How to Fix Network Issues in Parallels Desktop for Mac

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Parallels Desktop for Mac is a very popular software that allows you to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems on your Mac computer. Although it offers powerful virtualization capabilities, sometimes users may encounter network problems while using Parallels Desktop. These network problems can be frustrating, but they are usually easy to fix. In this article, we will explore various solutions to network problems within Parallels Desktop, ensuring that you can connect your virtual machines to the Internet smoothly.

Understanding the problem

Before you begin troubleshooting, it's important to understand what kind of network problem you're facing. Here are some common network problems in Parallels Desktop:

• The virtual machine (VM) is unable to access the Internet.
• The VM cannot connect to specific websites or services.
• The VM host doesn't show up in the Mac's network.

These problems may arise from configuration issues, network settings, or software bugs. Below, we will discuss step-by-step methods to effectively troubleshoot and address these problems.

1. Check your internet connection

First and foremost, make sure your Mac has an active and stable internet connection. You can do this by trying to access a website or ping a server through the Terminal on your Mac. If your Mac has internet connectivity issues, it will directly impact the virtual machines running in Parallels.

If the Mac's Internet connection is fine, proceed to the next step.

2. Verify the network adapter settings in Parallels Desktop

The next step in troubleshooting network issues in Parallels Desktop is to verify the network adapter settings for your VM. Follow these steps:

1. Open Parallels Desktop and shut down the virtual machine that is experiencing network issues.
2. Select the virtual machine and click the “Settings” gear icon.
3. In the Settings window, look for the “Hardware” tab.
4. Select "Network" from the menu on the left.
5. Make sure "Connected" is checked.
6. Make sure the network adapter is set to either "Shared Network (recommended)" or "Bridged Network". The shared network should work for most users, providing internet access to the VM using the host's connection.
7. Alternatively, try switching between "Shared Network" and "Bridged Network" to see if one configuration works better than the other.

Apply these settings and restart your VM. Test network connectivity within the VM to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Check and reset the TCP/IP configuration

Sometimes, incorrect TCP/IP configuration in the virtual machine's operating system can cause problems. You can reset the TCP/IP stack to default settings:

For Windows VM:

Open Command Prompt as administrator and execute the following command:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Restart your Windows VM to apply these changes.

For Linux VM:

Open a terminal window and use these commands to restart the networking service:

sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart

Reboot your Linux VM if necessary.

4. Update Parallels Desktop and Guest Tools

It's important to make sure you're running the latest version of Parallels Desktop, as network issues can often be addressed in updates. Check for updates by following these steps:

1. Open Parallels Desktop.
2. In the top menu bar, click "Parallels Desktop" and then select "Check for Updates."
3. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.

Additionally, updating the parallel tools inside your VM may help resolve connectivity issues:

1. Start your VM.
2. At the top of the screen, click "Actions," then select "Reinstall Parallels Tools."
3. Follow the installation prompts in your VM, and restart when prompted.

5. Firewall and security software

Sometimes, security software and firewalls can block network connectivity. Temporarily disable any firewall or security software on both the host Mac and the guest VM to test connectivity.

For macOS, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall and turn it off to check. On Windows, go to Control Panel > System & Security > Windows Firewall and turn it off temporarily.

If disabling the firewall resolves the issue, consider adding Parallels Desktop and the VM as exceptions.

6. DNS problems

If your VM connects to the network but cannot access some websites, it may be a DNS problem. Changing the DNS server can often resolve this:

For Windows VM:

Go to Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings > right-click your network adapter and select Properties. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). In the new window, select "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter Google's DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

For Linux VM:

Edit the /etc/resolv.conf file with your favorite text editor:

sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

Add these lines:

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

7. Bridge mode specifications

When using bridged network mode, make sure there are no conflicts with your network's IP address assignments. If you have many devices on your network, IP address conflicts may occur.

1. Check your network's router settings or DHCP server to determine the available IP addresses.
2. Verify that your VM's IP address is within the valid range and is not a duplicate.
3. You can manually set a static IP in the VM to ensure it doesn’t conflict with other devices.

8. Verify network preferences in macOS

Sometimes the network settings on a Mac itself can cause problems. Try the following steps:

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
2. Click "Network."
3. Make sure the active network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) is at the top of the list. You can rearrange it by clicking the gear icon at the bottom of the list and selecting "Set service order."

After making these changes, restart your Mac and check your VM network connectivity once again.

9. Reset network configuration on macOS

If all else fails, you can try resetting the network configuration on macOS:

WARNING: This will delete the saved networks/preferences, and you will need to reconnect to them manually.

1. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.
2. Type the following command to back up the existing preferences:

sudo cp -r /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration.old

3. Now, delete the network preferences:

sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
sudo rm /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist

4. Restart your Mac to regenerate the network configuration files.

Conclusion

Network problems in Parallels Desktop for Mac can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from simple misconfigurations to more complex software interactions. The steps outlined above will help you diagnose and potentially fix many of these common network problems. Remember to double-check each step and apply the changes carefully. Always make sure your software is up to date for optimal performance and compatibility.

If the issue persists, consider contacting Parallels support for more customized assistance or consulting network troubleshooting professionals to ensure your environment is configured correctly.

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