VMware Workstation Pro

Download Details

Version

17.6.0 (latest)

File size

245.5 MB

License

Free

Developer

Broadcom

Supported OS

Windows 11, Windows 10

Installers

64-bit (x64), 32-bit (x86)

Downloads

16591

Rating

4.7 out of 5 · 106 reviews

Reviewed by Eman Sakr
Tested on Windows 11 and 10 · November 8, 2026 · How we review

Screenshots

Pick this if you want several operating systems on one Windows PC without touching your main install.

It suits developers, sysadmins and students who test software, run old apps or build lab networks.

The standout is the snapshot system: save a VM state, break things freely, roll back in seconds.

It covers 64-bit Windows 11 and 10 and is free to use. The main cost is RAM, since every VM borrows from your host.

What is VMware Workstation Pro?

It is a desktop hypervisor from Broadcom that runs full guest operating systems as windows on your Windows desktop.

Each virtual machine gets its own virtual CPU, memory, disk and network adapter, so a Linux server and a Windows test box can run side by side.

Snapshots and clones for risky experiments

A snapshot freezes a VM at a point in time. Install a driver, test a script or try an update, and revert if it goes wrong.

Clones copy a VM so you can spin up several identical test machines. Linked clones share a base disk and save space.

Tip: take a snapshot right after a clean OS install and name it, so you can always return to a fresh start.

The Virtual Network Editor for building small labs

You can choose NAT, bridged or host-only networking per VM, and define your own virtual networks.

That makes it useful for practicing firewalls, domain controllers or multi-server setups at home. The editor is more technical than a simple dropdown, so expect a short learning curve.

Windows 11 guests, encryption and USB passthrough

The app can add a virtual TPM and encrypt a VM, which helps when you need to run Windows 11 as a guest or protect a test machine.

USB devices can be passed from the host to the guest, so a phone, dongle or flash drive works inside the VM.

Drag and drop plus shared clipboard work once the guest tools are installed in the VM.

Resource limits you should plan for

Every running VM takes RAM and CPU cores from your PC, and virtual disks can grow large.

Tip: give a VM about half of your physical RAM at most, and keep its disk on an SSD.

Graphics are fine for desktops and office work, but heavy 3D games in a VM will disappoint.

Is VMware Workstation Pro safe to install?

The installer on this page is checked with VirusTotal and came back clean.

Get it from the download button above, and only enable features you need, such as the optional customer experience program.

When a single light VM or a gaming rig makes this a poor fit

If you only need one quick Linux VM and have 4 GB of RAM, a lighter tool will feel smoother.

Gamers who want near-native graphics are better off with a dual-boot setup than a virtual machine.

How to Download & Install

Press the download button at the top of this page to grab the 64-bit EXE setup file.

Save it to your Downloads folder, then follow the steps below.

Prefer a different path to the same result? Everything below uses the standard setup wizard.

Step 1: Launch the setup file and click Yes when the User Account Control window asks to allow changes.

Step 2: When the setup wizard opens on its welcome screen, click Next.

Step 3: Tick the box to accept the license terms, then click Next.

Step 4: On the user experience screen, choose whether to check for product updates at startup and whether to join the customer experience program. Click Next.

Step 5: Click Install and wait a few minutes while the files copy.

Step 6: Click Finish to close the wizard.

Step 7: Launch the app from the Start menu and choose Create a New Virtual Machine to build your first guest.

Installer types

There is one main installer, built for 64-bit Windows. It is a full offline setup, so it does not need to fetch the program during installation.

System requirements

• 64-bit Windows 11 or Windows 10.
• 4 GB of RAM at minimum, 8 GB or more is far more comfortable.
• A CPU with hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) switched on in the BIOS or UEFI.
• Free disk space for each VM, ideally on an SSD.

How to update

Use the built-in update check inside the app, or install the latest installer over the existing copy. Your virtual machines and settings stay in place.

Fixes for common install problems

• Error when powering on the first VM: the CPU’s virtualization feature is probably disabled. Open your BIOS or UEFI, enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V (SVM on some boards), save, and restart the PC.
• Slow or refusing to run next to Hyper-V: Windows features such as Hyper-V and Memory Integrity can compete for the CPU. Recent releases can work alongside Hyper-V, but turning the Windows feature off gives the best speed.
• Installer stops or rolls back: run it again as administrator and close other setup programs first.

Pros & Cons

Best VMware Workstation Pro Alternatives

• 
  VirtualBox

  A free, powerful tool that lets you run multiple operating systems on your computer at the same time.

• 
  Docker Desktop

  Local container development with a visual dashboard and WSL 2 backend.

• 
  QEMU

  A free and fast emulator that lets you run different operating systems on your PC.

Conclusion

4.7★★★★★out of 5 · 106 user ratings

VMware Workstation Pro is a strong pick if you build test labs, run several guests at once or need reliable snapshots and networking on Windows.

If you want something open source and lighter for a single VM, VirtualBox is free and easy to start with.

If you have Windows Pro and only need Windows or basic Linux guests, Hyper-V is already built in.

Anyone with less than 8 GB of RAM or a focus on gaming should look elsewhere.

FAQ

Found a problem with this download? Report an outdated version, broken link, suspicious installer or incorrect information.

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