Parallels Desktop Business Edition Administrator's Guide
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  • Introduction
    • Business Edition Features Overview
  • Deploying Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition
    • Deploying via an Invitation Email
    • Mass Deployment Using Mac Management Tools
      • Prerequisites
      • Supported Mac Management Tools
      • Preparing the Autodeploy Package
        • Downloading the Autodeploy Package
        • Specifying a License Key
        • [OPTIONAL] Adding the Parallels Desktop Installation Image
        • [OPTIONAL] Adding a Virtual Machine
          • Installing Parallels Tools
          • Preparing Windows for Mass Deployment
          • Common Configuration Options
        • Adding Windows Application Stubs
        • Configuring Deployment Options
        • Single Application Mode
        • [MANDATORY] Creating a Flat Package
        • Testing the Autodeploy Package
      • Deploying Parallels Desktop and Virtual Machines on Macs
        • Deploying with Jamf Pro
          • Automating Parallels Desktop Initial Setup with a Configuration Profile
        • Using a Script to Change VM Options
    • Enrolling Virtual Machines in Azure Active Directory
  • Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition Features
    • Using Configuration Profiles
      • Creating a Configuration Profile
      • Applying a Configuration Profile to a License Key
      • Provisioning a Corporate VM Image
        • Creating a VM Image
        • Creating a Configuration Profile
        • Installing a VM Image on a Mac
      • Enabling Major Version Upgrades
        • Creating a Configuration Profile
    • Participating in the Customer Experience Program
    • Locking a Virtual Machine on Suspend
    • Activating Using a Corporate Account
    • Restricting a Virtual Machine Configuration with a Custom Password
    • Restricting User Actions in Parallels Desktop with a Custom Password
    • Setting an Asset Tag in the Virtual Machine BIOS
    • Using Custom Graphics and Links in the Control Center
    • Hiding Developer Tools in the Parallels Desktop GUI
    • Encrypting a Virtual Machine using the Command Line
    • Single Application Mode
    • Setting an Expiration Date on a Virtual Machine
    • Enforcing USB Device Policies
    • Resetting the Guest OS Password
    • Setting Up a Local Update Server
      • Setting Up a Local Web Server
      • Creating the Parallels Update XML File
      • Configuring Individual Macs
    • Configuring Parallels Desktop Update Branch
    • Customizing the Support Center Option
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  1. Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition Features

Resetting the Guest OS Password

If a virtual machine user forgets the password of their guest OS account (e.g. a Windows user password), it can be reset outside the virtual machine using the command line interface.

To use this functionality the following conditions must be met:

  • Parallels Tools must be installed in the guest OS.

  • The virtual machine must be running. If it's stopped, start it and wait until you see the guest OS login prompt.

  • Depending on your requirements, the following option can be selected or cleared in the virtual machine configuration dialog: Security > Require Password to: [ ] Change guest OS password via CLI. If this option is selected, you will be asked to provide the macOS administrator password to change the guest OS password from the command line. If the option is cleared, the administrator password will not be required. By default, the option is cleared.

To reset the password, open Terminal and enter the following command:

prlctl set vm_name --userpasswd username:new_password

where:

  • vm_name is the virtual machine name. To obtain the list of virtual machines installed on this Mac, type prlctl list.

  • username is the guest OS user name.

  • new_password is the new password.

Example:

prlctl set My_Win8_VM --userpasswd JohnDoe:A12345

If the Require Password to: Change guest OS password via CLI option is selected in the virtual machine configuration dialog (see above), the command will display the following text and prompt:

Only host administrator can change user password in the guest OS.
Confirm your administrator credentials.
Username:

Enter the name of the macOS user with administrative privileges and press the Enter key. Type the user password and press Enter again.

Once the new password is set, you can use it to log in to the guest OS.

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Last updated 3 months ago