How To Uninstall Parallels On Mac (Complete Guide)

author avatarTodor Pichurov Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Before we dive in

Trying to uninstall an app completely? SpyHunter for Mac includes an App Uninstaller that removes unwanted apps and their leftover files in just a few clicks.

Avoid clutter and save time — download SpyHunter right here and follow the steps to clean up your system.

Download SpyHunter

Have you ever how to uninstall Parallels on Mac the right way? You are in the right place!

While Parallels Desktop is a great tool to run Windows and other operating systems on Mac, it can eat up a lot of system resources.

In this post, I’ll cover the reasons to uninstall the Parallels Desktop app, how to prepare your Mac for clean removal, and how to remove any leftovers.

Let’s get started!

This Article Contains:

Why uninstall Parallels on Mac?

  • Hard Drive Space: Parallels Desktop and the virtual machines it creates take up a lot of space. For users with limited hard drive space, this can be a problem.
  • RAM: Running virtual machines eats up a lot of RAM, which can affect other applications and overall computer responsiveness.
  • Slower Mac: And finally, all the above can add up to slower MacBook performance. Removing Parallels Desktop can be a step to speed up your Mac.
uninstall parallels desktop for mac
Tip: Consider backing up your VMs before uninstalling Parallels Desktop so you can easily restore your virtual environment later. To do this, export your VMs by going to Parallels Desktop Control Center, right-clicking on the VM, and selecting "Save to a file." Store the backup file securely, and for added protection, upload it to a cloud service like iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

Completely uninstall Parallels Desktop with SpyHunter

To completely remove Parallels from your Mac and ensure no leftover files stick around, you can use SpyHunter’s App Uninstaller for a thorough, assisted removal process.

Here’s a straightforward guide to help you fully uninstall Parallels from your Mac using SpyHunter:

  1. Download SpyHunter and follow the detailed instructions on your screen to install it on your Mac.
  2. Launch SpyHunter and select the App Uninstaller tab from the main menu of the app.
  3. SpyHunter will automatically start a scan of your system when you do this, identifying all installed apps and files and directories associated with those apps.
uninstall parallels on mac with spyhunter
  1. Locate the Parallels Desktop applications in the list.
  2. Select it and all its related files.
  3. Confirm the uninstallation within the SpyHunter app.
spyhunter can completely uninstall parallels

Using SpyHunter’s App Uninstaller simplifies the complete removal of Parallels or any other app, including all dependencies and residual files.

How to manually uninstall Parallels on Mac

Like with most macOS apps, the manual uninstall of Parallels involves a couple of extra steps, in addition to simply dragging the app onto the Trash.

Follow this simple guide to completely remove Parallels Desktop for Mac:

Step 1: Quit Parallels Desktop

Before uninstalling Parallels, ensure it’s not active in the background. There are a couple of ways to close the application properly.

First, you can right-click the Parallels Desktop icon in the Dock and choose Quit from the context menu.

quit parallels from dock

You can also use the application’s own menu, clicking Parallels Desktop in your Mac’s top menu bar and then selecting Quit Parallels Desktop in the dropdown.

quit parallels from menu

If Parallels is not responding properly, you can launch Activity Monitor from your Utilities section inside Finder. Search the Activity Monitor window for any processes containing “Parallels” in their names.

If any are found, select them and click the [X] button above the process list to close them. In the confirmation dialog that appears, click Force Quit to finalize your action.

force quit parallels using activity monitor

Step 2: Delete Parallels Desktop from the Applications folder

Next, you have to remove Parallels from your Applications folder. Use Finder to navigate to it and locate Parallels Desktop inside it.

Drag the icon onto your Trash, or alternatively right-click the Parallels icon and then select Move to Trash in the pop-up menu. The final stage of this step is emptying your Trash.

You should repeat this step for the Parallels Toolbox app as well, which will also be located in your Applications folder. Make sure you quit Parallels Toolbox properly before you attempt to remove it.

delete parallels app

This will remove the main application, but some supporting files remain on your system.

Step 3: Remove leftover files related to Parallels Desktop

After deleting the application, remove its supporting files from your system to prevent unnecessary clutter and free up space. Follow these steps to locate and delete these files:

  1. Press Command + Shift + G on your keyboard or click on Go > Go to Folder from the menu bar.
  2. Type in ~/Library/ in the search bar and hit Return. This will take you to the Library folder, where most support files are stored.
  3. Look for folders and files related to Parallels Desktop in the following directories:
    • ~/Library/Application Support/Parallels/
    • ~/Library/Caches/Parallels/
    • ~/Library/Containers/
    • ~/Library/GroupContainers/
    • ~/Library/Preferences/com.parallels.*
  4. For all files or folders you find, right-click and select Move to Trash.
delete parallels folder

After you move all related files to the Trash, don’t forget to empty your Trash. This will remove them permanently from your Mac and complete the removal.

Final thoughts

Uninstalling Parallels Desktop or any other macOS app is easy if you have the right tools and know how.

One last thing to remember is that your Parallels subscription is still active and not tied to the app being installed.

If you do not intend to use Parallels in the near future, consider canceling your subscription to avoid any unnecessary costs.

We have a useful guide on how to uninstall apps on Mac that you can also find useful.

Share this post on your favorite social media
author avatar

Todor has over a decade of experience in creating content about cybersecurity. He specializes in making complex security topics understandable for all. As part of the SpyHunter team, Todor uses his expertise to educate users, empowering them to better understand and manage their digital environments securely and efficiently.

Keep Your Mac Fast and Secure
Optimize your Mac and stay malware-free with SpyHunter
Download SpyHunter For Free

For a better understanding of our policies, please review our Free Trial Offer below, EULA, and Privacy/Cookie Policy.

SpyHunter Free Trial: Important Terms & Conditions

The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac, offering comprehensive malware detection and removal functionality, high-performance guards to actively protect your system from malware threats, and access to our technical support team via the SpyHunter HelpDesk. You will not be charged upfront during the Trial period, although a credit card is required to activate the Trial. (Prepaid credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards are not accepted under this offer.) The requirement for your payment method is to help ensure continuous, uninterrupted security protection during your transition from a Trial to a paid subscription should you decide to purchase. Your payment method will not be charged a payment amount upfront during the Trial, although authorization requests may be sent to your financial institution to verify that your payment method is valid (such authorization submissions are not requests for charges or fees by EnigmaSoft but, depending upon your payment method and/or your financial institution, may reflect on your account availability). You can cancel your Trial by contacting EnigmaSoft’s payment processor (identified in your confirmation email) or EnigmaSoft directly no later than two business days before the 7-day Trial period expires to avoid a charge coming due and being processed immediately after your Trial expires. If you decide to cancel during your Trial, you will immediately lose access to SpyHunter. If, for any reason, you believe a charge was processed that you did not wish to make (which could occur based on system administration, for example), you may also cancel and receive a full refund for the charge any time within 30 days of the date of the purchase charge. See FAQs.

At the end of the Trial, you will be billed upfront immediately at the price and for the subscription period as set forth in the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details) if you have not timely canceled. Pricing typically starts at $72 for 3 months (SpyHunter Pro Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac). Your purchased subscription will be automatically renewed in accordance with the registration/purchase page terms, which provide for automatic renewals at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. Please see the purchase page for details. Trial subject to these Terms, your agreement to EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.

For payment on the automatic renewal of your subscription, an email reminder will be sent to the email address you provided when you registered before your next payment date. At the onset of your trial, you will receive an activation code that is limited to use for only one Trial and for only one device per account. Your subscription will automatically renew at the price and for the subscription period in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details), provided that you are a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user. For paid subscription users, if you cancel, you will continue to have access to your product(s) until the end of your paid subscription period. If you wish to receive a refund for your then current subscription period, you must cancel and apply for a refund within 30 days of your most recent purchase, and you will immediately stop receiving full functionality when your refund is processed.

For CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS, please see the notice provisions:
NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS: Per the California Automatic Renewal Law, you may cancel a subscription as follows:

  1. Go to www.enigmasoftware.com and click the "Login" button at the top right corner.
  2. Log in with your username and password.
  3. In the navigation menu, go to "Order/Licenses." Next to your order/license, a button is available to cancel your subscription if applicable. Note: If you have multiple orders/products, you will need to cancel them on an individual basis.

Should you have any questions or problems, you can contact our EnigmaSoft support team by phone at +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA Toll-Free) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International) or by email at support@enigmasoftware.com.
How do you cancel a SpyHunter Trial? If your SpyHunter Trial was registered via MyCommerce, you can cancel the trial via MyCommerce by logging into the MyAccount section of MyCommerce (see your confirmation email for further details). You can also contact MyCommerce by phone or email to cancel. To contact MyCommerce via phone, you can call +1-800-406-4966 (USA Toll-Free) or +1-952-646-5022 (24x7x356). You can contact MyCommerce by e-mail at ordersupport@mycommerce.com. You can easily identify if your trial was registered via MyCommerce by checking the confirmation emails that were sent to you upon registration. Alternatively, all users may also contact EnigmaSoft Limited directly. Users can contact our technical support team by emailing support@enigmasoftware.com, opening a ticket in the SpyHunter HelpDesk, or calling +1 (888) 360-0646 (USA) / +353 76 680 3523 (Ireland/International). You can access the SpyHunter HelpDesk from SpyHunter's main screen. To open a support ticket, click on the "HelpDesk" icon. In the window that appears, click the "New Ticket" tab. Fill out the form and click the "Submit" button. If you are unsure of what "Problem Type" to select, please choose the "General Questions" option. Our support agents will promptly process your request and respond to you.

———

SpyHunter Purchase Details
You also have the choice of subscribing to SpyHunter immediately for full functionality, including malware removal and access to our support department via our HelpDesk, typically starting at $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter Basic Windows) and $42 for 3 months (SpyHunter for Mac) in accordance with the offering materials and registration/purchase page terms (which are incorporated herein by reference; pricing may vary by country per purchase page details). Your subscription will automatically renew at the then applicable standard subscription fee in effect at the time of your original purchase subscription and for the same subscription time period, provided you’re a continuous, uninterrupted subscription user and for which you will receive a notice of upcoming charges before the expiration of your subscription. Purchase of SpyHunter is subject to the terms and conditions on the purchase page, EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy and Discount Terms.

———

General Terms
Any purchase for SpyHunter under a discounted price is valid for the offered discounted subscription term. After that, the then applicable standard pricing will apply for automatic renewals and/or future purchases. Pricing is subject to change, although we will notify you in advance of price changes.
All SpyHunter versions are subject to your agreeing to our EULA/TOS, Privacy/Cookie Policy, and Discount Terms. Please also see our FAQs and Threat Assessment Criteria. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, learn how.