VMware Workstation Player course

Enhanced Virtual Keyboard in VMware Workstation Player

Learn what VMware Workstation Player's Enhanced Virtual Keyboard does, how to install its Windows host driver, and how to configure Off, Use if available, or Required mode.

VMware Workstation Player's Enhanced Virtual Keyboard is an improved keyboard-input option for virtual machines. It is especially useful when the Windows host uses an international or non-US keyboard layout, or when the physical keyboard has keys that ordinary keyboard translation does not handle accurately.

This guide explains the host driver dependency, installation after VMware Player is already installed, per-virtual-machine configuration, mode selection, security behavior, and common errors.

Host, VMware Player, and guest: the three parts involved

Before configuring the feature, distinguish these terms:

  • Windows host: The physical computer and Windows operating system on which VMware Workstation Player runs.
  • VMware Workstation Player: The virtualization application that creates and runs virtual machines.
  • Guest virtual machine: The operating system running inside VMware Player.

The Enhanced Keyboard Driver is installed on the Windows host. The Enhanced virtual keyboard choice is then made separately for each guest virtual machine. Installing the driver alone does not automatically force every VM to use enhanced input.

For background, see what a virtual machine is and the VMware Workstation Player course.

What the Enhanced Virtual Keyboard does

Normal keyboard handling can translate physical keystrokes through the host operating system before VMware passes them to the guest. That translation is usually sufficient, but it can become inaccurate with non-US layouts, dead keys, language-specific mappings, or physical keyboards containing additional keys.

Enhanced input handles keyboard information closer to the physical input source. This is commonly called raw keyboard input: input is processed earlier and with less dependence on high-level Windows keystroke translation. The guest can therefore receive a more accurate representation of the keys pressed.

For example, a user with a French, German, Nordic, or another international keyboard may see more reliable behavior for layout-specific characters and additional physical keys. The feature does not change the guest's keyboard layout by itself. The guest operating system still needs the appropriate language and layout configuration.

Platform availability and dependency

The Enhanced Keyboard Driver is available for Windows host systems. The important dependency is on the host: enhanced behavior requires the VMware driver to be installed in Windows.

Security behavior and limitations

Enhanced keyboard input processes raw keyboard information earlier in the input path than ordinary high-level Windows keystroke handling. By bypassing some normal Windows keystroke processing, it can reduce exposure to malware that intercepts keystrokes at those higher layers.

This is a limited security benefit, not a complete anti-keylogging feature. It should not be treated as protection against every keylogger, malicious driver, kernel-level malware, compromised hardware, or software running inside the guest. Continue to use standard host and guest security controls.

Install the Enhanced Keyboard Driver after VMware installation

The driver can be selected during the original VMware Workstation Player installation. If it was omitted, add it later by modifying the installed VMware Player components. You need administrative privileges because this operation changes installed Windows software.

Installation modification path

  1. Sign in with an administrator account, or obtain approval to modify installed software.
  2. Open Control Panel.
  3. Open Programs and Features, the Windows installed-program management area.
  4. Select VMware Player in the list of installed programs.
  5. Choose Change or Modify to start the VMware installation maintenance workflow.
  6. When the component-selection screen appears, select Enhanced Keyboard Driver.
  7. Complete the installer and allow it to make the required changes.
  8. Restart the Windows host after installation finishes.
Control Panel > Programs and Features > VMware Player > Change or Modify > Enhanced Keyboard Driver

Restarting the host is part of the procedure. Do not assume that selecting the component in the installer immediately makes it available to all running applications.

For the broader installation process, see installing VMware Workstation Player on Windows.

Configure enhanced keyboard behavior for one VM

The setting is managed independently for each virtual machine. Power off the target VM before changing it. A suspended or running VM may not expose the setting for editing, or the change may not take effect until the VM is powered off.

  1. Shut down the guest normally, or power it off.
  2. Select the VM in the VMware Player library.
  3. Open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
  4. Open the Options area.
  5. Select General.
  6. Locate Enhanced virtual keyboard.
  7. Choose Off, Use if available, or Required.
  8. Save the setting, then start the VM and test the affected keys.
Power off VM > select VM in library > Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General > Enhanced virtual keyboard

Enhanced Virtual Keyboard modes

Mode — Uses enhanced keyboard driver — Behavior when driver is missing — Recommended use case

Off — No — The VM uses ordinary keyboard handling — Use when enhanced input is unnecessary or when maximum compatibility with standard handling is preferred.

