VMware Fusion: Powerfully Simple Virtual Machines for Mac
VMware Fusion Pro and VMware Fusion Player Desktop Hypervisors give Mac users the power to run Windows on Mac along with hundreds of other operating systems, containers or Kubernetes clusters, side by side with Mac applications, without rebooting. Fusion products are simple enough for home users and powerful enough for IT professionals, developers and businesses.
New Fusion 12
Simply Powerful Virtualization for macOS
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Fusion Pro and Fusion Player Desktop Hypervisors deliver desktop and ‘server’ virtual machines, containers and Kubernetes clusters to developers, and IT professionals on the Mac.
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Students, Home Users and Open Source contributors can benefit by using VMware Fusion Player, free for non-commercial use.
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Run Nearly Any Operating System on a Mac
Running Windows on Mac is only the beginning. VMware Fusion lets you choose from hundreds of supported operating systems, from lesser-known Linux distributions to the latest Windows 10 release, or even macOS, to run side by side with the latest macOS release on your desktop.
Develop and Test for Any Platform
Fusion makes it possible to build and test apps for nearly any cloud, platform or device. A new CLI tool, ‘vctl,’ lets users run existing off-the-shelf options or build completely custom OCI containers, design apps and services with Kubernetes, all without needing a managed cloud environment. Apps and virtual machines run in secure local sandboxes and can share local source files and folders with multiple virtual machines or containers at the same time.
Design and Demo Complex Solutions
With the ability to run an entire virtual cloud stack, including Kubernetes, on a single Mac, software professionals can demonstrate their entire solution in real time, with safe rollback points to return to known stable configurations. Fusion makes it possible to fully express the story of your software journey by running all of its components on a single notebook.
Run Local Corporate Desktops
Isolate corporate desktops from physical devices and embrace a ‘Work from Anywhere’ operating model with Fusion. Lock down devices by disabling copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop, shared folders and access to USB devices. Run restricted VMs that are encrypted and password-protected, ensuring that only authorized users can interact with corporate data.
Make Windows Feel at Home on Mac
Fusion blends the Windows experience seamlessly with Mac and does so without excessive clutter. You have the flexibility to keep the two worlds securely apart or integrate them for one seamless experience. Install a fresh OS like Windows 10 or easily convert an ageing PC into a virtual one.
FEATURES
macOS Catalina
Ready for macOS Big Sur
Run nearly any operating system on macOS 11 Big Sur without rebooting. Fusion now has added support for operating entirely without Kernel Extensions on Big Sur, making it more secure and ready for the future of macOS, all while continuing to perform on macOS 10.15 Catalina.
Powerful Graphics with eGPUs
Powerful Graphics with eGPUs
Fusion can drive complex, GPU intensive applications and games with a dramatically improved 3D graphics engine. Fusion now provides hardware accelerated DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1 capabilities to Windows and Linux virtual machines, with added support for eGPU devices. Now allowing for up to 8GB of vRAM per-VM, and employing a special ‘sandbox’ process to render graphics, Fusion leads the way in virtual machine graphics performance, accuracy and security.
Improved vSphere Connectivity
Improved vSphere Connectivity
Connect to ESXi or vCenter Server to drive, control, and configure VMs as well as ESXi Hosts, with improved visibility into Datacenter and Host topology. With the common underlying VMware hypervisor, Fusion Pro makes it easy to transfer virtual machines back and forth with a simple drag-and-drop, or control VMs directly from the corporate data center from the comfort of your Mac. Available in Fusion Pro only.
Helpful Snapshots and Clones
Use snapshots to create a rollback point to revert to on the fly, which is perfect for testing software or creating repeatable demos. Clones make it easy to test a variety of different scenarios without the need to deploy the same OS configuration multiple times. Clones are available only with the VMware Fusion Pro edition.
Complement to Boot Camp
No more choosing between Windows or Mac at start-up. Fusion lets you run Windows and Mac apps side-by-side directly from your existing Boot Camp partition without re-installing or rebooting.
Integrated Experience
Enjoy seamless copy-and-paste between Windows and Mac, drag-and-drop file sharing, folder sharing and mirroring, as well as networking and printing that require no setup but can be highly customized for professional or advanced use cases.
Sandboxed Experience
Isolate the Mac from Windows by disabling integration features to secure and protect the operating systems from each other. VMware Fusion gives you choices that aren’t possible when carrying a second computer.
New Containers and Kubernetes support
New Containers and Kubernetes support
Run OCI Container images and local Kubernetes clusters with the new CLI ‘vctl.’ Developers can build and test modern apps on production-like local environments, and IT professionals can get more familiar with emerging cloud technologies without breaking the bank or the data center.
