How to Use Visual Studio on Mac With Parallels Desktop

To use Visual Studio on Mac, install Windows through Parallels Desktop, then install the full Visual Studio IDE inside Windows. The virtual machine runs alongside macOS, so you can keep your Mac apps open while working in the Windows IDE.

This tutorial starts with Parallels Desktop and takes you through Windows installation to your first build and breakpoint in Visual Studio. On Apple Silicon, the VM uses Windows 11 ARM, so check any required extensions or project dependencies for ARM support before buying a license. Native Mac tools and remote Windows are alternatives when this setup doesn’t match your project.

Before You Install Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop supplies the Windows virtual machine; you’ll install Visual Studio inside it. Visual Studio for Mac was a different application, and Microsoft retired it on August 31, 2024. You don’t need that old Mac installer for this tutorial.

Check Your Mac and Project

Open Apple menu > About This Mac and check the chip or processor name. This determines which Windows installation you need.

Mac	Windows VM
Apple Silicon, including M-series chips	Windows 11 Arm64
Intel	Windows 11 x64, subject to the Mac and Parallels version meeting the current requirements

The Visual Studio ARM installer detects Windows ARM64 and installs the matching IDE. That doesn’t guarantee compatibility with every extension or native dependency.

Before continuing, ensure you have:

• Installation access and internet: permission to install software on the Mac and in Windows, plus a connection for Windows, Visual Studio and package downloads.
• A compatible project: the Visual Studio version and workloads your course or repository requires. Check the project requirements if these aren’t clear.
• Compatible extensions: Microsoft still lists ARM exclusions such as Office/SharePoint development and Microsoft Blend. For database work, check the SSDT and BI limitations before installing.
• Enough resources for both systems: Microsoft’s Visual Studio requirements recommend 16 GB RAM for typical professional solutions. Windows needs that allocation while macOS still needs memory of its own.

Check the Licenses and VM Limits

Parallels, Windows and Visual Studio have separate licensing requirements. A free Visual Studio installation doesn’t make the complete VM setup free.

Component	What to Check
Parallels Desktop	Edition, regional price and renewal terms. Standard is limited to 8 GB virtual RAM and 4 vCPUs per VM
Windows 11 Pro	A qualifying license for this VM; each instance needs its own license
Visual Studio	Community eligibility or a paid license. The US Professional monthly subscription is listed at $45 per user per month
Other dependencies	Any separately licensed extensions or database tools

The Parallels edition comparison, Windows licensing guidance and Visual Studio pricing cover these separately. Community also has conditions for organizational use.

An 8 GB VM can handle a small learning project. For a larger solution, choose an edition with the resource limits you need and ensure your Mac has enough physical memory. Upgrading to Pro raises the allocation limit; it doesn’t add RAM to the Mac.

Install Visual Studio With Parallels Desktop

Start by getting Windows running in Parallels Desktop. Once Windows is ready, the rest of the installation happens inside the VM, just as it would on a Windows computer.

1. Install Parallels Desktop and Windows 11

For an Apple Silicon Mac, Parallels’ installation assistant downloads Windows 11 Arm64. You’ll need internet access for the downloads and permission to install software on the Mac.

1. Download Parallels Desktop, install it on your Mac and open it.
2. Accept its Windows installation option. If you already have a VM, open Control Center, select +, then Get Windows 11 from Microsoft.
3. Continue through the Windows installation and license prompts. Use a qualifying Windows license for this VM.
4. Complete Windows Update and restart when requested. Finish installing Parallels Tools if prompted.
5. Open Settings > System > About in Windows and confirm the system type reports an ARM-based processor.

On an Intel Mac, use the supported x64 Windows installation route for your Parallels version. Don’t download the ARM image for that machine.

Keep the VM’s allocation within what the Mac can support. Leave storage for Windows updates and build outputs as well as the IDE; the Visual Studio Installer shows the space needed for your selected components.

2. Install Visual Studio and Its Workloads

For a new installation in 2026, choose the current supported Visual Studio release unless your course or employer specifies another version. Download the installer inside Windows from the official Visual Studio download page.

