The Parsec download for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac is a free app from parsec.app that lets you connect to another computer and use it with low latency. The Windows installer is a 4.2 MB file, and the same page serves the Mac, Linux and Android versions.
Parsec is free for personal use. The paid Warp and Teams plans add features such as multiple monitors and team management, and they unlock on the same app with no second download.
This guide covers picking the right file, installing on Windows and Mac, the portable build, silent deployment, updates, fixes and removal.
Which Parsec download do you need?
Match the device you are using to the file. Hosting, meaning letting others connect to this computer, works only on Windows and macOS.
| Your device | Download | Size / note |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 or Windows 10, 64-bit, with admin rights | parsec-windows.exe | 4.2 MB, can host and join |
| Windows PC where you are not an administrator | parsec-flat-windows.zip (portable) | 7.7 MB, join only |
| Mac on macOS 10.15 or newer | Parsec for macOS | Pick macOS on the downloads page |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop | Parsec .deb for Linux | Pick Linux on the downloads page, join only |
| Android 9 or newer | Parsec on Google Play | Join only |
| Chromebook or any PC with Chrome | web.parsec.app | No install, cannot join Mac hosts |
Not sure which Windows you have? Open Settings > System > About and read the System type line.
Check the Parsec system requirements
Joining a session is light. Hosting needs a GPU with a hardware video encoder, and the display must be connected to that GPU.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Software | Parsec |
| Developer | Unity Technologies |
| Latest version | 150-104a |
| Licence | Free for personal use; paid Warp, Teams and Enterprise plans |
| Installer size | 4.2 MB (Windows), 7.7 MB portable zip |
| Supported OS | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), macOS 10.15+, Ubuntu 22.04, Android 9+ |
| Architecture | 64-bit Windows only; Metal-capable Macs |
| Client minimum (Windows) | Intel Core i5 3rd Gen, Intel HD 4000 or NVIDIA 600 series, 4 GB RAM |
| Host minimum (Windows) | Intel Core i5, Intel HD 4200, NVIDIA GTX 650 or AMD Radeon HD 7750, 4 GB RAM |
| Host recommended | Intel Xe, NVIDIA RTX 2000 series or AMD Radeon RX 5700, 8 GB RAM |
| Mac hosting | 2019 Mac hardware or later, including Apple M1 |
| Offline installer | No separate package; portable zip available |
| Official download source | parsec.app/downloads |
| Last verified | 2026-09-19 |
NVIDIA GT cards such as the GT 1030 usually lack the NVENC encoder, so they cannot host. Full GPU tables are on the hosting requirements page.
Download Parsec from the official site
Every official Parsec file comes from parsec.app or its build server, builds.parsec.app.
- Parsec for Windows 11 and 10 (64-bit installer) — 4.2 MB · Version 150-104a
- Parsec portable for Windows (zip) — 7.7 MB · No admin rights needed, cannot host
- Parsec downloads page (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Choose your platform
- Parsec for Android — Google Play
- Parsec web app — Chrome or Chromium browsers
You need a free Parsec account to connect. Create it on first launch or at parsec.app.
How to install Parsec on Windows 11 and 10
Run the installer from an account with administrator rights. Without them, use the portable build in the next section.
- Download parsec-windows.exe from parsec.app/downloads.
- Open your Downloads folder and double-click the installer.
- Tick Virtual Display Driver if the PC will run without a monitor, then click Next.
- Choose Per User or Per Computer as the install type and click Next.
- Wait for the installer to finish. It closes itself and opens Parsec.
- Log in, or click to create an account if you do not have one.
- Open Computers, pick the computer you want to reach and click Connect.
Hosting is on by default on Windows. Turn it off under Settings > Host > Hosting Enabled if this PC should only join.
Install Parsec silently on many PCs
Parsec ships no MSI. Admins deploy the same parsec-windows.exe with command-line flags, run as administrator.
