What is VMware Workstation Player?
VMware Workstation Player (formerly known as Player Pro) is a desktop virtualization application that is available for free for personal use. A Commercial License can be applied to enable Workstation Player to run Restricted Virtual Machines created by VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro.
Can I still use VMware Workstation Player for free?
VMware Workstation Player is free for personal non-commercial use (business and non profit use is considered commercial use). If you would like to learn about virtual machines or use them at home you are welcome to use VMware Workstation Player for free. Students and faculty of accredited educational institutions can use VMware Workstation Player for free if they are members of the VMware Academic Program.
Are there guidelines for using VMware Workstation Player for personal use?
Yes. Please refer to the VMware Workstation Player End-User License Agreement (EULA) for using VMware Workstation Player according to VMware design and licensing guidelines.
How can I get the free version of VMware Workstation Player?
VMware Workstation Player can be downloaded here.
Can I access VMware Workstation Player documentation online for free?
Yes, both English and Japanese language versions are available for download in electronic format from the VMware Workstation Player documentation website.
How does VMware Workstation Player work?
VMware Workstation Player installs like a standard desktop application. Once installed, VMware Workstation Player allows you to install new operating systems and run them as virtual machines in a separate window. VMware Workstation Player includes features that enable users to create and configure their own virtual machines for optimal performance and access any devices connected to their PC.
What can I do with VMware Workstation Player?
Use VMware Workstation Player to create, run, evaluate, and share software running in virtual machines:
What is the difference between the free and paid editions of VMware Workstation Player?
VMware Workstation Player is a free download, but purchasing and entering a license key entitles the users to the following additional benefits:
How does VMware Workstation Player compare to VMware Workstation Pro?
VMware Workstation Player enables you to quickly and easily create and run virtual machines. The Workstation Player user interface is designed to be as easy to use as possible. It is intended for people who need to run virtual machines, typically provided to them by their IT organization, system administrator, instructor, software supplier etc.
VMware Workstation Pro is much more advanced and comes with powerful features including snapshots, cloning, remote connections to vSphere or vCloud Air, sharing VMs, advanced Virtual Machines settings and much more. Workstation is designed to be used by technical professionals such as developers, quality assurance engineers, systems engineers, IT administrators, technical support representatives, trainers, etc. More comparison details are available in the Workstation Pro vs Workstation Player comparison table.
Can VMware Workstation Player run restricted virtual machines created by VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion Pro?
Yes, if you purchase a VMware Workstation Player. This feature is only activated in the licensed version of Workstation Player.
Where can I buy VMware Workstation Player?
VMware Workstation Player is available for purchase on the VMware online store.
Can VMware Workstation Player install on the same machine as other VMware products?
No. VMware Workstation Player is not designed to co-install with other VMware products. If an installation of VMware Workstation, VMware Workstation Pro, or VMware Server is detected on a machine where Workstation Player is being installed, the Workstation Player installation will display an error message and abort. However, if you purchase and install Workstation Pro, a version of Workstation Player that will work is included.
What are the minimum PC requirements to install and use VMware Workstation Player?
NOTE: Workstation 12.5 Player requires a 64-bit host operating system
* Please visit the VMware Compatibility Guide for a current list of supported host and guest operating systems
If you plan to run 64-bit virtual machines with VMware Workstation Player, please refer to the Knowledge Base article on compatible 64-bit CPUs.
VMware Workstation 12.5 Player supports hundreds of 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems from Microsoft DOS through Windows 10, Windows NT Server through Windows Server 2012 R2, Ubuntu 14.10, various other flavors of Linux. Here is a list of popular supported guest operating systems.
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To see a complete list of supported guest and host operating systems, please visit the VMware Compatibility Guide.
Does Workstation 12.5 Player still support 32-bit operating systems?
While Workstation 12.5 Player requires a 64 bit operating system on the host PC you can still run your favorite 32-bit Windows and Linux guest operating systems inside a virtual machine on Workstation 12.5 Player.
What if I still need to run Workstation 12.5 Player on a 32-bit Host?
Player 6 Plus is the last version that supports either a 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems running on the host PC. However you can purchase Workstation 12.5 Player and downgrade to Player 6 Plus via the My VMware Portal - please reference knowledge base article "How to downgrade license keys in My VMware"
Can I qualify for a free upgrade?
