Local Desktop Virtualization
VMware Workstation 16 Player
VMware Workstation Player is a streamlined desktop virtualization application that runs one or more operating systems on the same computer without rebooting. With its simple user interface, unmatched operating system support and portability, it’s now easier than ever for IT professionals to get their users up and running with a corporate desktop.
Workstation Player is available free for Personal use and offers a paid license for Commercial use.
Key Features - The best way to learn about Virtualization, Operating Systems, Containers, Kubernetes, or the VMware ecosystem
- Choose from hundreds of support Guest and Host OS's
- Ready for the latest releases of Windows 10 and major Linux distributions
- Supports operation alongside Hyper-V, WSL2, Device Guard and Credential Guard features of Windows 10
- Enhanced 3D graphics support for DirectX 11 and up to 8GB of vGPU Memory
- Build, Push, Pull and Run OCI Container Images with the new vctl CLI
- Run restricted virtual machines created by Workstation Pro or Fusion Pro
- Continue to run Windows XP or Windows 7 in a virtual environment on modern hardware
- Licenses can be purchased to enable EULA compliance for running in a commercial environment
System Requirements Systems using Processors (CPUs) launched in 2011 or later are supported except:
- Intel Atom processors based on the 2011 “Bonnell” micro-architecture (e.g. Atom Z670/Z650; Atom N570)
- Systems using Intel Atom processors based on the 2012 “Saltwell” micro-architecture (e.g. Atom S1200, Atom D2700/D2500, Atom N2800/N2600.
- Systems using AMD processors based on the “Llano” and “Bobcat” micro-architectures (e.g. code-named “Hondo”, “Ontario”, “Zacate”, “Llano”)
In addition the following are supported:
- Systems using Intel processors based on the 2010 “Westmere” micro-architecture (e.g. Xeon 5600, Xeon 3600, Core i7-970, Core i7-980, Core i7-990)
- 3GHz or faster core speed
- 2GB RAM minimum/ 4GB RAM or more recommended
Host Operating Systems (64-bit)
- Ubuntu 14.04 and above
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 & above
- CentOS 6.0 and above
- Oracle Linux 6.0 and above
- open SUSE Leap 42.2 and above
- SUSE Linux 12 and above
Guest Operating Systems
More than 200 operating systems are supported, including:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.X
- Windows 7
- Windows XP
- Ubuntu
- RedHat
- SUSE
- Oracle Linux
- Debian
- Fedora
- openSUSE
- Mint
- CentOS
For a complete list of supported host and guest operating systems visit the VMware Compatibility Guide.
VMware Workstation Player runs on most 64-bit* Windows or Linux host operating systems:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2012
- Ubuntu
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- CentOS
- Oracle Linux
- openSUSE
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Please visit the VMware compatibility guide for the most up to date operating system support.
* VMware Workstation 15.5 Player requires a 64-bit Processor and 64-bit Host Operating System
* Intel "Nahalem" and earlier based CPU's are not supported in this release.
Compare Kits | General | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Create New VMs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create Large VMs (32CPU, 128GB RAM) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Convert PC into a virtual machine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mass Deployment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Host Guest Integration | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Host/Guest File Sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Shared/Mirrored Folders | ✓ | ✓ |
| One-Click SSH to Linux VM | ✓ | ✓ |
| Run VMs with Different View Modes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unity View Mode (Windows guests only) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Graphics | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| 3D graphics with DX11 and OpenGL 4.1 support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large Graphics Memory: 8GB | ✓ | ✓ |
| Device Support | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| 4K / 5K / Retina Display Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Support a Wide Range of Virtual Devices | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Smart Card Reader Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB 3.1 Device Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assistive Device Support (Section 508 Compliant) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language Keyboard Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtual Trusted Platform Module Device | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtual NVMe Device | ✓ | ✓ |
| Security Features | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Microsoft Virtualization Based Security (Guest) Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) | ✓ | ✓ |
| UEFI Boot Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| UEFI Secure Boot Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| GPU Sandbox Renderer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Snapshots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Create/Manage Encrypted VM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Host Operating Systems | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Windows 10 Host | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE | ✓ | ✓ |
| macOS 10.16 and greater | ✗ | ✗ |
| Guest Operating Systems | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Over 200 Supported OSs (Linux, older Windows, BSD) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows 10 Guests | ✓ | ✓ |
| macOS Guests | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mac Host Specific Features | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| macOS 10.16 Host support | ✗ | ✗ |
| macOS Guest Support | ✗ | ✗ |
| Windows apps in the Mac Dock | ✗ | ✗ |
| One-Click SSH to Linux VM | ✗ | ✗ |
| Metal Graphics Engine | ✗ | ✗ |
| BootCamp Import / Launch | ✗ | ✗ |
| Application Menu | ✗ | ✗ |
| Windows Host Specific Features | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Windows 10 Host | ✓ | ✓ |
| DX12 Renderering Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hyper-V Mode Support (Device Guard, WSL) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Share Virtual Machine (Workstation Server) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Linux Host Specific Features | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Vulkan Renderering Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Host Support - Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, SUSE, openSUSE | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Features | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Command Line Operation: vmrun and VIX | ✓ | ✓ |
| vCenter Server Appliance Easy Deploy | ✓ | ✓ |
| REST API | ✓ | ✓ |
| "Nautilus Container Engine" | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtual Network Customization (NAT, network rename) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual Network Simulation (Packet Loss, Latency, Bandwidth) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Connect to vSphere/ESXi Server | ✗ | ✓ |
| Remote vSphere Host Power Control | ✗ | ✓ |
| Create Linked Clones | ✗ | ✓ |
| Create Full Clones | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encrypt VMs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Licensing | Workstation Player | Workstation Pro |
| Free for Personal Use | ✓ | ✗ |
| Commercial License | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trial License | ✗ | ✓ |