While the program description states that Parallels simply collects configuration data, the related I had to search the company’s website toįind the details. One other setting of interest is the (checked by default) “Participate in the Customer Experience Program.” Parallels provides no in-app information on what this program is or how it works. The Advanced settings tab in the Parallels Access Mac agent contains some options you may want to modify. This option prevents others from being able to view your screen while you’re working via your iOS device. In particular, if your Mac is in an office or other visible location, you’ll want to check the “Lock this computer when working remotely” box (it’s not checked by default). The Advanced tab in Preferences contains a number of useful settings. In that Preferences window, you can access your Parallels account settings (though this actually opens a webpage in your default browser), and enable or disable access to the Mac. The Mac agent app displays a systemwide menu that hosts only a few menu entries: Turn Off Access, Preferences, Check for Updates, Report a Problem, About, and Quit. These subscription “features” are skewed heavily in Parallels’ favor, especially as one-year plans expire and consumers find themselves paying for a non-refundable second year they may not really have wanted. Subscriptions are also non-refundable, so once you buy, you’re in.

Original version of Parallels Access was $80 per year per computer, so the price has been lowered dramatically.) The company offers a free 14-day trial, so you can see how well the package works before committing.Īnd committing you will be, as subscription plans auto-renew, with no way to opt out of the auto-renewal at signup time. With the app on your iOS device and the agent running on your Mac, you just need one more thing:Īn annual subscription, which costs $20 for one year (or $30 for two years) and allows you to access up to five computers.

Parallels access subscription