A typical unattended per-computer install looks like this: parsec-windows.exe /silent /percomputer /norun . Test it on one machine before you push it out.
| Flag | What it does |
|---|---|
| Installer to deploy | parsec-windows.exe (4.2 MB) |
| /silent | Installs with no UI and no prompts |
| /norun | Does not start Parsec after installing |
| /percomputer | Per Computer install with login-screen access (replaces /shared) |
| /programfiles | Updates only the loader and service, keeping settings and login |
| /vdd | Also installs the Virtual Display Driver |
| /team_id= and /team_computer_key= | Provisions a Teams computer; implies /silent |
The install log lands in C:\Program Files\Parsec\install.log . The full flag list is in the Parsec App for Windows reference.
Run Parsec without installing it
The portable zip is for school, library or work PCs where you cannot install software. It can join other computers but cannot host.
- Download parsec-flat-windows.zip from parsec.app/downloads using the portable app link.
- Right-click the zip and select Extract All.
- Choose a folder you can write to, such as a USB stick or your Documents folder.
- Open the extracted folder and double-click the Parsec app to start it.
- Log in with your Parsec account and click Connect on the host.
You can run the portable app beside an installed copy to connect to two hosts at the same time.
Which Parsec download do you need for your Mac?
Parsec needs macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and a Mac with Metal support. It does not support case-sensitive file systems.
| Your Mac | Download | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Join other computers from a Mac | Parsec for macOS | Standard installer, macOS 10.15+ |
| Host, and you need the login screen | Login-screen installer guide | Custom installer with extra requirements |
| Host on macOS 13 Ventura or newer | Parsec for macOS | Audio works without a driver from 150-88 |
| Host on macOS 12 or older | Parsec Audio Capture Driver 0.0.4 | Needed to stream host audio |
To install, double-click the installer, click Continue, then Install and Close. Parsec then appears in Applications.
Hosting needs Microphone, Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions. Click Setup on the Computers tab and Parsec walks you through each one.
Is Parsec free?
The free plan and the paid plans use the same app. You upgrade the account, not the download.
Yes, Parsec is free for personal, non-commercial use, including hosting, 60 FPS streaming and gamepad support. Individuals (Warp) costs $8.33 per user per month billed annually, or $9.99 monthly, and adds up to three monitors, 4:4:4 color, privacy mode and Wacom pressure support. Teams costs $30 per user per month billed annually and is required for commercial use.
Enterprise is $45 per user per month, billed annually only. Any site selling a “Parsec Pro” download is not Parsec; paid features unlock on your account at parsec.app/pricing.
How to choose between a Per User and Per Computer Parsec install
The Windows installer asks this once. The choice decides whether Parsec is reachable before anyone signs in to Windows.
Pick Per Computer if you want to reach this PC from the Windows login screen, for example after a reboot. Pick Per User on a shared family PC where each person uses their own Parsec account. Per Computer runs Parsec under the SYSTEM account for everyone on the machine and stores data in %programdata%\Parsec. Per User keeps a separate account per Windows user in %appdata%\Parsec but starts only after that user logs in.
A Per Computer install replaces any existing Per User installs on that PC.
How to check your Parsec version and update it
Compare your build number with the newest entry on the Parsec changelog, currently 150-104a.
- Open Parsec and click the Settings cog.
- Hover over the build number at the top right to see the build and its release date.
- Open parsec.app/changelog and check the newest app release.
- If yours is older, download the latest installer from parsec.app/downloads.
- Run it and follow the same prompts as the first install.
Admins can refresh only the loader and service with parsec-windows.exe /programfiles /silent .
What Parsec can do on each platform
Every platform can join a host. Only Windows and macOS can be hosts.
| Platform | Join a host | Be a host |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) | Yes | Yes |
| Windows portable app | Yes | No |
| macOS 10.15 or newer | Yes | Yes |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Desktop | Yes | No |
| Android 9 or newer | Yes | No |
| Web app in Chrome | Yes, except Mac hosts | No |
| iPhone, iPad, Safari | No | No |
| Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 32-bit Windows | Deprecated | Deprecated |
The web app skips hardware decoding, so expect more lag than the desktop app. Switch to the download if you see errors 6200 or 3200X.
Fix Parsec not installing or opening on Windows
Find the symptom that matches, then work through its fix in order.
The installer disappears or stops partway
Antivirus software, often Segurazo (also called Santivirus or Segantivirus), removes the file.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and look for Segurazo.
