# Merging Windows and macOS

You can set Windows and macOS to work seamlessly together, as if they were part of a single operating system. In this mode, called **Coherence** mode, Windows applications appear on the Mac desktop next to your Mac applications, and documents from Windows applications and Mac applications are stored in the same folders.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: Coherence mode is not supported in the App Store edition of Parallels Desktop. For more information on the differences between the Standard and App Store editions, follow this [link](https://kb.parallels.com/123796).
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://4047593329-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNgaOYFJddKmopmi2cfn5%2Fuploads%2F8inN5gH0Jlh8tjfHPhGF%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f0cb4041-ef2d-4345-aa83-94fc8a52394b" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Switch to Coherence Mode

To switch from Window mode to Coherence mode, do one of the following:

* Click the Coherence icon (blue) in the top left corner of the virtual machine window.\ <img src="https://4047593329-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNgaOYFJddKmopmi2cfn5%2Fuploads%2FHBOFXAAwEq4LuJAphUaW%2FScreenshot%202024-01-08%20at%2017.36.50.png?alt=media&#x26;token=869b96e2-6522-4ec4-a056-aa7e61775fc5" alt="" data-size="original">
* Choose **View** > **Enter Coherence**.
* Press Control-Command-C.

To switch from Full-Screen mode to Coherence mode, do one of the following:

* Press Control-Command-F to exit Full Screen. Then click **View** > **Enter Coherence**.
* Move the pointer to the top of the screen until the macOS menu bar appears, and click **View** > **Exit Full Screen**. Then open the **View** menu once again and click **Enter Coherence**. If you're using Full Screen optimized for games, press Control-Option (Alt) to display the Mac menu bar.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** To enable the Coherence view mode, Parallels Tools must be installed. In most cases, Parallels Tools are installed by default.
{% endhint %}

### Parallels Menu

When in Coherence mode, the Parallels Desktop menu appears in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

<div align="center"><figure><img src="https://4047593329-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNgaOYFJddKmopmi2cfn5%2Fuploads%2FOY2Q8eS3XsNJQVkf4iwM%2FScreenshot%202024-01-08%20at%2017.46.34.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0f5861fb-daac-4ea0-a951-4e03cf55fae2" alt="" width="339"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Use the menu for these common functions:

* **Click** the Parallels Desktop icon to open a basic menu that provides the following items:
  * **Windows Start Menu:** Access the Windows Start menu.
  * **View:** Change the virtual machine view mode.
  * **Actions:** Use this menu to perform various actions.
  * **Devices:** Manage hardware devices like printers and DVD drives.
  * **Configure:** Open the virtual machine configuration dialog.
  * **Control Center:** Open the Parallels Desktop Control Center.
  * **New:** Create a new virtual machine.
  * **Open:** Open an already existing virtual machine.
  * **Preferences:** Open the Parallels Desktop preferences.
  * and more...
* **Right-click** the icon to open the Windows start menu.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Important:** When in Coherence mode, to quit Parallels Desktop, click the Parallels Desktop icon in the menu bar and choose **Quit Parallels Desktop**.
{% endhint %}

### Windows System Tray

When Parallels Desktop is in Coherence mode, the Windows system tray icons are in the macOS menu bar at the top of the screen.

<figure><img src="https://4047593329-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNgaOYFJddKmopmi2cfn5%2Fuploads%2FURNV6CZgmdOJTYfA0NjG%2FScreenshot%202024-01-08%20at%2018.05.16.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fe1c7ffa-3620-4d2b-a07c-c552880577b7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can use the system tray icons just as you would from the Windows Desktop.

### Move Windows Applications between Desktops (Spaces)

When Windows is working in Coherence, you can easily move the windows of guest OS applications between macOS desktops (spaces).

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