Customers who purchased VMware Workstation 12.5 Player starting on August 22, 2017 are covered by the Technology Guarantee Program for VMware Workstation Player and are eligible for a complimentary electronic upgrade to VMware Workstation 14 Player when it becomes generally available:
What if I purchased VMware Workstation 12.5 Player without a Support and Subscription (SnS) contract before August 22, 2017?
Customers who purchased VMware Workstation 12.5 Player before August 22, 2017 without an SnS contract are not eligible for a complimentary upgrade to VMware Workstation 14 Player and need to purchase an upgrade to Workstation 14 Player to fully enjoy the benefits of the latest version of the product.
Who is eligible to upgrade to VMware Workstation 14 Player?
Please consult the table below to check your eligibility to purchase an upgrade on the VMware Online Store.
How do I purchase Workstation 14 Player upgrades?
VMware Workstation 14 Player upgrades are available for purchase on the VMware online store or through VMware resellers.
Do I get free updates (not upgrades) when I purchase VMware Workstation Player?
Yes. The price of VMware Workstation Player includes an update service that entitles you to product updates and patches, which are new releases of Workstation Player within a given product version (e.g. x.1, and x.1.1, and so forth). VMware Workstation Player will automatically download updates or you may download updates by visiting the Workstation Player Download Page.
I have an active SnS contract for VMware Workstation Player. When can I expect to receive the new version?
Customers with an active support and subscription (SnS) contract with an end date on or after General Availability are eligible for a free upgrade. You can download VMware Workstation 14 Player from the Workstation Player Download Page.
How do I register my copy of VMware Workstation Player with VMware?
If you purchased the product from the VMware Online store, your license key is automatically registered. If you purchased from a reseller, you need to manually register your license key in My VMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
Can I switch between Windows and Linux versions?
Yes. You can switch between Windows and Linux versions of VMware Workstation Player using the same license key. If you decide to switch host operating systems, you must uninstall Workstation Player from the host operating system you no longer plan to use. If you plan to run VMware Workstation Player on a Linux host and a Windows host, you need to purchase two licenses.
Are students and professors eligible to receive special academic pricing for a full license of VMware Workstation Player?
Yes. Students and professors can purchase VMware Workstation Player at our standard academic pricing by ordering directly from VMware Academic Store or by contacting VMware Sales at 1-977-4VMWARE (1-977-496-10273) in the United States and Canada, or +1-650-427-5000 elsewhere. Please note that proof of eligibility is required.
Where do I download free "minor" updates?
VMware Workstation Player will prompt you for updates automatically. To manually check for updates, click on the "VMware Workstation Pro" drop down menu in VMware Workstation Player and choose "Check for Updates."
How can I download VMware Workstation Player?
You can download VMware Workstation Player software from the Workstation Player Download page.
How can I obtain an evaluation of VMware Workstation Player?
You can obtain a free trial of VMware Workstation Player at www.vmware.com/products/player/playerpro-evaluation.html
To create a new support request or check on the status of an existing request please sign on to your account through the MyVMware portal.
Along with our comprehensive web-based support resources such as the Knowledge Base and VMware Communities, the following support offerings are available:
Complimentary Support
Email installation support for VMware Workstation Player is valid for 30 days from product registration. Submit support requests either online or via phone; responses are targeted within one business day.
Per Incident Support
Purchase support as you need it for VMware Workstation Player. Individual per incident support is conveniently sold in 1, 3 or 5 incident packs. Submit support requests either online or via phone; responses are targeted within one business day.
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Basic Support
With a minimum quantity of 10 VMware Workstation Player licenses, VMware Basic Support provides access to our global support centers, 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, including unlimited support requests and subscription services for 1 or 3-year periods.
Production Support
With a minimum quantity of 10 VMware Workstation Player licenses, VMware Production Support provides access to our global support centers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Severity 1 issues, including unlimited support requests and subscription services for 1 or 3-year periods.
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When does complimentary support start?
Complimentary support starts when your VMware Workstation Player license is registered. Registration takes place automatically if you purchase your product from the VMware Online store. If you purchased from a reseller, you need to register your license in My VMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
How long does complimentary support last?
Complimentary support for VMware Workstation Player is valid for 30 days from product registration.
Can I use a support incident for different versions of Workstation Player?
Yes, you can purchase support incidents and open a support request for any product version that is still officially supported by VMware.
What is the support period for VMware Workstation Player?
VMware Workstation Player follows the Personal Desktop lifecycle policy. Please refer to our lifecycle policies for detailed information and end of support dates.
Are there any free Workstation Player support resources available from VMware?
VMware provides several self-help and community supported resources including: