You can create and run virtual machines without buying a VMware hypervisor license. Use Workstation Pro on a 64-bit Windows or Linux PC, or Fusion Pro on an Intel or Apple-silicon Mac. VMware says current Pro installers include a free license by default, and its November 11, 2024 announcement made the products free for commercial, educational, and personal use.
The hypervisor is free; the operating system inside your VM is not automatically free. You still need legitimate installation media and any license required by Windows or another guest OS. The steps below take you from choosing the right application through guest installation, VMware Tools, security settings, snapshots, and common fixes.
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Choose the VMware application for your computer
The host is the physical computer on which the virtualization software runs. Select the application by host platform, not by the operating system you want to install inside the VM.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Host computer | Application | Important guest notes |
|---|---|---|
| 64-bit Windows PC | Workstation Pro | Windows 11 and many Linux distributions are supported guests. |
| 64-bit Linux PC | Workstation Pro | Guest support depends on the distribution and its kernel or hardware requirements. |
| Intel Mac | Fusion Pro | Windows and many Linux guests are supported. |
| Apple-silicon Mac (M-series) | Fusion Pro | Use an ARM-compatible guest where required. Windows 11 means the ARM edition. |
Workstation Pro is not the Mac product, and Fusion Pro is not the Windows or Linux PC product. Trying to use the wrong installer is the first and most avoidable setup error.
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What “free” means in the current license
The Pro hypervisor license
VMware’s Desktop Hypervisor Frequently Asked Questions says: “Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro installers, now by default, provide a free personal-use license built in.” VMware also announced on November 11, 2024 that both products became free for commercial, educational, and personal users. A May 14, 2026 release announcement says Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro 26H1 remain free for those three use categories and are distributed through the Broadcom Support Portal.
That change removes the old purchase decision for normal desktop use. Installers from the current free-download area should activate with the included license rather than requiring you to buy a Pro key.
What is not included
Free VMware software does not grant you a Windows license, a Linux support contract, or permission to download commercial operating-system images from unofficial sources. Obtain an ISO or other installer from the operating-system publisher, and follow that publisher’s activation and redistribution terms. A VM is a separate computer from the host for licensing purposes in many products, so check the guest vendor’s rules if you are deploying more than a personal test machine.
Prepare the host and guest before installing
Check the host architecture and capacity
Confirm that a Windows or Linux PC is 64-bit before downloading Workstation Pro. On a Mac, identify whether the processor is Intel or Apple silicon from macOS Apple menu > About This Mac. Apple-silicon Macs need guests built for the ARM architecture when the guest cannot run through an emulation or translation layer.
Virtualization divides the host’s processor time, memory, storage, and graphics capability. VMware does not publish one universal minimum allocation that fits every guest. Plan from the guest’s workload and leave enough capacity for the host to remain responsive.
| Guest workload | Allocation approach | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Light Linux command-line or desktop test | Start with modest virtual CPU and memory values, then increase only if the guest is paging or sluggish. | Small allocations let the host run other applications comfortably. |
| Windows 11 desktop | Provide the CPU, memory, storage, Secure Boot, and virtual TPM resources required by the Windows edition you are installing. | Windows setup checks firmware and security features in addition to disk space. |
| Development tools, databases, or builds | Reserve more memory and fast disk space, but keep a substantial margin for the host. | Compilers and databases can consume resources in bursts and make an overcommitted host unusable. |
| 3D or graphics work | Enable virtual 3D graphics and verify the host GPU and architecture support the required API. | Virtual graphics capability varies by host; Apple-silicon limits apply in Fusion Pro. |
Gather a legitimate guest installer
Download the guest ISO or installer image before opening the VM wizard. Windows 11 and many Linux distributions are supported guests. On Apple silicon, choose an ARM image when the distribution offers separate x86-64 and ARM downloads. Keep any activation key, account credentials, and network requirements available; VMware cannot supply them.
Download the free Pro installer from Broadcom
- Open the Broadcom Support Portal and sign in or create the account it requires for software downloads.
- Enter the portal’s free software downloads area rather than using a third-party mirror or a repackaged installer.
- Select Workstation Pro for a Windows or Linux PC, or Fusion Pro for an Intel or Apple-silicon Mac.
