Where Does Parallels Store Virtual Machines?
Parallels keeps each VM in a .pvm bundle. The default folder on Mac and how the App Store build differs.
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Parallels Desktop stores each virtual machine as a .pvm bundle. The bundle wraps the config, virtual disks, and snapshots in one Finder item. Since version 12 the default folder is ~/Parallels. Version 11 and earlier used ~/Documents/Parallels.
The Mac App Store build is sandboxed and uses ~/Library/Group Containers/.../Shared/Parallels instead. Apple Silicon macOS guests use .macvm rather than .pvm. Right click a VM in Control Center and pick Show in Finder to jump to the real file.
Where Parallels Desktop stores this, by platform
~/Parallels
Each VM is Name.pvm (or .macvm for Apple Silicon macOS guests). Change the default for new VMs under Preferences, General, Virtual Machines Folder. Move bundles only while shut down.
Frequently asked questions
how do i find a lost parallels vm
Open Finder and search for .pvm, or run find / -iname *.pvm in Terminal. Spotlight indexes the bundles, so the Kind filter for Parallels virtual machine narrows it fast. Control Center also offers Show in Finder per VM.
how do i move the parallels vm folder
Open Parallels Desktop Preferences, then General, and pick a new Virtual Machines Folder. New VMs go there; existing ones stay put until you move the .pvm files by hand. Copy the bundle while the VM is shut down.
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