Parallels Desktop Developer's Guide
ProductsSupportDocumentation
  • Introduction
    • Parallels Desktop in Software Development
    • Optimizing Your Virtual Machine for Software Development
    • Download Pre-Configured Virtual Machines
  • Software Development-specific Functions of Parallels Desktop
    • Optimizing Remote Debugging
    • Generating a Core Dump
    • Using VM Names as DNS Names
    • Starting a Debugging Session
    • Establishing a Serial Connection over TCP
    • Using Rosetta to Run x86-64 Linux Software on Apple Silicon Macs
    • Resolving Guest OS DNS Requests Using etc/hosts
    • Changing the Virtual Screen Resolution on the Fly
    • Nested Virtualization Support
    • Simulating Adverse Network Connectivity Conditions
  • DevOps Service
  • AI Development with Parallels Desktop
    • Installing a Dedicated AI Development Virtual Machine
    • Using the Parallels AI Virtual Machine for Development
  • Integrations and Plugins
    • Integration with Chef/Ohai
    • Integration with Packer
    • Visual Studio Code Extension
    • Integration with Terraform
    • Integration with Vagrant
  • Command-Line Interface Utility
    • Manage Parallels Desktop from CLI
      • Display Parallels Desktop Information
      • License Management
        • Sign into Parallels Account
        • Install a Parallels Desktop License
        • Install/Remove a Deferred License
        • Update a License
        • Deactivate a License
      • Parallels Desktop Preferences
      • User List and Virtual Machine Location
      • Virtual Network Information and Settings
      • USB Devices
      • Report a Problem
      • Shut Down Parallels Desktop
      • Error Handling
    • Manage Virtual Machines from CLI
      • General Virtual Machine Management
        • List Virtual Machines
        • Create a Virtual Machine
        • Delete a Virtual Machine
        • Register/Unregister a Virtual Machine
        • Clone a Virtual Machine
        • Convert a Virtual Machine
        • Move Virtual Machine Files
        • Install Parallels Tools
        • Log into a Virtual Machine
        • Execute a Command in a Virtual Machine
        • Send a Keyboard Event to a Virtual Machine
          • List of Parallels Keyboard Key Codes
        • Query the Virtual Machine Status
        • Power Operations
        • Capture a Screen Area
        • Encrypt/Decrypt a Virtual Machine
        • Archive/Unarchive a Virtual Machine
        • Set Password Protection
      • Virtual Machine Configuration Tasks
        • CPU and Memory Parameters
        • Boot Order Parameters
        • Video Parameters
        • Mouse & Keyboard Parameters
        • Virtual Printer Parameters
        • USB & Bluetooth Parameters
        • Startup & Shutdown Parameters
        • Optimization Parameters
        • Sharing Parameters
        • Coherence Parameters
        • Security Parameters
        • Expiration Date Parameters
        • Device Management
          • Common Options
          • Adding/Modifying a Device
          • Virtual Hard Drive
          • Physical Hard Drive
          • Virtual Optical Drive
          • Physical Optical Drive
          • Virtual Floppy Drive
          • Physical Floppy Drive
          • Virtual Network Adapter
          • Virtual Serial Port
          • Virtual Parallel Port
          • Virtual Sound Card
          • Adding USB Support
        • Shared Folders
        • Advanced Settings
        • Miscellaneous
      • Snapshot Management
        • Taking a Virtual Machine Snapshot
        • Deleting a Snapshot
        • Listing Snapshots
        • Reverting to a Snapshot
      • Miscellaneous
        • Generating a Problem Report
        • Using Guest Debugger
        • Creating a VM Dump
      • Virtual Machine Disk Optimization
      • Error Handling
  • Parallels Open Source Initiatives
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  • Community Forum
  • Knowledge Base
  • Request Support

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  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

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On this page
  • Registering a Virtual Machine
  • Unregister a Virtual Machine
  1. Command-Line Interface Utility
  2. Manage Virtual Machines from CLI
  3. General Virtual Machine Management

Register/Unregister a Virtual Machine

Registering a Virtual Machine

prlctl register <path>

Registers a virtual machine in Parallels Desktop. The <path> parameter specifies a path to the virtual machine file.

Optional Parameters

--uuid <UUID>

If included, the specified UUID will be assigned to the virtual machine. A UUID can be generated using console utilities like uuidgen(1)in macOS. If this option is not included, the original UUID will be used.

--regenerate-src-uuid

If included, the virtual machine source ID will be automatically generated (the SMBIOS product ID will be changed as well).

--force

If included, all validation checks will be skipped.

Unregister a Virtual Machine

prlctl unregister <vm_id | vm_name>

Unregisters the specified virtual machine.

Notes: Use the register command when you have a virtual machine on the host that doesn't show up in the list of the virtual machines registered with Parallels Desktop. This can be a machine that was previously removed from Parallels Desktop or a machine that was manually copied from another location.

Once a VM is registered, all VM restrictions on the filesystem are removed. If you would like to protect the VM from editing, you should restrict registering or removing the VM in Parallels Desktop preferences.

The unregister command removes a virtual machine from Parallels Desktop but does not delete it from the host. You can re-register such a machine with Parallels Desktop later using the register command.

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Last updated 1 year ago