- Choose the current release. VMware’s download guidance recommends Workstation Pro 17.6.2 or later and Fusion Pro 13.6.2 or later when you want to avoid older installers that may display legacy license-key prompts. The 26H1 line is identified by VMware’s May 14, 2026 announcement as free for commercial, educational, and personal use.
- Verify the file is the installer supplied by the portal, then run it with an administrator account on Windows or Linux, or open the package on macOS and follow the installation prompts.
If an old installer asks you to enter a paid key, stop and check its version. Updating to the recommended release or a newer current build is preferable to entering a key from an unverified website.
Create the virtual machine
The wizard labels are similar in Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro, although their windows and platform-specific options differ.
Start a new VM
- Launch the hypervisor and choose Create New VM (also shown as New Virtual Machine in some builds).
- Choose the normal or typical configuration unless you need to set unusual firmware, controller, or compatibility options manually. Advanced or custom configuration is useful when matching an existing VM or a specific lab standard.
Point the wizard to the installer
- Select the guest ISO or installation source when prompted. If you do not yet have media, choose the option to install the operating system later and attach the ISO after the VM is created.
- Let the wizard detect the operating-system family and version, then check the detected value. A wrong family can select unsuitable virtual hardware or firmware defaults.
Name and store the VM
Give the VM a descriptive name such as “Windows 11 ARM test” or “Ubuntu development.” Store its files on a drive with more free space than the virtual disk’s nominal size. A dynamically expanding disk still grows as the guest writes data, and snapshots consume additional space.
Set processor and memory values
Open the VM’s hardware settings before the first boot. Assign virtual CPUs and memory according to the workload you identified earlier. Do not allocate nearly all host RAM or every processor thread: the host needs memory for the hypervisor, graphics, file cache, and your other applications. If the host becomes unresponsive, power off the VM and reduce its allocation rather than repeatedly forcing the host to restart.
Create the virtual disk
Select a virtual disk capacity that covers the guest OS, updates, applications, and working data. Splitting a disk into multiple files can help with some file systems and backup workflows; a single file can be simpler to move. Neither option changes the guest’s usable capacity. Keep the VM on fast local storage when possible, and include the VM directory in a backup plan if it contains important work.
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Use UEFI firmware when the guest requires it. Enable Secure Boot and add a virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) when the guest OS or your security policy calls for them. VMware lists encryption, vTPM, and Secure Boot among Pro features, but architecture-specific limits apply in Fusion Pro on Apple silicon. Encryption protects the VM’s files only when you also protect the encryption password or key; losing that secret can make the VM unrecoverable.
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Configure networking and sharing deliberately
Choose a network mode that matches the job. A normal shared or NAT-style connection is convenient for updates and web access; a bridged connection places the VM more directly on the physical network and may be required for testing network services. Use host-only or disconnected networking for malware analysis or isolated labs. Enable shared folders only when you need host-to-guest file exchange, because every additional integration expands the data path between the two systems.
Install and start the guest operating system
Windows 11
- Start the VM and boot from the Windows 11 ISO.
- Follow Microsoft’s setup screens for edition, disk selection, account creation, updates, and activation.
- If setup reports missing requirements, power off the VM and confirm that UEFI, Secure Boot, vTPM, memory, processors, and disk capacity match the Windows edition’s requirements.
- Activate Windows using a license authorized for that installation. VMware’s free hypervisor license does not activate Windows.
Linux distributions
- Boot from the distribution’s ISO and select the normal install or live environment.
- Choose the virtual disk and partitioning scheme carefully; selecting the VM disk erases only that virtual disk, not the host’s physical disk.
- Install updates, create a user, and enable encryption or secure boot options supported by the distribution and VM firmware.
- Reboot when prompted and disconnect the ISO if the VM repeatedly returns to the installer.
Apple-silicon considerations
Fusion Pro runs on Intel and Apple-silicon Macs, but the guest architecture must be considered separately. An x86-64 ISO is not automatically interchangeable with an ARM ISO. For Windows, use Windows 11 for ARM on an Apple-silicon Mac. For Linux, select an ARM64 build when the distribution provides one. Some kernel modules, binary-only drivers, nested virtualization features, and graphics workloads may not be available on ARM even when the same operating system name appears in a compatibility list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Install VMware Tools after the first successful boot
Once the guest reaches its desktop or login prompt, install VMware Tools inside the guest. VMware describes Tools as guest utilities and drivers that improve performance and functionality. Depending on the guest, Tools can improve pointer integration, display resizing, time synchronization, file operations, and network or storage drivers.
