How to Uninstall Parallels

Fans of Apple's hardware have every reason in the world for appreciating virtual machine and hardware emulation utilities, which significantly expand their scope of compatible software and media. One of the most award-taking options in this area is Parallels or Parallels Desktop, which uses advanced hypervisor technology to directly map hardware onto the imitation or virtual machine's resources. Parallels can also be complex to learn even with the many benefits, and many users prefer other solutions. For removing Parallels from macOS systems, the procedure is simple and straightforward.

Before uninstalling Parallels, users should remember that, like with many programs, doing so doesn't automatically erase all associated user data. For Parallels, in particular, removing the program doesn't delete the Windows Virtual Machine's data or settings. The latter includes any applications you might use in the VM and any Windows files. Users can delete the VM from inside the Parallels program or remove the VM through the macOS interface by searching for its folders in Finder and dragging them to the Trash icon.

By default, the following locations are repositories for VM data:

/Users/Shared/Parallels

/(User's name)/Parallels

/Users/(User's name)/Parallels

The 'user's name' field varies according to the name of the user's account. It displays in Finder's 'Home' section, near the house icon.

Users who aren't sure about removing all Virtual Machine data should remember that Parallels VMs are highly-portable. Stopping a VM and copying it to another device for resuming later is a practical solution that opens up the original Mac's previously-used resources.

Another detail worth noting is that there's no need for uninstalling Parallels just for upgrading it to a newer version. Run the official installation tool for the more recent Parallels release, and it will automatically replace the previous installation.

After dealing with any Virtual Machines:

1. Proceed with removing the Parallels program.
2. Make sure that Parallels isn't open.
3. Open the macOS Finder and click the Applications section.
4. Scroll down along the list of the installed programs until you find the Parallels Desktop program icon. If you're having difficulty finding it, type the program's name into Finder's search field, which is on the upper-right corner of the window.
5. Click and clasp on the icon, and drag it to the Trash icon. If you're sure about deleting the program, you also may 'empty' the Trash for permanent deletion of its contents.
6. Note that this process is irreversible.

For emergencies, specialized data recovery utilities may restore some Trash-emptied data.

Finally, reboot the system. Remember to check for any remaining files, such as Virtual Machine folders, for removal.

In a world of competing hardware interests, being able to 'fake' a computer environment is incredibly helpful, even for casual users. However, Parallels does have competition, and a Virtual Machine only should be on your computer if you're getting some use out of it – therefore, don't waver in uninstalling Parallels Desktop if appropriate to your needs and situation.