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You can install Windows 10 in VMware Workstation Pro on a supported 64-bit Intel or AMD Windows or Linux computer by creating a virtual machine, booting it from a Microsoft Windows 10 ISO, completing Windows Setup, and installing VMware Tools. As of September 2026, VMware’s current desktop release is Workstation Pro 26H1. Important: Windows 10 Home and Pro reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so a new VM is best suited to legacy software, compatibility testing, or isolated lab use—not as an internet-connected everyday system.
Before you begin: check support, host hardware, and licensing
Installing Windows inside a virtual machine does not replace or repartition the host operating system. Workstation Pro runs on supported 64-bit Intel or AMD PCs with Windows or Linux hosts; it is not the VMware desktop hypervisor for Apple Silicon Macs. VMware identifies Fusion as its Mac product. See VMware’s desktop hypervisor FAQ.
Windows 10 continues to run, but Windows 10 Home and Pro no longer receive ordinary free security fixes, quality or feature updates, or Microsoft technical support. Version 22H2 was the final general-release version for those editions. Consider Windows 10 for legacy applications, compatibility testing, offline work, or a time-limited migration—not for a routine internet-facing VM unless you accept the added security risk. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program can provide critical and important security updates to eligible Windows 10 22H2 devices through October 12, 2027; enrollment options vary by region. Check Microsoft’s Windows 10 lifecycle page and end-of-support information for current eligibility and enrollment details.
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- Host virtualization: Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V/SVM in the computer’s UEFI/BIOS firmware. The exact setting name varies by computer.
- Host resources: Leave enough RAM, processor capacity, and free disk space for the host to remain responsive. An SSD is strongly preferable, and virtual disks, Windows updates, and snapshots can use more space over time.
- Network plan: Decide whether the guest needs internet or direct local-network access. NAT is usually the simplest starting choice.
- Installer and license: Obtain the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft and have a valid key or other appropriate activation path for the edition you plan to install.
Download Workstation Pro and the Windows 10 ISO
- Go to the Broadcom Support Portal, sign in or create an account, and locate the Workstation Pro download for your Windows or Linux host. The available release and download steps are controlled by Broadcom.
- Download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft’s Windows 10 software download page. Microsoft identifies the image as a way to install or reinstall Windows 10 and create installation media. Avoid third-party or modified ISO images.
- Confirm which Windows edition your license covers. If you do not have a license key ready, Windows Setup may offer a way to proceed without entering one, but that does not remove the need to comply with Windows licensing or guarantee activation later.
Install VMware Workstation Pro on the host
Windows host
- Sign in with an administrator account, or an account in the local Administrators group.
- Find the downloaded installer, usually in Downloads, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
- Choose Typical for an ordinary installation. Choose Custom only if you need to change install locations, shared VM directories, Workstation Server settings, or optional keyboard-driver components.
- Complete the installer and restart the host if prompted. Broadcom advises uninstalling an older Workstation installation before installing a new version; if upgrading an existing setup, follow the upgrade-specific instructions so you do not accidentally disrupt existing VMs.
Linux host
Broadcom distributes a Linux installer as a .bundle file. Run it with root privileges; the filename depends on the version you downloaded. Broadcom documents a command pattern like this:
su root
sh VMware-workstation-Full-####-####.x86_64.bundleThe installer supports options including --gtk, --console, --custom, --regular, and --required. Use the installer options and prompts appropriate to your Linux distribution. See Broadcom’s Workstation Pro installation guide.
Create the Windows 10 virtual machine
The Typical wizard is the clearest route for most new users. Broadcom’s documented sequence follows the same basic workflow, though the reference article is written for Workstation 12.x and current 26H1 labels may differ slightly.
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- Open Workstation Pro and select Create a New Virtual Machine.
- Choose Typical (recommended).
- Select Installer disc image file (.iso), browse to the Microsoft Windows 10 ISO, and let Workstation detect the operating system.
- If prompted, select the Windows edition that matches your license. If using Easy Install, enter the product key and the guest username and password when requested. Do not assume Easy Install will handle every ISO or license correctly.
- Enter a VM name and choose a storage location. Use a reliable local SSD with enough free space rather than an actively synchronized cloud folder.