The Visual Studio Installer groups related tools into workloads. Choose the ones your project needs:

• .NET desktop development: the console-app example below, plus supported WinForms and WPF development.
• ASP.NET and web development: ASP.NET Core applications and web tooling.
• Desktop development with C++: Windows C++ projects and their compiler tools.
• SQL Server Data Tools: check the ARM limitations. For Visual Studio 2026 on ARM64, Microsoft’s instructions use Individual components to select SSDT.

Review any required targeting packs or SDKs under Individual components, then install. You can return to the installer and choose Modify if a project needs another component later.

The ARM installation guide explains the automatic architecture selection. Downloading an x64 application doesn’t make the whole VM an x64 Windows environment.

3. Open or Create a Project

For an existing repository, clone it into a folder on the VM’s local disk, such as C:\source\repos. Then choose Open a project or solution in Visual Studio and select the solution file. Follow the repository’s package-feed and configuration instructions before building.

For a first installation check, create a separate console project:

1. Select Create a new project.
2. Filter by C# and choose Console App. For this example, don’t select the separate .NET Framework template.
3. Name it WindowsSetupCheck and select a local Windows folder.
4. Choose an installed, supported .NET target and create the project.
5. Replace the contents of Program.cs with this example:

int first = 7;
int second = 5;
int total = first + second;
Console.WriteLine($"Total: {total}");

This gives you a value to inspect in the debugger, so the check goes beyond opening a file. Microsoft’s console-app tutorial covers the project-creation screens in more detail.

Visual Studio is open inside Windows through Parallels Desktop, with both projects listed in Solution Explorer. The next step is to build the solution and stop at a breakpoint.

4. Build and Hit a Breakpoint

Save Program.cs, then:

1. Choose Build > Build Solution and check the Build output for a successful result.
2. Ensure WindowsSetupCheck is the startup project. In a multi-project solution, right-click the executable project and choose Set as Startup Project if needed.
3. Select the Debug configuration.
4. Click the margin beside Console.WriteLine to add a breakpoint, then choose Debug > Start Debugging.
5. When execution pauses on that line, hover over total or inspect it in Locals. Its value should be 12.
6. Continue execution. The program should print Total: 12.

For a WinForms or WPF assignment, follow this with a build of the actual project and open its required designer. A console app proves the basic C# toolchain works; it doesn’t prove that a third-party control or Windows extension works.

Fix Problems in the Parallels Setup

Keep the full error message and first check whether it comes from Windows, Visual Studio or an editor you are using alongside it. Parallels runs a separate operating system: installing an SDK in macOS doesn’t install it in the Windows VM.

The SDK Isn’t Found

Inside the Windows VM, open PowerShell and run:

Get-Command dotnet
dotnet --info
dotnet --list-sdks

Get-Command shows which executable Windows resolves. The other commands show the detected .NET installation and SDKs. Run the checks from the repository folder as well, because global.json can change which SDK is selected.

• Windows can’t find dotnet: check the selected Visual Studio workload and whether the required SDK was installed inside Windows. Installing only a runtime isn’t enough to build a project.
• The SDK is installed but the project rejects it: compare global.json with the installed SDK list. Don’t remove the file just to force another version.
• The command works but VS Code reports an error: if you also use VS Code in this workflow, check View > Output for the affected C# extension. Its process may resolve a different installation from the terminal.

C# Dev Kit reports that it can’t locate the SDK. Check the editor’s environment before changing paths; the message alone doesn’t identify the cause.

If you are checking an editor running in macOS, use command -v dotnet in its terminal instead of PowerShell’s Get-Command. Compare installations within the same operating system, then restart the editor after installing the SDK. Microsoft’s manual .NET configuration guidance covers custom locations.

VS Code shows Bench.App and Bench.Tests in the project folder. Seeing both projects helps confirm the folder is open; their build output is still the check that tells you whether the toolchain works.

The Project Opens but Won’t Build

Read the first meaningful error in the build or restore output, then check the matching requirement:

• Missing SDK or targeting pack: install the version the project needs. Don’t change its target framework merely to make the error disappear.
• Package restore failure: check package-feed access, authentication and the requested package version.
• Unsupported project: identify its SDK and target framework. C# Dev Kit doesn’t support .NET Framework projects.
• Missing native library or architecture mismatch: check the dependency’s supported operating systems and CPU architectures.

If a single project inside a solution fails, investigate that project’s requirements. Reinstalling the editor won’t repair a missing database service or make an incompatible native library load.

