VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

How to Suspend and Resume a Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation Player

Learn how to suspend a running VMware Workstation Player VM, save its session, and resume open applications and documents later.

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based computer running on a physical host computer. The operating system inside it is the guest operating system. VMware Workstation Player can suspend a running VM so you can stop using it temporarily and later continue from the same desktop session.

This guide explains how to suspend and resume a VM safely, how suspension differs from shutting down the guest, and what to expect while VMware saves or restores the VM state.

What suspending a virtual machine does

Suspend means saving a running VM's current execution state so VMware can restore it later. Suspension is not the same as shutting down the guest operating system. The guest remains at its current point, including its desktop session, open applications, and open documents.

When you resume the VM, VMware restores the saved state. For example, a development environment, browser window, terminal, or document that was open before suspension can be available again in the same session.

When to use suspend

• Use suspend when you want to preserve an active guest session with applications and documents open.
• Suspend the VM before closing VMware Workstation Player if you want to continue the session later.
• Suspend the VM before powering off the host computer when the guest session should be retained.
• Use a normal shutdown inside the guest operating system when you want to close applications and end the guest session cleanly.

Suspend versus guest shutdown

How to suspend a running VM

1. Make sure the target VM is currently running in VMware Workstation Player.
2. Make sure it is the active VM selected in the VMware window.
3. Open the Player menu.
4. Choose Power, then choose Suspend Guest.
5. When VMware displays a warning or confirmation prompt, select Yes.

Player > Power > Suspend Guest

During suspension, VMware writes the VM's current state to disk. The operation may take a moment or longer depending on how much VM data has changed. Wait until VMware indicates that suspension has completed.

What happens after suspension

After the operation finishes, VMware shows the VM as suspended rather than actively running. You can then close VMware Workstation Player. If the saved state completed successfully, you can also shut down or restart the host computer.

VMware stores the suspended execution state in a suspend-state file with the .vmss extension. This file is used when the VM resumes. Do not manually delete, rename, move, or alter VM state files while the VM is suspended.

How to resume a suspended VM

1. Open VMware Workstation Player if it is not already open.
2. In the VM library, select the suspended VM. The VM library is the area used to select and manage available virtual machines.
3. Choose Play virtual machine.

VMware restores the saved state and returns the guest operating system to its previous session. Applications, documents, and the desktop should appear as they did when the VM was suspended.

Select the suspended VM in the library, then choose Play virtual machine

VM lifecycle actions in VMware Workstation Player

How long suspend and resume take

There is no single fixed duration for suspension or resumption. The time depends partly on how much changed VM data must be saved or restored. A VM that has been used extensively since it was started may require more work than a VM with little activity.

The initial suspend operation can take longer than later suspend operations. This does not necessarily indicate a problem. Wait for VMware to finish before closing the application or shutting down the host.

Practical examples

Pause a development or lab session

1. Leave the guest operating system running with the required applications and files open.
2. Choose Player > Power > Suspend Guest.
3. Select Yes when VMware asks for confirmation.
4. Wait for suspension to complete.
5. Later, select the same VM in the library and choose Play virtual machine.

The same desktop session, applications, and documents can then be restored.

Prepare to turn off the host computer

If you need to stop using the physical computer without closing the guest session, suspend the VM first. After VMware finishes saving the state, exit VMware Workstation Player and power off the host. When you use the computer again, open VMware Workstation Player and resume the saved VM.

Wait when suspension takes longer than expected

A heavily used VM may take longer to suspend because more changed state must be written to disk. Do not interpret a delay as permission to force-close VMware. Allow the operation to complete before taking further action.

Troubleshooting suspension and resumption

Suspend Guest is unavailable

• Confirm that the intended VM is powered on and currently active.
• Verify that you are using VMware Workstation Player controls for the selected VM.

Suspending takes longer than expected

• Allow the operation to complete; the duration depends on how much VM data has changed.
• Remember that the first suspend operation may take longer than later operations.
• Do not force-close VMware Workstation Player or turn off the host while state is being saved.

The VM does not restore the expected session

• Confirm that you selected the same VM library entry that was suspended.
• Verify that VMware was allowed to finish suspending before the application or host was closed.
• Check that the VM files, including the suspend-state data, were not moved, deleted, or modified.

You are unsure whether to suspend or shut down

• Choose suspend when you want to preserve open work and continue from the same desktop state.
• Choose a normal guest shutdown when you want to end the guest session cleanly.

Operational checklist

• Confirm that the VM is running before selecting Suspend Guest.
• Use Player > Power > Suspend Guest, then confirm the prompt.
• Wait for VMware to finish writing the saved state.
• Do not alter the .vmss file or other VM state files.
• Only close VMware Workstation Player or shut down the host after suspension completes.
• Resume by selecting the suspended VM in the library and choosing Play virtual machine.

For the complete procedure, return to suspending a virtual machine.