- Set the virtual disk capacity, then select Customize Hardware before finishing so you can review the guest’s memory, processor, disk, CD/DVD, network, display, and firmware settings.
- Click Finish and power on the VM.
For manual control or if Easy Install misdetects the ISO, use Custom (Advanced): choose I will install the operating system later, select Microsoft Windows and Windows 10 or Windows 10 x64, then configure the VM. Create it with EFI/UEFI firmware, add a new virtual disk, and finish. Open the VM settings, connect the ISO to the virtual CD/DVD drive, enable Connect at power on, and boot the VM. This avoids problems caused by incorrect automatic credentials, edition selection, or key handling. The detailed older workflow is in Broadcom’s Windows guest installation guide.
Choose practical virtual hardware settings
The following are practical starting points, not official Windows or VMware minimum requirements. Adjust for your workload and the capacity of the physical host.
| Virtual hardware | Starting point | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Processors | 2 virtual processors/cores | Try 4 for compiling, development tools, or heavier multitasking, provided the host has capacity. |
| Memory | 4 GB | Consider 8 GB for browsers, Office, an IDE, or several applications. |
| Virtual disk | 64 GB or larger | Consider 80–128 GB for development tools, updates, and snapshot growth. |
| Firmware | UEFI/EFI | Use legacy BIOS only for a specific compatibility requirement. |
| Network | NAT | Use bridged networking only when the VM needs to appear directly on the local network. |
| Disk provisioning | Growable or split disk | A preallocated disk may suit a workload that favors predictable storage behavior; it reserves its space on the host. |
| Graphics | Default virtual display | Change graphics settings only when a specific workload needs it. |
Windows’ minimum requirements are not a useful performance target for a VM. Assigning every available core or most of the host’s memory can slow both systems. Keep substantial free space on the host drive for virtual-disk growth, Windows updates, and snapshots.
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Pick the right virtual network
- NAT: The VM shares the host’s connection and is usually the simplest choice for ordinary internet access.
- Bridged: The VM joins the physical network as another device. Use it when local devices need to reach the guest directly, and avoid it for an unpatched Windows 10 VM unless the access is necessary.
- Host-only: The VM can communicate with the host and other host-only VMs, but not the outside network unless you configure routing.
- Disconnected: Choose this for offline work or to limit exposure during testing.
Install Windows 10 in the VM
- Power on the VM and confirm it boots from the ISO. If it does not, check the virtual CD/DVD connection and boot order.
- In Windows Setup, choose language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout, then click Install now.
- Enter a product key if you have one. If you choose to proceed without entering a key, select the licensed edition you intend to use when Setup asks.
- Accept the license terms, then choose Custom: Install Windows only for this new VM.
- Select the unallocated virtual disk and click Next. This is the VM’s virtual disk, not a physical host drive.
- Wait for Windows to copy files, install, and restart. Complete the first-run account, network, privacy, and update choices.
If Setup appears again after the first restart, the VM may still be booting from the ISO. Disconnect the ISO from the virtual CD/DVD drive or change the boot order so the VM starts from its virtual disk; do not press a key to boot from the installer again.
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After Windows reaches the desktop, install VMware Tools. It supplies guest drivers and integration features such as improved display behavior, mouse integration, time synchronization, clipboard support, and better guest performance. Exact features depend on the Workstation and Tools versions.
- With the Windows 10 VM selected, choose VM > Install VMware Tools (the exact menu wording can vary slightly by release).
- If Windows shows an autorun prompt, open the VMware Tools installer. If it does not, open the mounted VMware Tools disc in File Explorer.
- Run the 64-bit installer, commonly named
setup64.exe, and choose the typical installation. - Restart Windows when the installer finishes.
If no Tools disc appears, check whether the virtual CD/DVD drive is occupied, then try the menu command again. Broadcom’s Windows installation guidance also puts VMware Tools after Windows Setup and calls for a guest restart. VMware Tools 12.5.0 documentation notes a Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable requirement for supported 64-bit Windows systems; do not assume an old Tools ISO is interchangeable with every Workstation build. See the VMware Tools 12.5.0 announcement.
