Install VMware Workstation Player on Windows

Learn how to install VMware Workstation Player on a Windows host, choose setup options, handle permissions, restart Windows, and verify the installation.

VMware Workstation Player is a desktop virtualization application used to run virtual machines on a Windows host. The host is the physical Windows computer and operating system where the application is installed. Install VMware Workstation Player on the host before creating, importing, or opening virtual machines.

This lesson begins after you have downloaded the correct VMware Workstation Player installer for Windows. It covers opening the installer, completing the setup wizard, choosing installation options, restarting Windows, and checking that the application works.

Prepare Windows for installation

Before starting, complete these checks:

Confirm that the downloaded file is the VMware Workstation Player installer for Windows, not an installer for another operating system.
Find the file in the Downloads folder or the custom location used by your browser.
Close unnecessary applications. This reduces interruptions while setup changes system files.
Make sure the computer has enough free disk space for the program and its installation files.
Have an administrator account or the required administrator credentials available. Windows may require elevation to install virtualization software.
Plan to restart Windows after setup finishes. A restart allows installation changes and required components to be fully applied.

Start the setup wizard

Open File Explorer and browse to the downloaded installer location, usually Downloads.
Open the VMware Workstation Player installer executable.
If Windows displays a security warning or a User Account Control prompt, review it and approve the request if you trust the installer. If prompted, enter administrator credentials.

User Account Control is the Windows elevation mechanism that asks for approval before software makes system-level changes. If the prompt is denied, the setup wizard may not start or may be unable to complete.

Navigate the installation wizard

The setup wizard guides you through the installation. Read each screen, accept the relevant license terms when they are presented, and select Next or the equivalent advance button to continue. Default selections are appropriate for most typical installations.

Choose the installation location

During setup, you reach a screen where the installation location can be selected. This is the folder where VMware Workstation Player program files are placed.

Keep the default program folder for a normal personal-computer installation.
Choose another suitable local drive when the system drive has limited free space.
Use an organization-approved location if company software-placement rules require it.
Do not select a drive that is unavailable, restricted, or does not have enough free space.

Changing the program location does not automatically move virtual machine files. Virtual machines can use their own storage locations later, depending on how they are created or imported.

Decide whether to install the Enhanced Keyboard Driver

The optional Enhanced Keyboard Driver is a VMware component that improves keyboard handling for international layouts and keyboards with additional or nonstandard keys. Its option appears during setup alongside installation-location choices.

Select it if you use an international keyboard layout or rely on extra, special, or nonstandard keys.
Leave it unselected if you use a conventional keyboard and do not need the additional handling.
When unsure, base the decision on the keyboard hardware and layouts you will use inside virtual machines.

Review options and complete setup

Review the selected destination folder and keyboard-driver choice. Continue through the final wizard screens to begin installation. The installer copies the required files and adds VMware Workstation Player to Windows.

When setup reports that installation is complete, choose the option to finish. If the installer requests a restart, restart Windows before attempting to use the application. Even if the program appears installed, postponing the restart can leave required changes unapplied.

Setup choice	Recommended selection	When to change it	Effect
Installation location	Use the default location	The system drive lacks space or organizational rules require another location	Determines where the program files are installed
Enhanced Keyboard Driver	Select when international or extended keyboard support is needed	You use a nonstandard keyboard or layout and need better handling	Adds improved keyboard support for the host-to-virtual-machine experience
Restart after installation	Restart when requested	Do not skip the restart as a workaround	Applies installation changes and required components

Verify VMware Workstation Player after the restart

Restart the Windows host if you have not already done so.
Open the Windows Start menu and search for VMware Workstation Player.
Confirm that the application appears in the Start menu or Windows installed-applications list.
Open VMware Workstation Player and check that its main window loads without an installation error.

Once the application launches successfully, the Windows host is ready for later virtual machine tasks, such as creating a new virtual machine, importing an appliance, or opening an existing machine. For the next stage, see Starting a Virtual Machine or review the VMware Workstation Player Course.

Check	Expected result	If unsuccessful
Installer starts	The setup wizard opens	Confirm the file is complete and is the correct Windows installer; approve Windows security prompts when required
Setup completes	Installation finishes without an error	Check permissions, free space, and the selected destination
Windows restarts	The host reboots and returns to Windows	Restart manually before launching the application
Application is available from Start	VMware Workstation Player appears in search or installed applications	Review whether setup completed and whether the correct installer was used
Application launches	The VMware Workstation Player window opens normally	Restart Windows first, then investigate permissions or installation errors

Installation examples

Typical personal-computer installation

Open the downloaded Windows installer.
Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears.
Keep the default installation folder.
Select the Enhanced Keyboard Driver only when improved support for an international or extended keyboard is useful.
Complete the wizard and restart Windows.
Open VMware Workstation Player from the Start menu.

Computer with limited system-drive space

At the installation-location step, review the default destination. If the system drive does not have enough free space, select another available local drive with sufficient capacity, then complete the remaining wizard steps and restart Windows.

Nonstandard keyboard layout

At the keyboard-driver step, select the Enhanced Keyboard Driver when you depend on an international layout or additional keys. After restarting Windows, launch VMware Workstation Player and verify that keyboard input behaves as expected.

Troubleshoot installation problems

The installer does not open

Confirm that the download completed successfully and that you selected the correct Windows installer executable.
Respond to any Windows security prompt that is waiting for approval.
If Windows blocks the file or your account cannot run it, use an administrator account or ask the system administrator for assistance.

Installation cannot continue because of permissions

User Account Control may require elevation, or the current account may not have software-installation rights. Approve the elevation request when appropriate. If administrator credentials are required, enter them or contact the person responsible for the computer.

The desired installation drive is unavailable or lacks space

Free space on the selected drive or choose another suitable local installation location. If there is no organizational or storage requirement, return to the default location.

Keyboard behavior is inadequate

The Enhanced Keyboard Driver may not have been selected, or the keyboard layout may require its support. Review whether the component applies to your hardware and layout. If necessary, modify or reinstall VMware Workstation Player to add the component.

The application does not work correctly immediately after setup

Restart the Windows host before performing further troubleshooting. The restart may be required for installation changes and virtualization components to become active.

Next steps

After verification, you can learn about a virtual machine, create a machine, or open an existing one. When configuring the machine, related topics include changing memory allocation and reviewing networking configurations.