FAQs: VMware Fusion What programs can I run with VMware Fusion? VMware Fusion lets you run more than 200 operating systems as virtual machines, including Windows XP through Windows 8. Nearly all programs that run on these operating systems will run with VMware Fusion. Programs can range from common productivity suites such as Microsoft Office for Windows, to graphic intensive programs such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks. Can I play 3D games in a virtual machine?
Yes, VMware Fusion 7 has 3D accelerated graphics support, allowing you to play most games that require DirectX 9.0c with Shader Model 3 or OpenGL 2.1 in Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 virtual machines. Do I need Apple's Boot Camp to install VMware Fusion? Boot Camp is not required to run Windows on a Mac with VMware Fusion. However, if you already have Windows installed as a Boot Camp partition, VMware Fusion can easily create a Windows virtual machine based on your Boot Camp Windows installation. This will allow you to run Windows programs side-by-side with your Mac applications without having to reboot your Mac. Can I migrate Parallels Desktop for Mac virtual machines to VMware Fusion?
VMware Fusion 7 can easily import Parallels Desktop for Mac (versions 2.5 through 9) based virtual machines. Simply launch VMware Fusion, go to the File menu and select Import, select your virtual machine setting's file and click Import. Will VMware Fusion 7 slow down my Mac? In typical use cases, VMware Fusion 7 has little to no impact on your Mac's overall performance. The impact on performance will mainly depend on the amount of applications and virtual machines running at the same time, and how much RAM is available on your Mac. See VMware Fusion system requirements for details. Can I access and use USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices?
Yes, you can use the vast majority of USB 2.0 devices without additional setup required, such as video cameras, external hard drives, GPS devices, and much more in a virtual machine. USB 3.0 devices can also be accessed and used in Windows 8 or higher virtual machines. Does VMware Fusion 7 support the new Retina display Macs?
Yes, VMware Fusion 7 supports new Retina display Macs for a crisp and detailed experience of your Windows programs. Can I use multiple displays with VMware Fusion? Yes, VMware Fusion 7 supports up to 10 displays in both full screen and Unity views. Can I access FireWire or Thunderbolt hard drives in Windows? Yes, you can access your FireWire or Thunderbolt hard drives in VMware Fusion by mapping the hard drive to a VMware Shared Folder. Go to the Virtual Machine menu, select Shared Folders and select Add Shared Folder. Select your FireWire hard drive and click Open to assign your FireWire disk to the shared folder.
To access your FireWire hard drive in Windows, go to VMware Shared Folders shortcut on the desktop and select your FireWire hard disk. How many CPUs can I assign to a virtual machine? You can assign up to 16 Virtual CPUs to a Fusion 7 virtual machine, so the virtual machine can harness the full power of a Mac using the latest Intel processors. Multiple Virtual CPUs are recommended when you have applications that can take advantage of multiple processor cores and you have a multi-core Mac. Windows Can I convert my old Windows PC into a virtual machine for VMware Fusion?
VMware has released Fusion 11, the latest version of its virtualization software, with full support for macOS Mojave and the latest Mac hardware, including the 18-core iMac Pro and the 2018.
Yes, VMware Fusion includes a simple Migration Assistant for Windows that allows you to quickly and easily move your entire PC to your Mac as a virtual machine. Install a simple application on your PC, connect it to your Mac, and VMware Fusion will detect your PC and take care of the rest. Do I need a copy of Windows to run VMware Fusion? VMware Fusion requires the installation of an operating system in order to function. The operating system is not included with the purchase of VMware Fusion. You can either migrate an existing copy of Windows from your old PC or install a new one.
In order to run a Windows virtual machine, you must have a licensed copy of that Windows operating system or purchase a new Windows license. Can I use the Windows operating system that came with my PC? VMware Fusion includes a simple Migration Assistant for Windows that allows you to quickly and easily bring your entire PC to your Mac as a virtual machine.
Whether you can legally use a copy of Windows from an existing physical machine depends on the licensing surrounding that copy of Windows. Please consult the license agreement that came with the version of Windows included with your PC for more details. Can I use an OEM version of Windows with VMware Fusion? Many OEM Windows DVDs are tied to specific hardware and will not work with VMware Fusion. Whether you can legally use a copy of Windows from an existing physical machine depends on the licensing surrounding that copy of Windows. Please consult the license agreement that came with the version of Windows included with your PC for more details. Virtual Machines and Virtual Machine Compatibility Can I run multiple virtual machines on a Mac at the same time?
Yes, you can run as many virtual machines concurrently with VMware Fusion 7 as your system's RAM will support. In fact, VMware Fusion leverages patented memory-sharing techniques to drastically reduce the memory required to run multiple virtual machines at the same time.
How many virtual machines can I create from a single VMware Fusion license? You can create an unlimited number of virtual machines from a single VMware Fusion license. You will need to provide the required operating system software and license for each installation of a virtual machine. Can I run 64-bit virtual machines? Yes, VMware Fusion allows you to create and run 32-bit and 64-bit virtual machines. However, you can only run 64-bit guest operating systems on Macs with 64-bit Intel processors (Core 2 Duo, Xeon or later processors). Can I use virtual machines created by VMware Workstation or VMware Player Pro with VMware Fusion?
Yes, VMware virtual machines are fully compatible across the product line. Virtual machines created with Workstation or Player can run on VMware Fusion. McAfee Anti-Virus Plus Will running Windows on my Mac expose my Mac to viruses? By default, virtual machines are isolated from each other and don't have access to the Mac. Although very unlikely, if Mirrored Folders are enabled, there is the potential to expose the Mac's documents, desktop, music and pictures folders to potential viruses from Windows.
New VMware Fusion 7 customers get a 90 day complimentary subscription to McAfee Anti-Virus Plus to protect their Windows virtual machines from viruses. If you don't want to install Windows antivirus software and are concerned about security, it is advisable to not enable read/write shared folders between your Windows guest virtual machine and the Mac.
Read-only shared folders will not allow Windows to change or delete data on your Mac. What is included in my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus complimentary subscription? The included McAfee Anti-Virus Plus complimentary subscription is for new VMware Fusion customers and covers one virtual machine for 90 days. If you want to install it in more than one virtual machine, you can purchase additional licenses of McAfee Anti-Virus Plus by visiting the McAfee web site. What do I do when my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus subscription expires? When the subscription expires, McAfee Anti-Virus Plus will prompt you to renew your subscription.
To renew your subscription, visit the McAfee web site. What if I want to put McAfee Anti-Virus Plus on more than one virtual machine? Your complimentary subscription covers one McAfee Anti-Virus Plus install on one virtual machine for 90 days. You can purchase more licenses of McAfee Anti-Virus Plus for your additional virtual machines by visiting the McAfee web site.