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Activate Windows and handle updates
Activation depends on the installed edition, the key or digital entitlement, and the applicable licensing terms. A firmware-embedded key or existing digital license may be detected in some circumstances, but that is not guaranteed for a new VM. If activation fails, verify that the installed edition matches the license, the key permits VM use, the guest has network access, and you are not relying on the host’s activation as proof of guest entitlement. Organizations may also have volume-licensing or account requirements. Microsoft’s product-key guidance explains installation and activation paths. Do not use unofficial activators or modified installation images.
Windows Setup may offer update options, but installing available updates does not restore ordinary Windows 10 Home or Pro support. Eligible Windows 10 22H2 consumers may be able to enroll in Microsoft’s ESU program for critical and important security updates through October 12, 2027. Regional availability, enrollment method, and cost can differ; check Microsoft’s current ESU information rather than assuming coverage.
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Fix common installation and VM problems
VMware says Intel VT-x is disabled, or virtualization is unavailable
- Restart the computer and enter UEFI/BIOS settings. Enable Intel Virtualization Technology or AMD SVM/AMD-V, save, and reboot.
- If Workstation reports a conflict on Windows, check whether Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Platform, Windows Hypervisor Platform, Core Isolation, or VBS is affecting its operating mode. Compatibility depends on Workstation version and host configuration; do not disable security features without weighing the security trade-off.
- Use a current Workstation release rather than assuming behavior from an old version applies.
The VM says “No operating system found”
- Check that the ISO downloaded completely and is connected to the VM’s virtual CD/DVD drive.
- Enable Connect at power on and confirm the boot order allows the virtual CD/DVD drive to start.
- Check that the VM firmware setting is appropriate for the installation.
- Make sure the ISO is mounted inside the VM, not merely opened or mounted on the host.
Windows Setup starts over after restarting
Disconnect the installation ISO from the virtual CD/DVD drive, or ensure the virtual disk comes first in the boot order. If a boot prompt appears, do not press a key to start the ISO again.
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Easy Install fails or chooses the wrong settings
Power off the VM and create or reconfigure it using the Custom path: choose I will install the operating system later, mount the ISO through VM settings, and complete Windows Setup manually. This gives you direct control over the edition, account, and key-entry prompts.
Windows has no internet connection
- Confirm the virtual network adapter is enabled and set to NAT.
- Confirm the host itself has internet access and Windows has completed initial setup.
- Check whether a VPN, firewall, endpoint-security product, or host network configuration is blocking VMware networking.
- If the host is online but the guest is not, restarting VMware NAT/DHCP services on the host may help. The steps depend on the host operating system.
VMware Tools, shared clipboard, or drag-and-drop does not work
Install or repair VMware Tools, restart the guest, and check the VM’s guest-isolation settings for the integration feature you want. Keep host/guest sharing disabled when running untrusted software or conducting malware analysis.
The VM is very slow
- Check for host RAM pressure, CPU saturation, a nearly full or mechanical drive, and Windows Update or indexing activity inside the guest.
- Reduce excess assigned vCPUs; more virtual processors can hurt when the host cannot schedule them effectively.
- Check whether snapshots are consuming storage, and whether antivirus software is heavily scanning the VM directory.
- Review hypervisor compatibility and graphics settings before increasing resources. Change one setting at a time so you can identify what helps.
Protect and preserve the VM
- Take a snapshot before a risky software change, driver installation, or test that you may need to roll back. Snapshots can grow substantially and are not backups.
- For a real backup, shut down or suspend the VM and copy its complete VM folder, including the
.vmxconfiguration and.vmdkvirtual-disk files, to a separate reliable destination. - Keep an actively used VM on reliable local storage; do not put it in an actively synchronized cloud folder unless that provider and workflow explicitly support live virtual machines.
- Avoid opening the same writable VM at the same time in multiple Workstation instances.
- After Windows, VMware Tools, and required applications are configured, you can create a clean baseline snapshot if you want a rollback point.
Should you use Windows 10 or Windows 11 for a new VM?
Choose Windows 10 when a specific legacy application, compatibility test, or existing workflow requires it. Choose Windows 11 for a new general-purpose VM when your applications support it and you want a currently supported Windows release. Windows 10’s ended support makes internet-connected use a less suitable default. Workstation Pro supports capabilities such as virtual TPM, Secure Boot, and encryption relevant to modern guest operating systems; requirements depend on the guest and intended configuration. See VMware’s desktop hypervisor FAQ and its Workstation release notes.
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