New app-centric experience gives IT a simpler way to deliver essential Windows applications to Mac users without deploying a full Windows desktop
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parallels, a global leading provider in cross-platform and virtualization solutions, today announced a new app-centric experience for Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition that helps organizations address one of the persistent challenges of expanding Mac adoption: giving employees access to the Windows applications they still need.
As Mac adoption grows across the enterprise, organizations do not necessarily have to choose between Mac and Windows, replace established applications, or maintain separate devices for employees who depend on Windows software. Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition now gives IT teams a streamlined way to deliver supported Windows applications directly to Mac users through their existing Mac device management (MDM) workflows.
IT deploys the supported Windows application through its Mac MDM, while Parallels Desktop manages the required Windows environment and application installation behind the scenes. Users launch and work with the application directly from their Mac, without seeing or navigating the underlying Windows desktop or virtual machine (VM).
"More employees want to work on Mac, and the economics are making Mac an increasingly compelling choice for businesses. But for many organizations, the applications they depend on are still built for Windows, creating an app gap that can stand in the way of giving employees the devices they want," said Christa Quarles, CEO of Parallels. "Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition makes that app gap go away, giving employees the freedom to choose Mac without losing access to the Windows applications they need to do their jobs."
Two ways to support Windows applications on Mac
The new experience gives IT greater flexibility to match how Windows is delivered to what each user actually needs.
For employees who only need specific supported Windows applications, IT can now start with the app rather than preparing and deploying a complete Windows environment. The application is packaged as a macOS app and distributed through the organization's existing Mac MDM. Parallels Desktop handles the required Windows environment behind the scenes, reducing the steps between an application request and the employee's first launch.
For users who need a complete Windows environment or greater configuration flexibility, IT can continue to deploy and manage full Windows VMs. Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition also supports deployment of Linux and macOS virtual environments.
The result is not a replacement for VM-based deployment, but another option for IT. Organizations can use the app-centric experience when employees simply need access to specific Windows applications and deploy a complete virtual environment when the use case demands it.
A Mac experience for Windows-dependent applications
The new app-centric experience builds on Parallels Desktop's Coherence technology to further abstract the Windows environment from the user. Employees see and launch the assigned application on their Mac rather than working through a separate Windows desktop.
Enhanced security controls enable IT to keep the underlying Windows environment hidden and restricted, limiting users to the applications assigned to them. IT can manage app assignment and deployment through existing Mac workflows while Parallels Desktop manages the Windows environment required to run those applications.
This approach can help organizations extend Mac to more employees and departments without requiring every Windows-dependent workflow to be replaced first. It can also reduce the need to issue or maintain a separate Windows device simply because an employee relies on a specific Windows application.
Support for commonly used Windows applications
At launch, the new app-centric experience supports a collection of preconfigured Windows applications and two security tools* across business, healthcare, financial services, engineering, communications and productivity use cases.
Supported applications include Adobe Acrobat, Bloomberg Terminal, Bluebeam Revu, Dragon Medical One, Microsoft Teams, Power BI Desktop, Microsoft Office applications, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Access, Google Chrome and Genesys Cloud. Supported security tools include Sysmon and Nxlog. Customers may request support for additional applications through the Parallels Desktop Management Portal, subject to evaluation by Parallels.
Trial and availability
The new app-centric experience will be available exclusively with Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition beginning November 3, 2026.
Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition can be purchased or upgraded at www.parallels.com/products/desktop/enterprise/ or through authorized resellers worldwide.
For more information about Parallels products, to download a free trial, or to purchase a subscription, visit www.parallels.com.
*Customers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining valid licenses for Microsoft Windows and all third-party applications. Parallels is not affiliated with the publishers of the listed applications. Inclusion of an application does not imply endorsement or certification by its publisher.
About Parallels
Parallels is a global leading brand in cross-platform solutions that make it simple for businesses and individuals to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. Parallels helps customers leverage the best technology out there, whether it's Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, iOS, Android, or the cloud. Parallels solves complex engineering and user-experience problems by making it simple and cost-effective for businesses and individual customers to use applications anywhere, anytime. For more information, visit www.parallels.com.
© 2026 Parallels International GmbH. All rights reserved. Parallels is a trademark or registered trademark of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the United States and/or elsewhere. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc. Android, Google Chrome and ChromeOS are trademarks of Google LLC. Windows, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Project, Power BI and Microsoft Access are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license. Linus is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. For all notices and legal information, visit www.parallels.com/about/legal/.
Ashley Ruess ashley.ruess@parallels.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/971ff895-c699-4786-8061-e6452a0070f2
