VMware Player online course

How to Start a Virtual Machine in VMware Player

Learn how to start an existing virtual machine in VMware Player, open a missing VM with its .vmx file, use the console, release input, and send Ctrl+Alt+Delete.

VMware Player is a desktop virtualization application used to open and run virtual machines (VMs). A VM is a software-defined computer that uses resources from the physical computer, called the host system, to run a guest operating system.

This guide explains how to start a VM already listed in VMware Player, add a VM that is missing from the library, interact with the guest console, release captured input, and send special key sequences to the guest.

Understand the VMware Player library

The library is the VMware Player area that lists virtual machines known to the application. It commonly appears as a pane on the left side of the window.

Selecting a library entry makes that VM active. Commands such as starting, suspending, changing settings, and sending special keys apply to the selected VM. The library entry is not the VM itself: it is a reference displayed by VMware Player.

The actual VM files remain in a folder on the host disk. That folder can contain the .vmx configuration file, one or more .vmdk virtual disk files, and other supporting files. Moving or copying the folder can make the VM unavailable from the library until you open it again.

Start a virtual machine already in the library

1. Open VMware Player.
2. Locate the intended VM in the library pane.
3. Select the VM so it becomes the active entry.
4. Choose Play virtual machine.
5. Wait for the guest operating system to boot or resume in the virtual machine console.

The result depends on the VM's power state. A powered-off VM performs a normal boot. A suspended VM restores its saved session and should resume near the point where it was suspended. If the guest is already running, VMware Player should display or bring its existing console to the foreground rather than start a second copy.

What the console displays

The virtual machine console is the display and interaction area for the guest operating system. During startup it may show firmware messages, a boot screen, or a progress indicator. After startup it normally shows the guest desktop, login screen, or command-line interface.

Open a virtual machine missing from the library

A copied or downloaded VM may not appear in the library because VMware Player has not loaded that VM on the current host. Add it by opening its configuration file.

1. In VMware Player, choose Player > File > Open.
2. Browse to the folder containing the existing VM.
3. Select the VM's .vmx file.
4. Choose the dialog's open command. VMware Player loads or registers the VM in the library.
5. Select the newly available VM in the library.
6. Choose Play virtual machine.

When VMware Player asks whether the VM was moved or copied, choose the option that accurately describes what happened. This helps VMware Player handle the VM's identity correctly.

Identify the correct VM file

The .vmx file is the primary VMware virtual machine configuration file. It describes the VM's virtual hardware settings and references associated files, including virtual disks.

A .vmdk file is a virtual disk file. It stores guest disk data and is normally referenced by the VM configuration. Selecting a .vmdk directly is not normally the way to open a complete existing VM in the VMware Player interface. Locate and open the corresponding .vmx file instead.

Use the virtual machine console

Click inside the console to direct mouse movement and keyboard input to the guest. This process is called input capture: the guest receives input instead of the host system.

While input is captured, typing goes to the guest application or login screen, and mouse movement is controlled by the guest pointer. When input is not captured, the host desktop and host applications receive your input.

Release keyboard and mouse input

Use the default VMware host-key shortcut, Ctrl+Alt, to release captured mouse and keyboard input back to the host. This is useful when the pointer is confined to the guest window or when keystrokes continue reaching the guest.

1. Click inside the console to capture input, if necessary.
2. Press Ctrl+Alt together.
3. Move the pointer or select a host application to confirm that the host has control again.

If the default host-key behavior has been changed in VMware Player, use the configured host-key shortcut instead.

Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete to the guest

The physical Ctrl+Alt+Delete sequence may be intercepted by the host operating system. As a result, pressing it on the physical keyboard may open host security options rather than send the sequence to the guest.

To deliver the sequence to the active VM:

1. Select the target VM and make sure its console is active.
2. Choose Player > Send Ctrl+Alt+Del.
3. Use the resulting guest screen or security options. For example, a Windows guest may display its sign-in screen.

This menu action is especially useful when a Windows guest requires Ctrl+Alt+Delete before sign-in.

Understand VM power states when selecting Play

Suspended means that the VM's working state has been saved so it can continue later. It is different from powered off, in which the guest has shut down completely. If Play appears not to perform a normal boot, check the displayed power state and the console for a resume operation or a guest login prompt.

Practical examples

Start a VM listed in the library

1. Find the VM name in the left-side library.
2. Select the name.
3. Choose Play virtual machine.
4. Wait for the guest boot screen, desktop, or login screen.

Add and run a copied VM

1. Choose Player > File > Open.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the copied VM.
3. Highlight the correct .vmx file.
4. Open it so the VM appears in the library.
5. Select it and choose Play virtual machine.

Sign in to a Windows guest requiring Ctrl+Alt+Delete

1. Start the VM and click inside its console.
2. Choose Player > Send Ctrl+Alt+Del.
3. Complete the sign-in action in the guest.

Return control to the host

1. Click inside the VM console so input is captured.
2. Press Ctrl+Alt.
3. Use the host desktop to confirm that the pointer and keyboard are available outside the guest.

Ways to access and start a virtual machine

Troubleshooting

The desired VM does not appear in the library

• The VM may not have been opened in VMware Player on this host.
• The files may have been moved or copied.
• You may be browsing the wrong folder.

Choose Player > File > Open, locate the intended VM folder, and select its .vmx file. Verify that the file belongs to the VM you want before opening it.

You selected a virtual disk but cannot open the complete VM

You probably selected a .vmdk file. Locate the corresponding .vmx file and open that configuration file through VMware Player.

The mouse or keyboard is stuck inside the guest

The console has probably captured input. Press Ctrl+Alt to release the mouse and keyboard back to the host. If this does not work, check whether the host-key configuration has been changed.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete affects the host

The host operating system may be intercepting the physical key combination. Make the target VM active, then choose Player > Send Ctrl+Alt+Del.

The VM does not appear to start after Play is selected

• The VM may already be running. Bring its console to the foreground instead of starting it again.
• The VM may be suspended and waiting to resume.
• The guest may be booting, displaying a login screen, or waiting for input.
• A different library item may be selected.

Check the displayed power state and console, confirm the correct library entry, and wait for the guest boot or login process to complete.

Next steps

• Learn more about suspending and resuming a virtual machine.
• Review the VMware Player interface and core features.
• Study virtual machine files before moving or copying a VM.
• Install VMware Tools to improve guest input integration when supported.