Released in late 2024 with version 17.6.2, VMware Player 17.6.2 is the free Type-2 hypervisor from VMware (Broadcom), enabling users to run multiple virtual machines on a single Windows or Linux host with easy setup, high-performance graphics, and seamless integration for testing operating systems, software development, and running legacy applications.
Key Highlights
- Easy Virtual Machine Creation – Simple wizard for creating VMs from ISO files, existing installations, or importing OVA/OVF appliances with automatic guest OS detection.
- High-Performance Graphics – DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.3 acceleration with up to 8GB vGPU memory for smooth 3D applications and modern guest OS interfaces.
- Shared Folders & Drag-and-Drop – Unity mode for seamless app integration, shared folders, clipboard sharing, and drag-and-drop file transfer between host and guest.
- Snapshots & Encryption – Create snapshots for quick rollback and encrypt VMs with password protection for secure environments.
- USB & Device Support – USB 3.1 passthrough, printer redirection, and support for a wide range of hardware devices in the guest OS.
- Networking Flexibility – NAT, bridged, and host-only networking options with virtual network editor for custom configurations.
- Performance & Stability – Optimized hypervisor engine, improved Windows 11 host/guest support, enhanced hardware compatibility, and free for personal/non-commercial use.
System Requirements
- Windows 11 64-bit (or Windows 10 / Linux distributions)
- 8 GB RAM minimum (16 GB+ recommended)
- Multi-core 64-bit processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x / AMD-V)
- NVMe SSD strongly advised