Use if available — Yes, when the host driver is installed — The VM falls back to normal keyboard handling — Normal recommended choice when a VM may run on Windows hosts with different VMware component installations.

Required — Yes — VMware Player reports an error and cannot start the VM with that requirement unmet — Use when enhanced input is essential and every Windows host running the VM is controlled and has the driver installed.

Off

Off disables enhanced keyboard input for that VM. VMware uses ordinary keyboard handling instead. Choose it when the guest does not need improved raw key handling or when you are deliberately avoiding the host driver dependency.

Use if available

Use if available enables enhanced input when the Enhanced Keyboard Driver is present on the Windows host. If the driver is unavailable, VMware can use normal keyboard handling instead.

This is generally the best compatibility choice. For example, a VM can use enhanced handling on a workstation where the driver is installed while still starting on another suitable Windows host where the component was omitted.

Required

Required enforces enhanced keyboard input. If the host driver is missing, VMware Workstation Player reports an error rather than silently falling back to ordinary keyboard handling.

Use this mode only when the VM genuinely depends on enhanced input and you can ensure that every Windows host running it has the driver installed. It is appropriate for a specialized keyboard workflow managed by an administrator.

Understanding the driver and VM-setting relationship

There are two separate configuration steps:

  1. Install the Enhanced Keyboard Driver on the Windows host.
  2. Choose the enhanced keyboard mode in the individual VM's settings.

Both steps matter. Installing the driver makes enhanced input available, but the VM can remain set to Off. Conversely, selecting Required without installing the driver creates a configuration mismatch and prevents the VM from starting with that requirement.

Task — Required condition — Result if condition is not met

Install or modify driver — Administrative permission and a Windows host — The component cannot be added through the installer without sufficient permission.

Change virtual machine setting — The VM is powered off — The setting may be unavailable or cannot be changed while the VM is running.

Use Required mode — Enhanced Keyboard Driver installed on the Windows host — VMware Player reports an error when the VM tries to start with the missing dependency.

Troubleshooting

Enhanced behavior is unavailable

The most likely cause is that the Enhanced Keyboard Driver was not installed on the Windows host. Modify the VMware Player installation, add the driver component, finish the installer, and restart Windows. Then review the VM's Enhanced virtual keyboard setting.

The VM reports an error after selecting Required

Required mode was selected, but the host driver is absent. Install the Enhanced Keyboard Driver and restart the host, or change the VM setting to Use if available or Off.

The configuration option cannot be changed

Confirm that the VM is powered off rather than running or suspended. Shut it down or power it off, reopen Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Options > General, and change the setting.

International or extra keys behave unexpectedly

Confirm the Windows host driver is installed. Set the VM to Use if available or Required, depending on whether enhanced input is optional or mandatory. Also verify that the guest operating system has the intended non-US keyboard layout selected.

The driver cannot be added

The account may lack permission to modify installed software. Use an administrator account or obtain administrative approval, then repeat the Control Panel modification workflow.

Practical configuration examples

International keyboard layout

A user with a French, German, Nordic, or other non-US keyboard installs the host driver and selects Use if available. The VM receives improved handling when the driver is present, while the VM remains usable on a compatible Windows host where the component is not installed.

Driver omitted during setup

A user installed VMware Player with the default components and later discovers that several physical keys behave incorrectly in the guest. The user modifies VMware Player through Control Panel, selects Enhanced Keyboard Driver, completes the installer, restarts Windows, and then changes the VM setting.

Strict VM requirement

An administrator uses a specialized keyboard and selects Required for a VM. The administrator must install the Enhanced Keyboard Driver on every Windows host that runs that VM. Otherwise, VMware Player reports an error instead of falling back.

Exam-relevant notes

  • The Enhanced Keyboard Driver is a Windows host-side component.
  • The Enhanced virtual keyboard choice is configured per virtual machine.
  • Use if available allows fallback to ordinary keyboard handling.
  • Required does not allow fallback and causes an error if the driver is missing.
  • The VM should be powered off before changing the setting.
  • The feature can improve international and extra-key handling, but it does not replace guest keyboard-layout configuration or provide complete protection from keylogging.