VMware Workstation Pro is a Type-2 hypervisor: it runs on top of your existing operating system rather than replacing it. The host must expose CPU virtualization extensions for guests to perform well.
Windows host
CPU
64-bit x86 CPU with VT-x or AMD-V (most CPUs since 2011). Apple Silicon Macs are not supported — use Fusion.
Memory
4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended, 16 GB+ if you run Windows 11 or modern Linux guests.
Disk
~2 GB for the host install, plus 60–120 GB per typical guest VM.
Operating system
Windows 10 21H2 (64-bit) or newer, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019 or 2022.
Other
Latest GPU driver for 3D acceleration. Windows Hypervisor Platform feature must be enabled if you also run WSL2 or Hyper-V — Workstation 25H2 detects this automatically.
Linux host
CPU
64-bit x86 CPU with VT-x or AMD-V. KVM and Workstation cannot run guests at the same time, but they can both be installed.
Memory
4 GB minimum, 8 GB recommended.
Disk
~2 GB for the host install, plus 60–120 GB per typical guest VM.
Operating system
Any modern x86_64 distribution: Ubuntu 22.04 / 24.04, Debian 12, Fedora 40+, RHEL 9, Arch (current), openSUSE Tumbleweed.
Other
Kernel headers and a working GCC toolchain are required so the bundle can build vmmon and vmnet modules. Secure Boot can be enabled if you sign the modules — see the troubleshooting section.
macOS host (Fusion Pro)
VMware Fusion Pro 26H1 supports macOS 13 (Ventura) and newer, on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. ARM Windows guests run at native speed. x86_64 Windows guests on Apple Silicon rely on Rosetta-style translation and run with reduced performance.
Hyper-V and WSL2 coexistence
Workstation Pro 17.5.2 and newer (including 25H2 and 26H1) layers on top of the Windows Hypervisor Platform, so it works alongside Hyper-V, WSL2, Docker Desktop, and Windows Sandbox simultaneously. Make sure the Windows Hypervisor Platform feature is enabled in Windows Features (not the same as the Hyper-V role). A reboot is required after enabling it.
Enabling CPU virtualization
On most modern PCs, VT-x (Intel) or AMD-V (AMD) is enabled by default. If Workstation Pro reports that virtualization is unavailable, enter your BIOS/UEFI and look for a setting labeled Intel Virtualization Technology, VT-x, AMD-V, or SVM Mode and enable it. Save and reboot.