What programs can I run with VMware Fusion?
VMware Fusion: Desktop Hypervisors for Mac
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VMware Fusion: Desktop Hypervisors for Mac
Gain the freedom to be more productive, agile and secure in your preferred environment. IT professionals, developers and businesses choose VMware Fusion desktop hypervisors for unmatched OS support, rock-solid stability and advanced features. With Fusion Player and Fusion Pro, run nearly any OS as VMs on Mac for development, testing, gaming or even simulating production clouds on local desktops.
Run Nearly Any Operating System on a Mac
Running Windows on Mac is only the beginning. Choose from hundreds of supported operating systems, from cloud-ready Linux distributions to the latest Windows 11 on Intel or Apple Silicon Macs, all without rebooting.
Develop and Test for Any Platform
The CLI tool, vctl, lets you build, run and manage OCI containers and Kubernetes clusters with the security, performance and isolation features of virtual machines.
Design and Demo Software Solutions
With the ability to run an entire virtual cloud stack on a single Mac, you can demonstrate a complete solution in real time, with safe rollback points to return to useful configurations.
Key Features
Apple Silicon and Intel Mac Support
Fusion 13 Pro and Player support running VMs on macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura, on Intel or Apple Silicon Macs.
Monster Virtual Machines
Support massively sized virtual machines with up to 32 CPU cores, 128GB of RAM, 10TB virtual disks and 8GB of vRAM per VM with available hardware.
Windows 11 Support
Run Windows 11 virtual machines on Intel or Apple Silicon hardware with a new Virtual Trusted Platform Module with Fast Encryption.
Sandboxed Experience
Isolate the Mac from Windows by disabling integration features, letting you secure and protect operating systems from each other.
Powerful Graphics with eGPUs (Intel)
Run modern games and apps with support for DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.3 in Windows and Linux, with support for eGPUs to deliver maximum performance. (DX11 and eGPU support is Intel Only)
Virtual Networking for Professionals
Create custom virtual networks with unique subnet settings, MTU sizes, NAT port forwarding, degraded network simulations and more with Fusion Pro.
Use Cases
Solutions for IT Professionals
Design, test and demo software solutions for nearly any device, platform or cloud.
Solutions for Developers
Build and test apps and operating systems with ease.
Solutions for Businesses
Enable BYO by delivering corporate desktops and apps to any user, anywhere.
Tech Specs
Fusion 13
See VMware Fusion system requirements:
Hardware
VMware Fusion 13 can run on Intel or Apple Silicon Macs that support macOS 12 and later.
Software
Fusion 13 supports macOS 12 Monterey and macOS 13 Ventura.
Related Products
Explore other VMware products that support desktop virtualization.
VMware Workstation Pro
Desktop Hypervisor App for Professionals
VMware Workstation Player
Personal desktop hypervisor for Windows and Linux
vSphere
Industry leading virtualization software
Fusion or Fusion Pro - Choose the Right Version for You
General |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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 |
Host Guest Integration |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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) |
Graphics |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
3D graphics with DX11 and OpenGL 4.1 support |
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Large Graphics Memory: 8GB |
Device Support |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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 |
Security Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
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 |
Host Operating Systems |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
Windows 10 or 11 Hosts |
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| Linux - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE | ||
| macOS 12 and greater |
Guest Operating Systems |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
Over 200 Supported OSs (Linux, older Windows, BSD) |
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Windows 10 or 11 Guests |
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macOS Guests* (Intel Macs Only) |
Mac Host Specific Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
macOS 12 Host support |
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macOS Guest Support* (Intel Only) |
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Windows apps in the Mac Dock* (Intel Only) |
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One-Click SSH to Linux VM |
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Metal Graphics Engine |
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BootCamp Import / Launch* (Intel Only) |
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Application Menu |
Advanced Features |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
Command Line Operation: vmrun |
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vCenter Server Appliance Easy Deploy |
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REST API |
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vctl CLI |
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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 |
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Create Linked Clones |
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Create Full Clones |
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Encrypt VMs |
Licensing |
Fusion Player |
Fusion Pro |
Free for Personal Use |
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Commercial License |
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Trial License |
VMware Fusion
On Intel Macs, VMware Fusion lets you run macOS, Windows, Linux and other x86-based operating systems as virtual machines. On Apple Silicon Macs, Fusion supports the Arm editions of the most popular operating systems including Windows 11. 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 on Intel, 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 13 has 3D hardware-accelerated graphics support. On Apple Silicon Macs, Windows 11 graphics are rendered using the host CPU, while Linux VMs can use 3D hardware acceleration. For Windows VMs on Intel Macs, Fusion supports DirectX 11 (with Shader Model 5.0) and earlier. For Linux guests on both Intel and Apple Silicon, Fusion supports OpenGL 4.3. 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
Do I need a licensed 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. 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
Can I run multiple virtual machines on a Mac at the same time?
Yes, you can run as many virtual machines concurrently with VMware Fusion 13 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.
How many virtual machines can I create from a single VMware Fusion license?
You can create an unlimited number of virtual machines from a single VMware Fusion license. You will need to provide the required operating system software and license for each installation of a virtual machine.
Downloads and Trials
Can 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 your VMware Customer Connect account. Please consult this KB article.
Do I need to download VMware Fusion again if I am converting my trial license to a full license?
No. You simply need to update your license key in VMware Fusion. You can do this from the "VMware Fusion" menu, click on "License" and enter your new license key.
Licensing and Upgrades
How are the VMware Fusion Products Licensed?
VMware Fusion Player and Fusion Pro are perpetually licensed, with options for Support and Subscription add-ons to provide additional security for upgrades and troubleshooting.
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.
What 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 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 your VMware Customer Connect account. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
Support
When 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 VMware Customer Connect account. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
How long does complimentary support last?
Complimentary support for VMware Fusion Player and VMware Fusion Pro is valid for 30 days from product registration.
Ready to Get Started?
Designed for every kind of Mac user, Fusion enables you to run nearly any operating system in VMs for development, testing and more.