Run secure, sandboxed environments to test suspicious software or browse the web safely.
A: The installer is unified. Run the installer, and you will be given a choice to install either Pro (30-day trial) or Player (free version). Always select Player if you are not paying.
If prompted for a key (older versions):
Once the download finishes, follow the platform-specific instructions below to install the software. Installing on Windows Double-click the downloaded .exe installer file. download vmware workstation player
Would you like a step-by-step guide to installing a Linux guest OS using the free VMware Workstation Pro?
: If you are using an older version of Workstation Player (pre-17.5.x), you may be prompted for a license key. For personal use, you can simply enter your email address to use it free of charge.
In a major shift following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the licensing model for desktop hypervisors changed significantly. Previously, VMware Workstation Player was free only for personal, non-commercial use, requiring a paid license for commercial deployment. Always select Player if you are not paying
Because Workstation Player is no longer updated or officially available as a standalone download, you should download (currently in version 25H2 or latest 17.x mirrors).
Navigate to https://support.broadcom.com/ . This is the only official source for VMware desktop hypervisor software.
Windows users may encounter errors regarding Device Guard or Hyper-V conflicts upon launching a virtual machine. Would you like a step-by-step guide to installing
Allocate at least 2 GB for Linux or 4 GB for Windows guests. Ensure you leave enough RAM for your host system to run smoothly.
For Linux users, installing Player involves running a bundle installer from the terminal:
Click and wait for the process to finish. Click Finish . Installing on Linux Open your terminal emulator application.
is a Type 2 hypervisor designed to run on top of a host operating system (Windows or Linux). It allows you to create and run "virtual machines"—isolated, software-based computers—that share the hardware resources of your actual computer 0.5.1 . Key Benefits:
Click "Next," accept the license agreement, and choose your installation preferences.