Uninstall Parallels Desktop from Mac: Full Guide

This guide walks you through completely removing Parallels Desktop from your Mac, including the application, its virtual machines, and all related support files. You will need to have your Mac’s administrator password and, ideally, no other Parallels products running.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator account on your Mac
• Your Mac’s login password
• About 10–15 minutes of free time

Step-by-Step

1. Quit Parallels Desktop. If the Parallels icon is in the menu bar, click it and select “Quit.” Also, make sure no virtual machines are running. You can check by looking for the Parallels icon in the Dock – if it has a dot under it, it’s still open.
2. Back up your virtual machines (optional but recommended). If you have Windows or other OS files you want to keep, copy the entire virtual machine file (usually a .pvm file) from your Mac’s “~/Parallels” folder to an external drive. This step is not required for uninstalling, but it prevents data loss if you change your mind later.
3. Delete the Parallels Desktop application. Open the “Applications” folder in Finder. Find “Parallels Desktop.app” and drag it to the Trash. You may be asked for your administrator password. If the app is still running, you’ll get an error – make sure it’s fully quit.
4. Remove the Parallels folder in your home directory. In Finder, press Cmd+Shift+H to open your home folder. Look for a folder named “Parallels” (it contains your virtual machines and some settings). Drag it to the Trash. If you backed up your VMs, you can delete this folder entirely.
5. Delete the Parallels application support files. Click “Go” in the Finder menu bar, then “Go to Folder…” (or press Cmd+Shift+G). Enter each of the following paths one by one, and delete any Parallels-related items you find:
   – ~/Library/Application Support/Parallels
   – ~/Library/Preferences/Parallels
   – ~/Library/Logs/parallels
   – ~/Library/Caches/com.parallels.desktop
   – /Library/Application Support/Parallels (note: this is the system-wide folder, not in your home)
   – /Library/Preferences/Parallels
   – /Library/Logs/parallels
   – /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.parallels.* (any file starting with com.parallels)
   – /Library/LaunchAgents/com.parallels.*
   – /Library/Extensions/prl* (files like prl_hypervisor.kext)

   Be careful: only delete items that have “Parallels” or “parallels” in the name. Do not delete anything that looks like a system file.

6. Remove the Parallels menu bar and background items. Open “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” on older macOS), go to “General” > “Login Items & Extensions.” Under “Background Items,” look for any Parallels entries and remove them by selecting and clicking the minus button. Also, check “Login Items” for Parallels entries and remove them.
7. Empty the Trash. After you’ve moved all the files to the Trash, right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash.” This permanently deletes the files. You may need to enter your password.
8. Restart your Mac. This ensures that any background processes or kernel extensions are fully unloaded. After restarting, verify that no Parallels-related processes are running (you can check in Activity Monitor by searching “parallels”).

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to quit Parallels before deleting. If the app is still running, you’ll get a “file in use” error and the deletion will fail. Always quit first.
• Only deleting the .app file. This leaves behind virtual machines, preferences, and kernel extensions, which can cause conflicts if you reinstall later.
• Deleting the wrong “Parallels” folder. There is a system-wide folder at /Library/Application Support/Parallels and a user folder at ~/Library/Application Support/Parallels. Both should be removed, but don’t confuse them with other apps that have similar names.
• Not backing up VMs before deleting. If you have important data in a Windows VM, deleting the ~/Parallels folder will erase it permanently. Always back up first.
• Skipping the restart. Some kernel extensions may remain loaded until you reboot, and they can cause issues later.

Tips

• Use Finder’s “Go to Folder” feature to quickly navigate to hidden Library folders. It’s faster than manually browsing.
• Search for “Parallels” in Spotlight after you think you’ve removed everything. This can reveal leftover files you missed.
• Consider using a dedicated uninstaller if you are uncomfortable with manual deletion. However, note that many third-party uninstallers are not officially endorsed, so use them at your own risk.
• Keep your Windows license key if you plan to reinstall Parallels later. The license is tied to your Parallels account, not to the app itself.

Troubleshooting

“Parallels Desktop is still running” when trying to quit. Open Activity Monitor (in /Applications/Utilities), search for “parallels,” select any process with “parallels” in the name, and click the X button to force quit. Then try deleting again.

“The operation can’t be completed because the item is in use.” This usually means a background process is using a file. Make sure you’ve quit Parallels and any virtual machines. If the problem persists, restart your Mac in Safe Mode (hold Shift during boot) and try deleting again.

You cannot find some of the Library folders. The Library folder is hidden by default. Use “Go to Folder” (Cmd+Shift+G) and type the full path. If you still can’t see it, you may need to show hidden files by pressing Cmd+Shift+. (period) in Finder.

Parallels still appears in the menu bar after uninstall. This is likely a background item that wasn’t removed. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions, and remove any Parallels entries. If it still appears, restart your Mac.

You get a message that a kernel extension is required. After uninstalling, you may see a prompt about a system extension. This is normal; you can ignore it, but to fully remove it, you may need to restart and then delete the .kext file from /Library/Extensions if it still exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to uninstall Parallels before selling my Mac?
A: Yes, it’s recommended to completely uninstall Parallels to remove all personal data and virtual machines. Also, sign out of your Parallels account and deactivate the license if possible.

Q: Will uninstalling Parallels delete my Windows files?
A: Yes, if you delete the virtual machine files in ~/Parallels, they are gone. Back them up first if you want to keep them.

Q: Can I reinstall Parallels after uninstalling?
A: Yes, you can download it again from the official website. Your license key should still work if you have an active subscription or perpetual license.

Q: Is there a built-in uninstaller in Parallels Desktop?
A: Parallels Desktop does not include a dedicated uninstaller. Manual removal is the standard method.

Q: How long does it take to uninstall?
A: The process takes about 10-15 minutes, mostly due to locating and deleting files.

Q: What if I only want to remove one virtual machine, not the whole app?
A: You can simply delete the .pvm file from the ~/Parallels folder, or use Parallels Desktop’s “Delete” option in the Control Center. That removes just that VM.

Related

• DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal: Is It 22% Off?
• Search Man Pages: Command Line How-To
• Email Spam: When to Hire a Deliverability Consultant