Frequently Asked Questions

19 questions covering licensing, versions, downloads, and platform support.

Is VMware Workstation Pro really free?

Yes. Broadcom announced on November 11, 2024 that VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are free for personal and commercial use. There is no license key, no time limit, and no feature gating compared with the previous paid edition.

Do I need a license key to use Workstation Pro 26H1 or 25H2?

No. Free Workstation Pro 26H1 and 25H2 have no license-key field. On first launch you simply pick the free use option and you are in. Older 17.x builds did require a key — upgrading to 26H1 (or 25H2u1) removes that prompt entirely.

Can I use VMware Workstation Pro for commercial purposes?

Yes. The free license explicitly covers commercial, personal, and educational use. Businesses of any size can install it on production developer workstations without paying. Paid Broadcom support contracts are still available if you want a phone-line SLA.

How do I download VMware Workstation?

Pick a version from the table at the top of this page and click Download — the .exe is served directly from a global CDN, with no Broadcom account, no login, and no license key. The current recommended build is VMware Workstation Pro 26H1; 25H2, 25H2u1 and the legacy 17.6.4 line are listed below it. For step-by-step install instructions after the download finishes, see the Installation Guide further down the page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum of the file before running it.

What happened to VMware Workstation Player?

Player is being phased out. Broadcom now points all users — including the original Player audience — to Workstation Pro, since Pro is itself free. Player still installs and runs, but no new features land on it.

Why do I need a Broadcom account to download a free product?

After Broadcom acquired VMware in late 2023, the entire VMware download estate moved from my.vmware.com to support.broadcom.com. The Broadcom portal is the only authoritative source for installers and the gating account is also how Broadcom satisfies its export-compliance obligations. Account creation is free and takes about a minute.

Is Workstation Pro 26H1 the same as version 18?

There is no version-18 line. Broadcom skipped the version-18 label and switched to calendar-based naming: 25H2 meant "the second release of 2025," and 26H1 — the current major build — means "the first release of 2026." Future releases follow 26H2, 27H1, and so on.

Does Workstation Pro work alongside Hyper-V and WSL2?

Yes, on Workstation 17.5.2 and newer (including 25H2). The hypervisor now layers on top of the Windows Hypervisor Platform, so it cooperates with Hyper-V, WSL2, Docker Desktop, and Windows Sandbox simultaneously. Just keep Windows Hypervisor Platform enabled in Windows Features.

What is the difference between Workstation Pro and VMware Fusion?

They are the same product family, split by host OS. Workstation Pro runs on Windows and Linux. Fusion Pro runs on macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). Feature parity is high — both got the free-for-everyone treatment in November 2024.

Where is the official download URL?

There is no static direct-download URL. Broadcom serves installers behind a free authenticated portal at support.broadcom.com. Any third-party site offering a one-click download is mirroring the binary unofficially — do not trust it. Always grab installers from Broadcom directly.

Will Broadcom start charging again later?

Broadcom has not announced any plan to revert. The free move was positioned as a long-term direction to focus paid offerings on enterprise infrastructure (vSphere, vSAN, Cloud Foundation), with desktop hypervisors free as an on-ramp. Like any vendor decision, it could change — this page tracks current reality.

How big is the installer?

The current Workstation Pro 26H1 Windows .exe is roughly 274 MB and the Linux .bundle roughly 325 MB. Older 17.x builds are larger — around 400–620 MB. Plan for a couple of gigabytes free on disk for the install plus 60–120 GB per typical guest VM.

Can I run Windows 11 with TPM and Secure Boot in Workstation Pro?

Yes. Workstation Pro implements virtual TPM 2.0 and virtual Secure Boot. New Windows 11 VMs created on 26H1 (or 25H2) use a TPM-backed VM by default. The VM file (.vmx) is encrypted to protect the virtual TPM keys.

Workstation Pro 17.x vs 26H1 — should I upgrade?

Yes, in almost every case. 26H1 is the current release; 17.6.4 is the final 17.x build and only receives security backports. Upgrading from 17.x to 26H1 removes the license-key prompt entirely (Workstation Pro is now free), keeps Hyper-V/WSL2 coexistence working, and gives you the 25H2 line's newer guest OS presets and 3D acceleration improvements. The only reason to stay on 17.x is if your host OS or hardware is no longer supported by the calendar-versioned line.

Which version should I download — 26H1, 25H2, 25H2u1, or 17.6.4?

For new installs on a supported Windows host, download 26H1 — it is the current major build. 25H2u1 is the most recent stability update on the 25H2 line; pick it only if you need to stay on 25H2 for a specific reason. 25H2 (without u1) is superseded by 25H2u1. 17.6.4 is the final 17.x build, kept available for hosts or workflows that have not migrated to the calendar-versioned line. All four are direct downloads on this page — no Broadcom account, no license key.

Where do the installers on this site come from?

They are hosted on GitHub Releases, which serves files as true direct downloads via a global CDN. Clicking a button starts the download immediately — no authentication wall, no captcha, no redirect.

How do I verify a download is genuine?

Compute the SHA-256 hash of the file you downloaded and compare it against the value published on Broadcom's official release notes. See the Verify Your Download page for the exact commands on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Where does the file download from?

The download buttons link directly to the installer files on GitHub Releases, which hosts them on a fast global CDN. Clicking a button starts the download straight from there — expect a few minutes for the 274 MB Windows installer on typical residential broadband.

Why is this page styled like the Workstation Pro app?

Because the page is the app, in a sense — a recognisable interface for users who already know the product and want the installer with the least friction. The launcher tiles, sidebar, and toolbar are all functional shortcuts.