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How to Manually Start and Stop VMware Services in Windows

Check which VMware services your Windows installation uses before changing their startup settings. Service names and dependencies vary by product and release.
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To control VMware services in Windows, first check which services your installed VMware product actually uses. You can inspect them in the Services console and, where the product supports it, change startup behavior or start and stop a service on demand. Avoid applying old service-name lists or blanket disable instructions to every VMware release: the services and their dependencies vary by product.

Which VMware services are installed?

VMware hosted products can add Windows host services, but the set depends on the product and release. Broadcom notes in its Windows troubleshooting guidance that “Depending on the VMware product, some services might not be there on your Windows host.” Examples in its documentation include VMware Authorization, DHCP, and NAT services. Older Workstation and Server instructions also name VMware Agent and Virtual Mount Manager; do not assume those names apply to your installation.

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Inspect the Services console

  1. Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter to open the Services console.
  2. Look through the service list for VMware entries. Record the exact service names and their current status and startup type.
  3. Identify your VMware product and version, then check its current vendor documentation before changing a startup setting. A service that appears unnecessary while no virtual machine is running may support authorization or virtual networking when you launch one.

Should you leave startup settings alone or use manual startup?

Leaving the installed services at their existing startup settings is the more convenient choice: features that depend on them are less likely to fail when you open VMware. A manual or on-demand approach may suit someone who wants to control when a particular service runs, but it adds a step and can interrupt virtual-machine or networking functions if a required service is stopped. The available guidance does not establish a universal recommended startup setting for all VMware products and versions.

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Approach Convenience Feature considerations When it fits
Keep the current startup setting Services are available according to their configured Windows startup behavior. Less likely to block a feature that depends on a service. Use when you rely on VMware regularly or do not know which features depend on a service.
Configure manual or on-demand startup You may need to start a service when you want to use VMware. Stopping or failing to start a dependency can prevent a VM or network feature from working. Consider only for a service you have identified, with instructions that match your product and version.

How to change a service safely

Windows offers controls for starting, stopping, and configuring services. The older Petri guide, originally published January 8, 2009 and reported as updated September 24, 2024, describes using sc config to change startup behavior and sc start or sc stop to control selected services. Its examples are legacy guidance, not a current universal recipe: service names and requirements can differ by release.

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  1. In services.msc, open the properties for the specific VMware service you intend to change and note its existing startup type.
  2. Confirm from documentation for your installed release that the service can safely use the startup behavior you want. Do not change every VMware service as a group.
  3. If you proceed, change only that service’s startup type or use the console’s Start and Stop controls. If using an administrative command prompt, use the exact service name and syntax documented for your release rather than copying a name from an older guide.
  4. Launch VMware and test the virtual-machine and networking features you use. If something fails, restore the recorded startup setting and start the service again.

If a virtual machine will not start

A deliberate startup preference is different from a service failure. If Workstation reports that VMware Authorization Service is not running while you try to power on a VM, Broadcom’s VMware Authorization Service troubleshooting article describes checking and starting that service for specified older Workstation Pro and Player versions. That repair case should not be treated as instructions for every current installation.

  • Check the exact error and identify the product version before applying a repair.
  • In Services, find the relevant installed VMware service and check whether it is stopped or has an unexpected startup type.
  • Start it or restore its previous setting only when the vendor guidance for your version supports that action.
  • If a VM or virtual network still fails, consult the troubleshooting documentation for that product and version rather than disabling additional services.
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Will stopping VMware services improve performance?

No current performance measurement is established for this guidance, so stopping services should not be presented as a proven way to improve speed or reduce resource use. Treat service changes as a configuration choice, not a performance fix.

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