How to Purchase Windows 10 Home or Pro

Do you want to purchase Windows 10 to use with Parallels Desktop® but aren’t sure whether to buy Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro?

Let me help you decide.

What fits better to your needs—Windows 10 Home or Pro?

Comparison Between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro

	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Pro
	Consumer-focused desktop edition	Desktop edition for prosumer customers and small businesses
PCs, tablets, and 2-in-1s	X	X
Cortana assistant	X	X
Microsoft Edge web browser	X	X
Continuum tablet mode for touch-capable devices	X	X
Windows Hello face-recognition, iris, and fingerprint login	X	X
Universal Windows apps like Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar, Music, and Video	X	X
Ability to capture and share game play for Xbox One owners	X	X
Domain Join services		X
BitLocker Drive Encryption		X
Remote Access Services		X
Group Policy editor		X
Windows Update for Business		X

Source: www.microsoft.com

After you have purchased Windows 10, please refer to these step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows 10 in a Parallels Desktop virtual machine.

If you have any questions, let us know in a comment or reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter.

You haven’t purchased Parallels Desktop yet? Try it for free for 14 days!

40 comments on “How to Purchase Windows 10 Home or Pro”

Christine Cleary
August 19, 2019 at 3:48 pm

I have an apple laptop and as I needed to keep my Erecord to do my bookwork I was advised that I had
to have installed Parallels Desktop for Mac. I pay for a security system with Total Defence - on my apple computer but I
keep getting a notice on the computer when I use windows on my Mac that I need to renew my security system. My Retrieval Code. WMPBKJM3JK
Kayla Myrhow
August 20, 2019 at 1:44 pm

Hey Christine!

The best is you reach out to our support team. You can reach out to them here:
Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc
Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares
Any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/.

Thanks for contacting them.
Cesar Espinoza
September 3, 2019 at 8:05 am

I Have parallels 11 and Win 8.1

Some Apps are not compatible. So, I need Won 10.

CAn I apply to best price?
Kayla Myrhow
September 3, 2019 at 10:21 am

Hey Cesar!

Microsoft Windows does not come included with Parallels Desktop. You can buy a Microsoft Windows license within our virtual machine set up or provide an authentic Microsoft license that you get on your own. Feel free to reach out to our teams if you have any more questions! You can reach out to them here:
Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc
Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares
Any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/.

Thanks for contacting them. We’re here to help.

Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager
Jonathan DeBoard
September 20, 2019 at 1:25 pm

I already bought Windows 10. I have a Microsoft Account. I had to erase my hard drive and reinstall. Now it won’t let me put in my Product Key.
Kayla Myrhow
September 23, 2019 at 11:29 am

Hey Jonathan, thanks for your message. Our support team is happy to help you with this. You can easily reach out to them here: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks! Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager
Marty Kroll
September 27, 2019 at 10:35 am

I bought Windows 10 and can’t find the Activation Key.
Beatrice Vogel
September 30, 2019 at 1:12 am

Hey Marty, Thanks for reaching out and sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we cannot help you in that case. The best would be you contact Microsoft or the third-party vendor where you bought the license. Let us know if you have any further questions. Thanks
Todd
October 8, 2019 at 12:21 pm

I already own Windows 10, why is it asking me to Activate?
Beatrice Vogel
October 9, 2019 at 1:42 am

Hey Todd, Thanks for reaching out. Perfect that you already own a Windows 10 license. You just have to include the license key in order to use it in your VM. Our support team is also always happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks
Jimmy Ramos
October 25, 2019 at 3:38 am

Bought Parallels Desktop Lite and it says windows is not activated. How do I activate windows. I bought the appt thru Apple store.
Beatrice Vogel
October 29, 2019 at 8:13 am

Hey Jimmy, Thanks for your message. Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks
David Nelson
November 20, 2019 at 6:44 pm

I purchased the home edition and it says that edition has expired. I bought this product with the intention of it being a lifetime product. How can we rectify this problem.
julius clinton
November 24, 2019 at 2:28 pm

is there a free trail trying to see if i can get it work before purchasing. it is only asking me to buy
Beatrice Vogel
December 2, 2019 at 6:58 am

Hey Julius, Thanks for reaching out to us. Feel free to download Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days and test if everything works the way you want to: http://www.parallels.com/try/pd
Any further questions let us know. Thanks 🙂
Beatrice Vogel
December 3, 2019 at 6:38 am

Hey David, Thanks for your message. Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks
ronen luzon
December 5, 2019 at 12:37 am

Hi, can I use my own serial number of Win 10 Pro?
Kayla Myrhow
December 5, 2019 at 10:32 am

Absolutely!
Shivani Rajpara
January 5, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Hello! I bought parallels and have been charged in the past. However, it keeps asking me to buy it again. I also realized my professor has a student version of parallels and was wondering if you could help me with it.
Thank yoU!
Kayla Myrhow
January 6, 2020 at 12:46 pm

