Windows Licence Required — Sold Separately

Parallels Desktop 26 is the virtualization software — it provides the environment to run Windows, but does not include a Windows licence. A separate Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise licence is required to run Windows legally on your Mac. Windows 11 Home is not recommended as it lacks features required for smooth virtualization.

Windows 11 Pro licences are available separately at ITFactory.ca. Alternatively, if you already own a Windows licence, it can be used with Parallels Desktop.

Pro Edition — Subscription Only

Parallels Desktop 26 Pro is available as an annual subscription only — there is no perpetual licence option for the Pro Edition. The subscription includes all version updates during the active period, unlimited support, and access to the complete Pro feature set including Parallels Toolbox.

The Standard Edition is available as both an annual subscription and a perpetual one-time licence — also available at ITFactory.ca.

How to Activate Parallels Desktop 26

macOS Tahoe 26 + Windows 11 25H2 — Fully Optimized
Parallels Desktop 26 is built specifically for macOS Tahoe 26, with full support for Apple's new background process changes that affect how apps run. Windows 11 25H2 support is also included, with ongoing updates as Microsoft releases new Windows builds. New version numbering aligns with macOS — Parallels 26 is made for macOS 26.

Only Microsoft-Authorized Windows 11 Virtualization on Apple Silicon
Parallels Desktop is the only virtualization solution authorized by Microsoft to run Windows 11 in a virtualized environment on Apple Silicon Macs — providing confidence that the Windows installation is legally compliant and fully supported by both companies.

Coherence Mode — Windows Apps Feel Like Mac Apps
Coherence Mode removes the Windows desktop and taskbar entirely — Windows applications appear directly on your Mac desktop as if they were native Mac apps, with their own icons in the Dock. Switch between macOS and Windows apps without switching virtual machine windows. The most seamless way to run Windows on a Mac.

x86 Emulation Preview — Run Legacy Intel Windows Apps on Apple Silicon
A new preview feature allows Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) to run Intel x86 Windows applications that do not have native ARM versions — expanding compatibility with older Windows software, enterprise applications, and legacy tools that would otherwise be unavailable on Apple Silicon.

Apple Intelligence Writing Tools in Windows
Access Apple's AI Writing Tools — rewrite, proofread, and summarize — from inside Windows applications running in Parallels, bringing macOS AI capabilities directly into your Windows workflow without switching apps or operating systems.

Accurate Mac Disk Visibility in Windows
Windows VMs can now view the actual available disk space on the Mac host — preventing freezes, slowdowns, and installation failures caused by Windows not knowing how much space was truly available. A practical fix for a previously common frustration during large installations.

Seamless Copy-Paste, Drag-and-Drop, and File Sharing
Copy text, images, and files between macOS and Windows and drag files directly from Mac Finder into Windows applications. A shared folder keeps files accessible from both operating systems without manual transfers. Clipboard sharing improvements in version 26 make this integration more reliable.

OBS Camera Integration
Connect OBS Studio as a virtual camera source within Windows applications running in Parallels — enabling video workflows, streaming setups, and virtual meeting backgrounds that combine Mac-based OBS with Windows conferencing and productivity apps.

Run Linux, macOS, and More
Beyond Windows, Parallels Desktop 26 supports Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Kali Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, and other Linux distributions, as well as running earlier versions of macOS in a VM for testing and compatibility purposes.

Up to 128GB vRAM and 32 vCPUs — Pro Performance
The Pro Edition allocates up to 128GB of video RAM and 32 virtual CPU cores to virtual machines — providing serious headroom for resource-intensive Windows applications, large development environments, data processing workflows, and running multiple simultaneous VMs. The Standard Edition is limited to 8GB vRAM and 4 vCPUs.

Apple Silicon and Intel Mac Support
Fully supports Macs running Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 and later) and Intel-based Macs. Optimized for the performance characteristics of each architecture.

Parallels Toolbox — Included Free with Pro
Parallels Toolbox is a suite of over 30 Mac and Windows utilities — one-click tools for screen recording, taking screenshots, file conversion, downloading video, managing focus and sleep, and more. Included at no additional charge with the Pro Edition subscription. Standard Edition users pay separately for Toolbox.

CLI and Visual Studio Integration
Command-line interface tools allow VM creation and management via terminal — essential for developers automating workflows and building CI/CD pipelines. Visual Studio integration enables developers to run and debug Windows applications directly in Visual Studio on Mac without switching contexts, including support for Windows-only frameworks and runtimes.

Advanced Networking
Pro Edition includes advanced network simulation features — set network conditions including bandwidth, packet loss, and latency to test application behaviour under varied network environments. Essential for developers and QA professionals testing application performance and reliability across different connection scenarios.

SOC 2 Type II Compliant
Parallels Desktop 26 has renewed its SOC 2 Type II compliance certification — affirming its security, availability, and privacy practices, and supporting enterprise and regulated-industry deployments that require verified software compliance.

Why Buy from ITFactory.ca?

ITFactory.ca is a trusted Canadian retailer for software and productivity solutions, serving individuals and businesses across the country. Every licence we sell is genuine and sourced through authorized channels.