.PVM File Extension

Parallels Virtual Machine

Developer Parallels
Popularity
3.5  |  28 Votes
 

What is a PVM file?

A PVM file is a virtual machine created by Parallels Desktop for Mac, a virtualization application for Macs that can run other operating systems. It is a macOS package that stores all of the information for a virtual machine required by Parallels Desktop for Mac to load and run an operating system, such as Windows or macOS.

More Information

Screenshot of a .pvm file in Parallels Desktop for Mac 19
PVM file open in Parallels Desktop for Mac 19

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a program that allows Mac users to run Windows, Linux, Android, and additional versions of macOS on their computers. When you create a virtual machine (VM) with Parallels Desktop for Mac, the software creates a PVM file to store its contents. To create a PVM file, select File → New... or click + in the Control Center.

Each PVM file is a macOS package that contains all the files Parallels Desktop for Mac needs to launch an operating system. One of these files is an .HDD file, which stores the files saved to your virtual machine's hard drive. For example, a Windows virtual machine's HDD file includes all the Windows program files you have added to that virtual machine. Another file located within a PVM file is the Parallels Desktop Configuration .PVS file, which contains settings for the VM.

NOTE: Since PVM files contain all of the information for a VM, you can move a VM to another computer by moving the PVM file.

How to open a PVM file

You can open a PVM file as a virtual machine with Parallels Desktop for Mac on your Mac. To open a PVM file, place your file in the folder you set as the default location for storing virtual machines (Parallels default location is Macintosh HD/​Users/​[username]/​Documents/​Parallels/​), select File → Open in Parallels Desktop for Mac, and choose your PVM file.

Opening a PVM file as a macOS package

PVM file open in Apple Finder
PVM file open in Apple Finder

In macOS, you can right-click a PVM file and select Show Package Contents to view the package's directories and files with Apple Finder. Files you may find stored within a PVM file include PVS, HDD, .LOG, .ISO, and .DAT files.

NOTE: Modifying the contents in a PVM file may corrupt the virtual machine.

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Programs that open PVM files

HP Photo Album

Developer HP
Popularity
2.5  |  11 Votes
 

Digital photo album created with HP digital camera software; contains a list of images imported from an HP digital camera; often named "album.pvm" or "index.pvm;" used by HP Image Zone Express, which has been replaced by Photosmart software.

Programs that open PVM files

Windows
HP Image Zone Express

Photo Video Manifest File

Developer OSTA
Popularity
2.7  |  7 Votes
 

Index file used for organizing collections of digital content; developed by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) as part of the Music/Photo/Video (MPV) standard; formatted in XML.

More Information

PVM files may be generated by various digital media devices such as printers and digital cameras. They can be read by any program that supports PVM format.

Programs that open PVM files

Windows
OSTA MPV Reader, Writer, or Player
HP Image Zone
Visual MIBrowser
Mac
HP Image Zone

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