- Uninstall it completely and restart the PC.
- If it will not uninstall, start Windows in safe mode and remove it with a malware removal tool.
- Download a fresh copy from parsec.app/downloads and run it.
Parsec installs but will not open
Your antivirus blocks the Parsec loader.
- Open your antivirus program’s allow list or exclusions.
- Add C:\Program Files\Parsec\parsecd.exe .
- Start Parsec from the Start menu.
You get an administrator prompt you cannot pass
Your Windows account lacks admin rights.
- Download the portable zip from parsec.app/downloads.
- Extract it and run Parsec from the extracted folder.
- Use it to join computers; hosting needs the full install.
Hosting fails on a laptop with error -14003
The dedicated GPU is not wired to the laptop display.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Set Parsec to use the integrated GPU.
- Restart Parsec and try hosting again.
Still stuck? Parsec takes requests through support.parsec.app; the old support email no longer handles tickets.
How to uninstall Parsec
Use the Windows uninstaller rather than deleting folders. Deleting files by hand leaves registry entries and drivers behind.
- Right-click the Parsec tray icon and quit Parsec.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Parsec, click the three-dot menu and select Uninstall.
- Confirm, then remove any Parsec Virtual Display Driver or Virtual USB Adapter Driver entries listed there.
- Delete %appdata%\Parsec for a Per User install, or %programdata%\Parsec for a Per Computer install.
- Restart the PC.
On a Mac on macOS 12 or older, remove the audio driver with the official audio driver uninstaller.
Frequently asked questions
Is Parsec free?
Yes. Parsec is free for personal, non-commercial use on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and the web. The paid Individuals (Warp) plan adds multi-monitor streaming, 4:4:4 color and Wacom pressure support. Commercial use needs a Teams or Enterprise plan.
Where is the official Parsec download page?
The official page is parsec.app/downloads. It serves the Windows installer from builds.parsec.app and links the macOS, Linux, Android and web versions. Parsec is published by Unity Technologies, so any other download site is a third-party copy.
Does Parsec work on Windows 11?
Yes. Parsec supports 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11, and both can join and host sessions. The same parsec-windows.exe installer covers both versions.
How big is the Parsec download?
The Windows installer, parsec-windows.exe, is 4.2 MB. The portable zip for PCs where you are not an administrator is 7.7 MB.
Is there a Parsec offline installer?
Parsec lists no separate offline package. The standard Windows installer is 4.2 MB, and the portable zip holds the full 64-bit app that you extract and run without installing.
Is Parsec available for Mac?
Yes. Parsec runs on macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer on Macs with Metal support, and it can host as well as join. Download it from parsec.app/downloads, or use the separate login-screen installer if you need remote access at the Mac login screen.
Is Parsec 64-bit, and does it run on 32-bit Windows?
Parsec for Windows is 64-bit only. Parsec deprecated 32-bit Windows on May 8, 2024, so it needs 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. The downloads page offers only a 64-bit Windows build.
Is Parsec safe to download?
Yes, when you download it from parsec.app. The installer comes from builds.parsec.app, and connections between computers are encrypted peer-to-peer. Avoid download portals that repackage the installer.
What is the latest version of Parsec?
The newest Parsec app release is 150-104a, dated June 23, 2026 on the official changelog. Hover over the build number at the top right of Parsec Settings to see the build you have installed.
Why won’t Parsec install?
Antivirus software is the usual cause, and Parsec names Segurazo as a common culprit. Remove it, restart and run the installer again. If Parsec installs but will not open, allow C:\Program Files\Parsec\parsecd.exe in your antivirus.
Does Parsec work on Windows 7?
No. Parsec deprecated Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 on October 1, 2022, and it is no longer maintained on them. Use 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Can I use Parsec on iPhone or iPad?
No. Parsec does not support iOS or iPadOS, and the web client does not work in Safari. Android phones and tablets can use the Parsec app from Google Play.
Can I use Parsec without installing it?
Yes. Use the portable zip from parsec.app/downloads on a Windows PC where you lack admin rights, or open web.parsec.app in Chrome. Neither option can host a session.
