How to start an original Google Android image in Parallels Desktop?
If I just try to create a new virtual machine from the img from Factory Images for Nexus Devices (e. g. for Pixel C), it tells me: „Unable to detect operating system“:
And if I continue selecting Android manually, it tells me: „No boot device is available“:
How to install this image as a virtual machine in Parallels?
Or how to find the right Google Android image which is possible to install in Parallels?
I'd like to use an official Android image from Google without a risk the image will contain any Adware etc.
Best Answer
That's not really how this works. The Android device images are not bootable images or installers or something. They contain a packed copy of the Android OS specifically built for the targeted device as well as all required hardware drivers. No virtualisation software will find any bootable code in such a firmware file.
Also most VMMs (including Parallels) virtualise x86/x64 processors, while almost all Android devies use an ARM processor. You could try an x86 port like Android-x86 or Remix OS.