Parallels Desktop has been updated to version 20.3, bringing several new and enhanced features, including OBS virtual camera support in Windows VMs, Touch ID authentication, and more. The new update comes just around three months after the last update.
Parallels Desktop allows Intel and Apple Silicon-based Mac users to run Windows, Linux, and macOS virtual machines on their Mac without the need to reboot their machine. The app allows users to develop and test across seversl platforms, and to perform their other tasks in the app’s virtual machines.
Here’s what’s new in version 20.3:
- x86_64 emulation improvements: The offers further enhancements to x86_64 virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs, including full compatibility with M4 chips. The update allows even more users to run legacy x86_64 apps on the latest Apple hardware. FEX, an open-source emulator that runs x86 games and other apps on ARM64 hardware is the basis for the new emulation engine in Parallels Desktop.
- USB passthrough support for macOS VMs: Users can now connect a range of external USB devices directly to their macOS VM, unlocking new workflows for development, security testing, and beyond. (macOS 15+ required). Unfortunately, audio devices and iPhones are not supported at the moment.
- OBS virtual camera support in Windows VMs: Seamlessly use your OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) feed from macOS in Zoom, Teams, and other Windows apps inside your VM. Until now, OBS users could not access an OBS virtual camera setup on their Mac inside a Windows virtual machine for apps, like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
- Enforced SSO activation via MDM: IT admins can now require SSO-only activation for managed Macs, ensuring security and compliance. The update allows IT admins to enforce SSO activation as the only method for managed Macs. Once this configuration profile has been deployed, users will no longer be able to activate Parallels Desktop with a license key or trial, ensuring compliance an organizations IT policies. The system will continue to require SSO activation, even if a user uninstalls and reinstalls the software.
- Touch ID support for installation & settings: Skip typing your admin password and authenticate using Touch ID when making installation and settings changes for a smoother, more convenient experience.
The update also brings enhanced Mac integration for the Dragon Medical One app, which is used by many Parallels Desktop users in the healthcare industry to create voice-enabled clinical documentation on their Windows virtual machines. Healthcare specialists can now dictate using Dragon Medical One in their Windows VM running in Coherence view mode and have the text appear directly in a designated macOS app.
The Parallels Desktop update is available as a free download for subscribers. New users can try Parallels Desktop with a free trail, and a one-year subscription currently costs $74.99. There is a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
