Where Are Parallels VMs Stored?
Parallels Desktop stores VMs as .pvm bundles in the user Parallels folder on macOS. App Store installs use a sandboxed container path instead.
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A .pvm item looks like one file in Finder but it is a bundle with disks and config inside. Most users need only the bundle path for backup or transfer.
Location depends on edition. Standard, Pro, and Business editions share the default home folder path, while the App Store edition uses a Group Containers path.
Where Parallels Desktop stores this, by platform
/Users/<username>/Parallels
<username> is the macOS account name. Each VM is a <vmname>.pvm bundle. Alternate shared location is /Users/Shared/Parallels. Find the exact VM with Control Center, then Show in Finder.
/Users/<username>/Library/Group Containers/4C6364ACXT.com.parallels.desktop.appstore/Shared/Parallels
<username> is the macOS account name. This is the default for Parallels Desktop App Store Edition, which runs sandboxed. Use Go to Folder in Finder to open it.
Frequently asked questions
What is inside a .pvm file?
It is a bundle with the virtual disk, VM config, snapshots, and logs. Right click it and select Show Package Contents to inspect files, but do not edit them while the VM runs.
How do I move a VM to another drive?
Shut down the VM, quit Parallels Desktop, then move the .pvm bundle in Finder. Double click the moved bundle once to re-register it.
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