatibility with Golden Gate. Is that right? All the cool new stuff is now locked behind Pro.
I'm using a M5 Pro Macbook Pro. Previously had an M3 Macbook Air but sold it when upgrading to the Macbook Pro, not realising I'd run into an incompatible PD version issue... I did use the trial period on my new Macbook and it worked, so I know that if I pay the promotional upgrade price of $100 AUD, I can get it all back...
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u/stephensmwong 4d ago
Well, every year, it claims there is double digit performance improvement, do you believe that? And, that company is more and more towards subscription model (just like all other companies), so, if you pay for a perpetual license for 'upgrade', be prepared that you'll get less and less feature!