How to Find Windows Virtual Machine Size in Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Using Parallels app is one of the easiest ways to install Windows virtual machine on your Mac. However, you should be careful about the generic storage problem that comes with macOS. Though most MacBook models are available starting from 256GB size, half of its storage space will go for System Data, Other and macOS files. Having large Windows 11 virtual machine on such MacBook storage can easily crash or slowdown your Mac. After installing Windows 11 on your Mac with Parallels Desktop, you may wonder how much storage space is occupied by the virtual machine. Here are few methods you can find the actual storage space occupied by Windows 11 virtual machine on your Mac.

Windows Virtual Machine Size in Mac

In this article, I explain with Windows 11 installed using Parallels Desktop app from Mac App Store. You can follow the same steps if you have installed Windows 10 and using Parallels standard or other editions from website.

Method 1 – Check from File Explorer Drive Size

• Launch your Windows machine and open the File Explorer.
• Go to “This PC” section and check the size of your drives.
• Total used size of your drives is the total space occupied by Windows virtual machine.

It is easy for me to check the size as I have a single C drive. You may need to add the total size of all drives if you have multiple partitions. As you can see, 212GB is free out of 254GB total drive size. This means 42GB is currently used by Windows virtual machine on the Mac.

The total size 254GB you see in File Explorer is the maximum size C drive can expand for your Windows installation. So, do not confuse with the total size as this is NOT the actual size of your current installation. 42GB is the size of your installation and you can get the exact size from the drive’s properties (right-click on the drive and select “Properties”).

If File Explorer is confusing, follow one of the below methods especially when you have multiple partitions in Windows.

Method 2 – Check from Windows Configuration

• Launch Parallels Desktop app and go to Windows startup screen.
• Go to “Actions” menu and select “Configure” option.

• Alternatively, click the Parallels Desktop icon on Mac’s top bar and select “Configure” option.

• This will open your Windows 11 virtual machine configuration and go to “General” tab.
• Check the “Total Size” to find the size occupied by Window virtual machine.

As you can see, the size is 42.99 GB and not 254 GB as shown in File Explorer.

Method 3 – Check from Parallels Desktop App

Instead of Windows configuration, you can also check the size from Parallels Desktop app Control Center.

• Launch Parallels Desktop app, click on the top bar icon and select “Control Center” option.

• Alternatively, right-click on Parallels Desktop app icon on Dock and select “Control Center” option.

• Right-click on your Windows virtual machine and select “Show in Finder” option.

• This will open Windows 11 Parallels Virtual Machine (.pvm) file in Finder which contains all your Windows virtual machine data. You can check the file size from the preview pane. Otherwise, right-click on the file, select “Get Info” menu and check the size under “General” section.

As you can see the Windows 11.pvm file is exactly 42.99 GB as seen in Windows 11 configuration section.

Method 4 – Manually Check in Finder

Parallels Desktop app stores Windows data as a .pvm file which is located in one of the following locations on your Mac. The first path is for the Parallels app installed from Mac App Store and the second one is for the standard version installed from the website.

/Users/<Username>/Library/Group Containers/4C6364ACXT.com.parallels.desktop.appstore/Shared/Parallels

Or

/Users/<Username>/Library/Group Containers/4C6364ACXT.com.parallels.Desktop/Shared/Parallels

• Open Finder app and go to “Go > Go to Folder…” menu.

• Type ~/Library/Group Containers/, double click on that path from the dropdown and go to that folder.

• Here find and open “Shared” folder from “——.com.parallels.desktop.—” folder.

• Go to “Parallels” folder and find “Windows 11.pvm” file (you will see Windows 10.pvm for Windows 10 installation).
• Right-click on the file and select “Get Info” option.

• Check the file size on the top right corner or under “General > Size” section.

Windows Virtual Machine Data in Mac Storage

Though Parallels app compress and stores entire Windows virtual machine’s data in a single “.pvm” file, Mac will not show the storage under “Parallels Desktop” app.

• Click the Apple logo and go to “System Settings…” menu.
• Go to “General > Storage” section in the Settings app.
• As you can see, “Applications” has only 9.04GB and click on the information icon next to it.

• Find Parallels Desktop app which is only 309.4MB in size. So, do not confuse this as your Windows virtual machine data size.

• Close the pop-up and scroll to bottom in the previous screen (General > Storage setting). You will see the last option as “System Data” which is the one includes your Windows virtual machine size. That’s the reason “System Data” has huge 74.06GB size which includes 42.99GB Windows 11 data.

Final Words

Now you know where Parallels Desktop app stores Windows 11 virtual machine file. Mac storage section will not show the virtual machine setup clearly and include it as a System Data. Since it is a single file, you can also backup and restore it easily.