.PVM File Extension
Parallels Virtual Machine
| Developer | Parallels |
| Popularity |
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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 stores all of the information (in the macOS package directory structure) for a virtual machine required by Parallels Desktop for Mac to load and run an operating system, such as Windows or macOS.
More Information
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 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 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 in Parallels Desktop for Mac, and choose your PVM file.
Opening a PVM file as a macOS package
In macOS, you can right-click a PVM file and select 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.