Does Parallels 18 work after upgrading to Tahoe from Sequioa?

[jagooch]

The post title is very specific but I came across a Sonoma to Sequoia post that said Parallels 18 worked only if you upgraded in place ( i.e. don't do a fresh install of Sequioa ). So, it might be the same for Sequoia to Tahoe.

I use Parallels 18 once or twice a year for very edge case situations where I need a specific Windows application, so I resist paying for upgrades for an app that I rarely use.

I checked the pinned macOS 26 threads, but while one had posts that mentioned Parallels, they didn't mention the version number, so I couldn't use the information.

Parallels 18 is what is keeping me on Sequoia. Once I know what will happen when I upgrade, I can plan the upgrade to Tahoe.

 

[posguy99]

Once I know what will happen when I upgrade, I can plan the upgrade to Tahoe.

Do you have some reason to upgrade to Tahoe, or is it just chasing the almighty higher version number?

 

[conmee]

I have installed Parallels 18 on a fresh reinstall of Sequoia, but what I did was turn off WiFi and installed 18.3.3 skipped the registration and completed the installation. Then I unchecked automatically check for updates in Parallels settings. Then I closed and reopened Parallels and then turn WiFi back on and then go to the Parallels menu and register. I enter the Parallels 18 license key I have (don’t select from a list) and it activates. Keep in mind that the key is tied to the serial number and/or MAC address of the computer you first used the key on. Since around Parallels 18 at least. Previously I could just reuse the keys over and over, but since 18 or maybe 19, I can reuse as often as I want on the original activated machine, but if I use that same key on a different computer, it says activations have been exceeded etc.

I have a maxed out 2019 15” MBP that I reinstalled Mojave on and Parallels 18 for all my legacy stuff: 32-bit apps, Windows 7/XP games, etc. The main reason I keep Parallels 18 besides the fact that’s the last version to run on Mojave, is that according to Parallels, 18 is the last version to come with updated Windows XP/7/8 drivers. 19, 20, and 26 only come with drivers for 10/11 now. So I keep 18 if I ever need to recreate an XP or 7 image (19, 20, and 26 will RUN existing Win XP/7/8 VMs just doesn’t come with drivers to create new VMs of those OSes). I also have IBM PC-DOS 3.2 and 5.0, OS/2 2.11, Windows 3.11, and Windows 95 images as well, just for fun.

For my 2019 16” MBP which runs Tahoe now, I just bought an additional permanent license for Parallels 26. It fixes some things with Coherence and swiping between Mac and Parallels desktops that 18 had when I used it on Sonoma and Sequoia.

I think the upgrade price was $69.95 or something around there. I’d say it’s worth it to keep your VMs running and compatibility with latest macOSes. I also find the latest Red Hat, Ubuntu, and other Linux VMs run better on the latest Parallels. (Edit: by “better” I mean the Parallels Tools install without a problem - I can’t get Parallels 18 tools to successfully install on Pop!_OS for example because the tools have a conflict with the Pop kernel and there are some workarounds I just didn’t want to go through, screen refresh is better in terms of windows resizing/refreshing without tearing or ghosting, at least on my 120Hz 4K display).

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Have you tried switching to UTM? It’s free, open source, and may be perfect for your limited needs. It can even fetch the Windows installer for you.