Parallels Desktop Quit? Fix It Fast

If Parallels Desktop quits unexpectedly or won’t open on your Mac, the fix is usually a simple reset of the app’s preferences or a permissions repair. This article explains the most common causes and walks you through the exact steps to get Parallels running again, whether it crashes on launch, during a Windows session, or when you try to open a virtual machine.

Why Parallels Desktop Quits

Parallels Desktop is a virtualisation app that lets you run Windows and other operating systems alongside macOS. When it quits, the reason is almost always one of these four things:

• Corrupted preferences or cache – the most common cause, often after a macOS or Parallels update.
• Outdated Parallels version – an incompatibility with your current macOS version.
• Insufficient disk space or memory – Parallels needs a few GB free to run virtual machines comfortably.
• Permission or security issues – macOS may block Parallels from accessing files or network resources.

First Steps: Restart and Update

Before diving into deeper fixes, do the basics. Restart your Mac, then launch Parallels again. If it still quits, check for updates:

1. Open Parallels Desktop. If it launches at all, go to the Parallels Desktop menu in the top-left and select Check for Updates.
2. If it won’t open, download the latest version from the official Parallels website and install it over your current copy.
3. Also check that your Mac has enough free disk space – at least 10–15 GB is a safe amount for Parallels and its virtual machines.

Reset Parallels Preferences

If updates don’t help, corrupted preference files are the next suspect. Resetting them is safe – it only resets the app’s settings, not your virtual machines.

1. Quit Parallels Desktop completely (right-click the icon in the Dock, choose Quit).
2. Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and go to ~/Library/Preferences.
3. Look for files starting with com.parallels. Move them to the Desktop (don’t delete them yet).
4. Relaunch Parallels. It will recreate default preferences.
5. If everything works, you can delete the old preference files. If not, move them back.

Repair Permissions and Reset Network

macOS sometimes blocks Parallels from accessing network or disk resources. This can cause random quits, especially when starting a virtual machine.

1. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) and open Privacy & Security.
2. Check Full Disk Access and Files and Folders – make sure Parallels Desktop is listed and enabled.
3. If you see Parallels in the Network section, ensure it’s allowed.
4. In Parallels, go to Parallels Desktop > Preferences > Network and click Restore Defaults.

Reinstall Parallels Desktop

If the above steps don’t fix the quits, a clean reinstall is the next step. This will not delete your virtual machines – they are stored separately, usually in ~/Parallels.

1. Quit Parallels and drag the app from Applications to the Trash.
2. Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G, and go to ~/Library. Delete the Parallels folder (this contains preferences, not your VMs).
3. Also delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels files if they remain.
4. Download the latest Parallels Desktop from the official site and install it.
5. When you launch it, it will automatically find your existing virtual machines in ~/Parallels.

What If a Specific Virtual Machine Quits?

If Parallels itself stays open but a particular Windows VM quits or crashes, the problem is usually inside that VM, not the app.

• Try starting the VM in Safe Mode: hold Shift while clicking the Power button in Parallels.
• If the VM won’t start at all, right-click it in the Parallels Control Center and choose Show in Finder. Then right-click the .pvm file and select Show Package Contents. Look for a file named config.pvs – back it up, then delete it. This resets the VM’s hardware settings (not your data).
• If the VM was created on a different Mac, make sure you have the latest Parallels Tools installed inside the VM (from the Actions menu).

Preventing Future Quits

Once Parallels is stable, a few habits will keep it that way:

• Always install Parallels updates promptly – they fix bugs and add macOS compatibility.
• Keep at least 15% of your disk free. Parallels uses disk space for VM snapshots and swap files.
• If you use many VMs, consider increasing your Mac’s RAM. Parallels needs at least 4 GB free for a single Windows VM to run smoothly.
• Don’t force-quit Parallels while a VM is running – use the Shut Down option in Windows instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting preferences delete my virtual machines?

No. Preferences are separate from your VMs, which live in ~/Parallels. Resetting preferences only affects app settings like window layout and network options.

Why does Parallels quit when I start Windows?

This is often a network permission issue or a corrupted VM configuration. Try the network reset and the config.pvs deletion steps above. If the VM was moved from another Mac, reinstall Parallels Tools inside the VM.

Can I use Parallels without a subscription?

Parallels Desktop is paid software. There is no free version, but you can download a free 14-day trial from the official website. After that, you need a license to continue using it.

Why does Parallels quit after a macOS update?

macOS updates can change security and permission settings that Parallels relies on. Always update Parallels to the latest version before or immediately after updating macOS. If it still quits, reset permissions as described above.

My Mac is low on RAM – will that cause quits?

Yes. Parallels needs a few GB of free RAM to run a VM. If your Mac is low on memory, the system may force-quit Parallels. Close other apps or reduce the RAM allocated to the VM in Parallels settings.

Is there a way to recover a VM if Parallels keeps quitting?

Yes. Your VM files are safe in ~/Parallels. Even if the app crashes, you can copy that folder to another Mac with Parallels and open it there. You can also right-click the .pvm file and choose Show Package Contents to access the virtual disk directly.

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