A Designer or Extension Is Missing

Check the component name in Visual Studio Installer, then the extension’s supported version and architecture. A missing workload may be fixable through Modify. A component unavailable on ARM needs a compatible Windows environment.

For database work, check the SSDT limitations. More VM memory won’t add the missing T-SQL debugger or LocalDB support.

Builds Are Slow or Memory Is Tight

Start by separating package download time from compilation. A first restore may need the network, while later builds can reuse downloaded packages and existing outputs.

• Keep the active Windows checkout on the VM’s local disk while diagnosing shared-folder or file-watching delays. Use version control to move changes between environments.
• Compare Activity Monitor > Memory Pressure on the Mac with Windows Task Manager. If the host is already swapping, assigning more RAM to Windows can make the overall problem worse.
• Stop unused applications or services before changing allocations, then repeat the same project task.
• If the project exceeds Standard’s VM limits, compare Pro on a Mac with enough physical resources against a suitable remote machine.

Offline work also depends on the project. Cached packages and installed tools help, but private feeds, remote databases and licensing checks may still require a connection.

Check Your Project’s Requirements

Parallels gives you a Windows environment, but the repository still decides which tools must be installed in it. Use the build instructions or assignment to check the framework, required workloads and extensions before importing a large project.

Your Project Needs	Setup	Check Before Committing
The full Windows Visual Studio IDE	Visual Studio with Parallels Desktop	Required version, workloads and extension architecture
WinForms or WPF designer	Visual Studio in the Windows VM	Framework, third-party controls and designer support on ARM
.NET Framework or an older Windows project system	Windows with the team’s required tools	Targeting packs and build tools; some dependencies need x64 Windows
SQL database or BI project	Check the exact SQL tooling	SDK-style versus original SQL project, SQLCLR and the BI extension
Modern .NET console, library, test or ASP.NET Core project	Parallels if you need Visual Studio; native Mac tools are an alternative	Packages, local services and native libraries
A dependency that requires x64 Windows	A compatible remote x64 machine when your local VM uses ARM	Confirm the remote machine meets the requirement

A solution file is only a container for projects. Being able to open a .sln doesn’t mean the editor supports everything inside it.

Read the Project Files

You don’t need to understand every line of XML before choosing a setup. These are the details worth checking:

• global.json: selects a .NET SDK, subject to its roll-forward policy. It can request an SDK you haven’t installed even when another SDK works in Terminal.
• TargetFramework or TargetFrameworks: names the framework each project targets. net10.0, net10.0-windows and net48 describe different requirements.
• UseWPF and UseWindowsForms: indicate Windows desktop UI dependencies. A cross-platform editor doesn’t make these applications run on macOS.
• Project SDKs and build imports: can require additional tooling beyond the base .NET SDK.
• Native dependencies: a package may call an operating-system library or require a particular CPU architecture. Its C# wrapper doesn’t remove that dependency.

Microsoft’s SDK selection documentation explains why the SDK selected inside a repository can differ from the one selected elsewhere. Keep the team’s global.json intact while you establish the required installation.

For .NET MAUI or Unity, follow the project-specific setup documentation as well. These projects need their own platform tools beyond the basic console-app setup.

Check SQL and BI Projects Separately

The SQL project format determines which tools you need. Microsoft supports SDK-style SQL database projects built with Microsoft.Build.Sql, including a VS Code development route. SQLCLR introduces a .NET Framework build dependency, so it needs a separate compatibility check.

For a Windows setup, the SSDT installation documentation makes several distinctions that matter:

• Visual Studio 2026 on ARM64 includes SSDT, but its SQL projects lack T-SQL IntelliSense and code completion.
• The T-SQL debugger isn’t available in that ARM64 setup.
• Visual Studio on ARM64 can’t connect to LocalDB. An assignment that assumes a local LocalDB instance needs another arrangement.
• SSIS, SSAS and SSRS use separate extensions. Check the exact extension’s supported Visual Studio version and architecture. Installing SSDT doesn’t establish compatibility for these tools.

If a database course depends on one of those missing features, arrange a compatible Windows machine before paying for a VM license.

When Native Mac Tools Are Enough

If you don’t need the full Visual Studio IDE, a compatible modern .NET project can run directly in macOS. This is an alternative to the Parallels tutorial, particularly for a console app or ASP.NET Core service with no Windows-only dependencies.