Bigger VMs, More Compatibility
Bigger VMs, More Compatibility
Fusion Pro and Fusion Player now support massively sized virtual machines, with up to 32 CPU cores, 128GB of RAM, 10TB virtual disks and 8GB of vRAM per VM on systems with capable hardware like the new Mac Pro. Fusion 12 also delivers additional compatibility with USB 3.1 devices, as well as supporting vSphere 7 for both local deployments and remote connections.
Virtual Networking for Professionals
Virtual Networking for Professionals
Fusion Pro can additionally manage Virtual Network configurations, with a UI to create new networks, modify subnet settings, change MTU size, configure NAT port forwarding and more. View the traffic of each virtual network by using a standard PCAP reader, like Wireshark, to capture it with the built-in ‘vmnet-sniffer’ utility. Finally, Fusion can even simulate things like packet loss, bandwidth limitations and latency to help test the resiliency of your app or service.
Accessibility
VMware is dedicated to supporting its customers by making Fusion and Fusion Pro accessible to everyone, including those aligned with the regulations of Section 508 standards. Leverage the Mac’s assistive technology and Fusion to interact with elements inside of Windows to give accessibility controls to applications that wouldn’t otherwise have them. Learn more about VMware's commitment to accessibility.
Simplified OS Installs
With Fusion, you can run Windows from a Boot Camp partition, install from a Windows disc, migrate from an existing PC or even install macOS as a virtual machine from the recovery partition. Fusion provides a simple yet customizable way to install multiple operating systems on your Mac. New in Fusion is updated support for the Open Virtualization Format which includes an effortless installation walkthrough of the VMware vCenter Server Appliance OVA.
Retina and 6K Display Ready
VMware Fusion looks great on the latest 5K iMac and 6K Apple Pro XDR displays, and supports mixed retina and non-retina setups. Use a standard DPI display with your retina MacBook Pro or add a 4K display to your setup without hassle. No matter what sort of display you’re using, Fusion makes Windows look better than ever.
USE CASES
VMware Fusion is designed for every kind of Mac user. IT pros, developers and businesses choose VMware Fusion Pro for its broad OS support, rock-solid stability and advanced features simply not available in a non-virtualized environment.
Solutions for IT Pros
Solutions for IT Pros
Design, test and demo software solutions for nearly any device, platform or cloud.
Solutions for Developers
Solutions for Businesses
Solutions for Businesses
Enable BYO by delivering corporate desktops and apps to any user, anywhere.
TECH SPECS
Metal Host Graphics Rendering Engine
The Metal rendering engine requires an Apple
Mac computer which supports Metal. See Apple's documentation regarding Metal supported Macs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205073
Requirements to support DirectX 11 3D Acceleration in a virtual machine:
Hardware
- Mac Pro 2013 and later
- iMac 27-inch 2014 and later
- MacBook Pro 13-inch 2015 and later
- MacBook Pro 15-inch 2015 with dual graphics and later
- MacBook Air 2015 and later
- MacBook 2015 and later
- iMac 21-inch 2015 and later
- iMac Pro 2017 and later
- MacMini 2018 and later
COMPARE
Fusion or Fusion Pro - Choose the Right Version for You
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Create New VMs |
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Create Large VMs (32CPU, 128GB RAM) |
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Convert PC into a virtual machine |
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Mass Deployment |
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Host Guest Integration |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Host/Guest File Sharing |
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Shared/Mirrored Folders |
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One-Click SSH to Linux VM |
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Run VMs with Different View Modes |
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Unity View Mode (Windows guests only) |
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Graphics |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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3D graphics with DX11 and OpenGL 4.1 support |
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Large Graphics Memory: 8GB |
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Device Support |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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4K / 5K / Retina Display Support |
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Support a Wide Range of Virtual Devices |
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USB Smart Card Reader Support |
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USB 3.1 Device Support |
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Assistive Device Support (Section 508 Compliant) |
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Multi-Language Keyboard Support |
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Virtual Trusted Platform Module Device |
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Virtual NVMe Device |
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Security Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Microsoft Virtualization Based Security (Guest) Support |
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Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) |
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UEFI Boot Support |
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UEFI Secure Boot Support |
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GPU Sandbox Renderer |
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Snapshots |
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Create/Manage Encrypted VM |
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Host Operating Systems |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Windows 10 Host |
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Linux - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE |
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macOS 10.16 and greater |
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Guest Operating Systems |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Over 200 Supported OSs (Linux, older Windows, BSD) |
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Windows 10 Guests |
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macOS Guests |
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Mac Host Specific Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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macOS 10.16 Host support |
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macOS Guest Support |
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Windows apps in the Mac Dock |
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One-Click SSH to Linux VM |
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Metal Graphics Engine |
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BootCamp Import / Launch |
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Application Menu |
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Windows Host Specific Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Windows 10 Host |
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DX12 Rendering Engine |
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Hyper-V Mode Support (Device Guard, WSL) |
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Linux Host Specific Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Vulkan Rendering Engine |
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Host Support - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE |
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Advanced Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Command Line Operation: vmrun and VIX |
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vCenter Server Appliance Easy Deploy |
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REST API |
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"Nautilus Container Engine" |
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Virtual Network Customization (NAT, network rename) |
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Virtual Network Simulation (Packet Loss, Latency, Bandwidth) |
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Connect to vSphere/ESXi Server |
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Remote vSphere Host Power Control |
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Create Linked Clones |
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Create Full Clones |
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Encrypt VMs |
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Licensing |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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Free for Personal Use |
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Commercial License |
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Trial License |
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FAQS
VMware Fusion
See AllWhat programs can I run with VMware Fusion?
