> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.parallels.com/landing/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.parallels.com/landing/pd-ag/provisioning-and-activation-of-parallels-desktop/alternative-deployment-methods/alternative-mass-deployment-via-deployment-package/deploying-the-package-to-macs/using-a-script-to-change-vm-options.md).

# Using a Script to Change VM Options

When you need to change configuration settings of all virtual machines that are already registered on a Mac computer, you can use the Parallels desktop command-line interface. To do so, you first need to create a script to perform a desired configuration modification. You can then execute the script on a Mac computer using one of the remote Mac management tools described earlier in this chapter.

The following is a script example that disables the auto pausing option for all virtual machines registered on a Mac computer:

```
for i in $( prlctl list -a --info | grep "ID" | sed 's/.....//;s/.$//' ); do 
  prlctl set $i --pause-idle off 
done
```

The script above uses the `prlctl list` command to first obtains a list of registered virtual machines and then (inside the loop) sets the `--pause-idle` option for every VM to "off", which disables pausing of an idle virtual machine.

The complete command-line reference is documented in the [**Parallels Desktop Developer's Guide**](https://docs.parallels.com/landing/parallels-desktop-developers-guide/).


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