• Install Microsoft’s .NET SDK for macOS: Arm64 for Apple Silicon or x64 for Intel, on a supported macOS release. The runtime alone doesn’t include build tools.
• Install Visual Studio Code and Microsoft’s C# Dev Kit. Its current listing requires the .NET 10 SDK; keep another SDK alongside it if the repository pins that version.
• Open the repository folder containing the solution or .csproj, then use its restore, build and test instructions. If you need a first project, Microsoft’s C# setup guide walks through creating a console app.
• Add a breakpoint on an executable line and choose Run > Start Debugging. Select the C# project if prompted, following the debugging instructions.

C# Dev Kit licensing is separate from VS Code being free. Personal, academic and open-source use can be free; commercial teams must check their entitlement.

Rider is another native .NET IDE, with free noncommercial use and separate commercial licensing. Neither editor removes a project’s Windows dependencies. If your assignment requires Visual Studio and a Windows designer, continue with the Parallels setup.

Use a Remote Windows Machine

A remote Windows computer is useful when the project requires an environment your local VM can’t provide. This might be an employer’s development PC or a dedicated cloud desktop. Confirm its architecture as well; “remote” doesn’t automatically mean x64.

This route is worth considering when:

• A required extension or dependency supports x64 Windows but not your Windows ARM VM.
• Your organization supplies an approved development image or requires source code to stay on managed infrastructure.
• The project needs more memory or storage than your Mac can give Windows comfortably.

Install the required Visual Studio version on that machine, keep the repository there and connect through the approved remote-access client. The build executes on Windows. Your Mac displays the session and sends your input.

The tradeoff is the connection: latency affects interaction, and a lost connection interrupts access. A suitable remote desktop also needs permission to reach the repository and any private package feeds.

Microsoft Dev Box is now in maintenance mode, with no additional features planned. Existing usage remains supported, and Microsoft recommends Windows 365 as the path forward for virtualized developer environments. Existing Dev Box users should follow their organization’s transition guidance.

The broader Windows apps on Mac guide covers other applications and Windows-running methods. For development, confirm that the remote machine supports the exact workload before provisioning it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Remarks

With Windows running in Parallels Desktop, Visual Studio can build and debug your project while your Mac apps stay open. Before treating the setup as ready for daily work, repeat the build and breakpoint checks with the repository you’ll actually use, including its required designer or extension.

Keep the VM’s resource allocation within what your Mac can support. If a particular dependency fails on Windows ARM, check that requirement directly; reinstalling Parallels won’t change the architecture it needs.

Appendix: July 2026 .NET Build Results

The original July 14, 2026 comparison recorded command-line build and test times for a small prime-counting solution. These are historical environment observations, not a measurement of which IDE is faster.

• Mac: Apple M5 Pro, 24 GB unified memory, macOS 27.0 beta build 26A5378j.
• Native tools: VS Code 1.127.0 ARM64, C# Dev Kit 3.20.199 and C# extension 2.140.9.
• Windows VM: Parallels Desktop 26.4.0 build 57513, Windows 11 Pro ARM64 build 26200.8653, 4 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM.
• Windows IDE: Visual Studio Community 2026 18.7.3, build 18.7.11925.98.
• Both toolchains: .NET SDK 10.0.301 and runtime 10.0.9, ARM64.
• Project: ParallelsBench.sln, a console application and an xUnit project with 4 tests. The Windows copy lived on the VM’s local disk.

Recorded Measurement	macOS	Windows ARM VM
Clean build with packages already cached	2.15 seconds	2.44 seconds
Test command elapsed time	1.35 seconds	4.87 seconds
Tests passed	4	4

The build difference was 0.29 seconds. The Windows test command took about 3.6 times the elapsed time, but that alone doesn’t identify how much came from virtualization, process startup or other differences between the environments.

The first Windows restore/build took 14.85 seconds while downloading dependencies. It isn’t comparable to the Mac’s already-cached build.

The retained record doesn’t provide repeated-run distributions or complete timing logs. Breakpoint startup wasn’t measured, and the screenshots show editor state rather than the timing record. The beta macOS environment also wasn’t a supported stable-macOS baseline. These results don’t establish performance for a large solution or compatibility for an untested workload, and the historical versions above aren’t installation recommendations.

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