VMware Fusion lets you run macOS, Windows, Linux and other x86-based operating systems as virtual machines. Nearly all programs that run on these operating systems will run with VMware Fusion. Programs can range from common productivity suites (such as Microsoft Office) to graphics-intensive programs such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks which require DirectX 11, as well as custom applications. Fusion Player and Fusion Pro can both also run containers and Kubernetes clusters with the built-in CLI ‘vctl.’
Can I play 3D games in a virtual machine?
Yes, VMware Fusion 12 has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support. For Windows VMs Fusion now supports DirectX 11 (with Shader Model 5.0) and earlier. For Windows and Linux guests Fusion provides OpenGL 4.1 capabilities. Fusion uses Apple Metal graphics technology to render 3D hardware-accelerated graphics to virtual machines on compatible Mac systems. See VMware Fusion system requirements for details.
Fusion with Windows
See AllCan I convert my old Windows PC into a virtual machine for VMware Fusion?
Yes, VMware Fusion includes a simple Migration Assistant for Windows that allows you to quickly and easily move your entire PC to your Mac as a virtual machine. Install a simple application on your PC, connect it to your Mac, and VMware Fusion will detect your PC and take care of the rest.
Do I need a copy of Windows to run VMware Fusion?
Yes. VMware Fusion requires the installation of an operating system in order to function. The operating system is not included with the purchase of VMware Fusion. You can either migrate an existing copy of Windows from your old PC or install a new one. In order to run a Windows virtual machine, you must have a licensed copy of that Windows operating system or purchase a new Windows license.
Virtual Machine Compatibility
See AllCan I run multiple virtual machines on a Mac at the same time?
Yes, you can run as many virtual machines concurrently with VMware Fusion 12 Pro and Player as your system’s CPU, RAM and disk storage will support. In fact, VMware Fusion leverages patented memory-sharing techniques to drastically reduce the memory required to run multiple virtual machines at the same time.
Downloads and Trials
See AllCan I convert my trial license to a permanent license?
After the evaluation period has expired, you will be prompted to enter a license key. After purchasing the product, you will be provided a license key. Enter the purchased license key when prompted to unlock the full "unlimited" version of the software. To take advantage of complimentary email support for up to 18 months, your license key must be registered. 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 MyVMware. Please consult this KB article[JC(1] for detailed instructions on license key registration.
[JC(1]Added URL for article
Licensing and Upgrades
See AllWhat is the Difference Between Pro and Player Licensing?
VMware Fusion Pro offers paid licenses for individual and commercial uses, and are available for purchase from our online store or from our authorized resellers and partners.
VMware Fusion Player is dual-licensed, with options for Personal Use or a Commercial Use license. Fusion Player Personal Use licenses can be obtained for free by registering at vmware.com.
VMware Fusion Player Commercial Licenses are available for purchase from our online store or from our authorized resellers and partners.
How Do I License My Copy of VMware Fusion?
To license VMware Fusion, simply enter a purchased license key during product installation in the license key field. Alternatively, you can enter your serial / license key from the "VMware Fusion" drop-down menu in the product. Choose "License" in the drop-down menu, enter the serial / license key and choose "OK."
Complimentary email support is activated as soon as your paid VMware Fusion license key is registered.
How Do I Register My Copy of VMware Fusion 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 may need to manually register your license key in MyVMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
Support
See AllWhen does complimentary support start?
Complimentary support starts when your VMware Fusion license is registered. Registration takes place automatically if you purchase your product from the VMware Online store. If you purchased from a reseller, you may need to register your license in MyVMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
RESOURCES
Technical Resources
Fusion Community
CHOOSE YOUR OS
Run the apps that keep you most productive, wherever you want to use them. If MacOS isn’t your main operating system, check out our Workstation products for Windows and Linux.
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