Hey Shivani! Please reach out to our support team in order to get this handled. Additionally, check out if you qualify for our student discount - https://verify.sheerid.com/parallels-student/ A support team member will also be able to make sure that if you do qualify, that your account reflects that pricing and also solve the problem you’re facing with the account itself. You can connect with support directly via Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Thanks, Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager.
Anthony
January 11, 2020 at 2:37 pm

Just upgraded Parallels from 11 to 15. Now I am being asked to provide a windows 10 key. Why? My windows 10 is pretty old - back when the 7 to 10 upgrade was free. How do I proceed?
Kayla Myrhow
January 16, 2020 at 12:30 pm

Hey Anthony, Our licensing server for Windows 10 is directly tied and controlled by Microsoft. So, if you’re getting this error, go ahead and reach out to the Parallels Support team and see if we can help assist before sending you to Microsoft support. We’re here to help! (Sorry for the delay in response, our blog is not monitored by Support) Reach out via Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Thanks, Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager.
jazmin
January 16, 2020 at 2:07 pm

hola mira una pregunta compre parallels desktop para mac pro edition mi pregunta esta este programa me incluye usar access por que lo necesito
jazmin
January 16, 2020 at 2:11 pm

por favor ayudar me dice que mi windows no esta activado yo realice esta compra el dia de ayer de parallels desktp para mac
Beatrice Vogel
January 17, 2020 at 2:00 am

Hola Jazmin, Gracias for tu mensaje. No te preocupes, escríbenos un mensaje en Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares o en canal de contacto: http://www.parallels.com/support/ y estamos encantado de ayudarte. Muchas gracias
Beatrice Vogel
January 17, 2020 at 2:00 am

Hola Jazmin, Gracias for tu mensaje. No te preocupes, escríbenos un mensaje en Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares o en canal de contacto: http://www.parallels.com/support/ y estamos encantado de ayudarte. Muchas gracias
Alexandria B Lugo
January 21, 2020 at 3:36 am

So in order to use Parallels for windows, I have to purchase windows 10 and parallels?
Beatrice Vogel
January 21, 2020 at 6:54 am

Hey Alexandria, Thanks for reaching out. Yes exactly. You can install Windows in a VM with Parallels Desktop. There are multiple ways: You can install Windows from a DVD or an .iso disc image, or a bootable USB drive. Check out this article for further information: https://kb.parallels.com/4729. Thanks and have a nice day.
Duane Berry
January 21, 2020 at 8:53 am

I purchased Parallels for my MAC but it keeps telling me I haven’t purchased windows, which I thought I was doing when I purchased parallels. The product key for Parallels of course doesn’t wrk for windows. Do I need to purchase windows also.
Kayla Myrhow
January 21, 2020 at 9:17 am

Hey Duane! Yes, you’ll need to provide a license key for Microsoft Windows. Parallels Desktop is a virtualization software - you’ll need to provide any license keys to whatever software you’re desiring to virtualize on macOS. Let our support team know if you’d like any additional help. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/ Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager
joseph N. Mora
February 14, 2020 at 5:45 pm

LOST production key for my MacBook Pro that I installed several years ago.
Demeunynck Benoit
February 15, 2020 at 9:21 pm

I have a windows product key as well as a family account from Microsoft but I am unable to connect it with my recently purchased parallel software
Beatrice Vogel
February 17, 2020 at 3:12 am

Hey Joseph, Don’t worry. Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks
Beatrice Vogel
February 17, 2020 at 3:17 am

Hey, Don’t worry. Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know. Thanks
Tricia
February 22, 2020 at 12:04 pm

I have had windows for years. My subscription expired with the Windows 7 (?) I currently bought a new computer and installed Parellels. Is it possible to upgrade the old license key for the Windows 10?,, or do I need to start over.
Beatrice Vogel
February 26, 2020 at 6:45 am

Hey Tricia, Thanks for your message. Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further question
Keith Stewart
March 16, 2020 at 11:31 am

Hello. I have Windows 10 Home installed in Parallels Desktop. I want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. I have a license key for it already but when I enter the product key into Windows it will not accept it. I can’t seem to find a way to upgrade my Windows instance in Parallels to Pro. Can someone help, please?
Kayla Myrhow
March 30, 2020 at 10:34 am

Sorry for the delay - but thanks for your message, Keith! Our support team is happy to help you with this. Please reach out to them on Facebook https://www.messenger.com/t/ParallelsInc, Twitter https://twitter.com/ParallelsCares or any other of our support channels: http://www.parallels.com/support/. Any further questions let us know, we’re here to help. Kayla, Audience Marketing Manager at Parallels
Ian Murray
July 4, 2020 at 7:29 pm

Hi,

I purchased W10 Pro from Microsoft and it shows as W10 Enterprise and will not activate a product key. I’ve tried resetting/install and, as it’s regarded as an enterprise version, does not accept my outlook email address as it’s not a work or school id. What gives on the misrecognition. When I view my Most acct online it shows as W10 Pro purchase.
Beatrice Vogel
July 6, 2020 at 12:44 am

Hey Ian, We would love to help you but in this case you need to contact the Microsoft support. Thanks and let us know if you have further questions regarding Parallels Desktop