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- Use the hypervisor’s menu to mount or install VMware Tools for the running VM.
- Run the installer inside the guest with the privileges it requests.
- Restart the guest when prompted.
- Confirm that the display, mouse, network, and any enabled shared-folder feature behave normally before creating a baseline snapshot.
Do not assume that a VM is fully optimized simply because the operating system installed. Tools versions and supported components differ by guest, so follow the installer’s prompts and the guest distribution’s package guidance where applicable.
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Save a clean baseline with snapshots
After updates, drivers, and essential applications are working, shut down or suspend the guest as appropriate and create a snapshot. Give it a specific description, such as “Fresh Windows 11 setup with Tools.” A snapshot is a rollback point, not a backup: it depends on the original virtual disk files and can consume substantial storage as the VM changes.
Use snapshots before risky software tests or major configuration changes, then delete or consolidate obsolete snapshots. Keep independent copies of important VM files on another drive or backup system. Encrypt the VM when it contains sensitive data, and protect both the host account and any VM encryption credentials.
Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro feature comparison
| Capability | Workstation Pro | Fusion Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Supported host | 64-bit Windows and Linux PCs | Intel and Apple-silicon Macs |
| Create new VMs | Yes | Yes |
| Windows 11 guest | Supported | Supported; Windows 11 for ARM is used on Apple silicon |
| Linux guests | Supported | Many distributions supported |
| Snapshots | Available | Available |
| Encryption, vTPM, Secure Boot | Available | Available, with architecture-specific limits |
| Networking and shared folders | Available | Available |
| 3D graphics | DirectX and OpenGL support; exact capability depends on the host | DirectX and OpenGL support; Apple-silicon limits apply |
Troubleshoot the problems that occur most often
The portal shows a key prompt or no free download
Check that you selected the current free-download area and that the installer meets the recommended version threshold: Workstation Pro 17.6.2 or later, or Fusion Pro 13.6.2 or later. Older builds may retain legacy prompts. Do not download a modified installer or a key from a forum.
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Confirm that the ISO is complete and matches the guest architecture. Remove the ISO after installation so the VM boots from its virtual disk. For Windows 11, verify UEFI, Secure Boot, and vTPM settings. For Apple silicon, replace an x86-64 image with an ARM-compatible image when required.
The host becomes slow
Power off the VM, reduce virtual memory or CPU count, close other heavy host applications, and check free storage. Avoid assigning all host resources to one guest. Snapshots and a nearly full disk can also reduce performance; consolidate old snapshots and free space.
Networking does not work
Test the simplest shared or NAT-style mode first, then check the guest’s network adapter and driver. Bridged mode can fail on restricted Wi-Fi or managed networks even when NAT works. For an intentionally isolated lab, confirm that the lack of connectivity is the selected behavior rather than a driver failure.
Tools install but integration is missing
Restart the guest, verify that the Tools installation completed without errors, and check whether the guest distribution supplies its own supported Tools packages. Some integration features are unavailable for particular guest kernels or Apple-silicon combinations.
Quick Recap
A practical free-VM checklist
- Identify the host as a 64-bit Windows/Linux PC, Intel Mac, or Apple-silicon Mac.
- Download Workstation Pro or Fusion Pro from the Broadcom Support Portal’s free software area.
- Prefer Workstation Pro 17.6.2 or later and Fusion Pro 13.6.2 or later.
- Obtain a legitimate guest ISO and confirm its architecture.
- Create the VM, select the installer, and verify the detected guest family and version.
- Allocate CPU, memory, storage, and graphics resources while preserving host capacity.
- Enable UEFI, Secure Boot, and vTPM when the guest requires them.
- Install and activate the guest OS under its own license terms.
- Install VMware Tools, reboot, and test display, input, network, and storage integration.
- Create a named baseline snapshot and maintain separate backups for valuable VM data.
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