How to copy file to VMware

You can use the drag-and-drop feature, the copy and paste feature, shared folders, and mapped drives to transfer files and text between the host system and virtual machines and between virtual machines.

Nội dung chính Show

1. Windows file transfer
1.1. Drag and drop and copy/paste
1.2. VMware file sharing on Windows
How do I transfer files to VMware?
How do I copy and paste a file to a VM?
How do I move files from local to VM?

Using the Drag-and-Drop Feature
You can use the drag-and-drop feature to move files and directories, email attachments, plain text, formatted text, and images between the host system and virtual machines.
Using the Copy and Paste Feature
You can cut, copy, and paste text between virtual machines and between applications running in virtual machines.
Using Shared Folders
You can use shared folders to share files among virtual machines and between virtual machines and the host system. The directories that you add as shared folders can be on the host system, or they can be network directories that are accessible from the host computer.
Mapping a Virtual Disk to the Host System
Instead of using shared folders or copying data between a virtual machine and the host system, you can map a virtual disk to the host system. In this case, you map a virtual disk in the host file system as a separate mapped drive. Using a mapped drive lets you connect to the virtual disk without going into a virtual machine.

check-circle-line exclamation-circle-line close-line

Hi,

You might be bumping into a known issue.

See:
https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3/rn/VMware-Tools-1130-Release-Notes.html

VMware Tools Issues in VMware Workstation or Fusion

Shared Folders mount is unavailable on Linux VM. If the Shared Folders feature is enabled on a Linux VM while it is powered off, the shared folders mount is not available on restart.

Note: This issue is applicable to VMware Tools running on Workstation and Fusion.

Workaround:

If the VM is powered on, disable and enable the Shared Folders feature from the interface. For resolving the issue permanently, edit /etc/fstab and add an entry to mount the Shared Folders automatically on boot.

For example, add the line:

vmhgfs-fuse   /mnt/hgfs    fuse    defaults,allow_other    0    0

Before you do that, you might want to check that things are setup correctly. Try running the following:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs/
sudo /usr/bin/vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs/ -o subtype=vmhgfs-fuse,allow_other

Then try if the share works, if it does.. follow the steps above.

also see:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/74650

Good luck!
--
Wil

| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation and Player |
| More info at vimalin.com | Twitter @wilva

With VMware Workstation VMware Tools available for many types of operating systems, you can easily transfer folders and files from your physical computer to a virtual machine and vice versa.

For this, you can use :

drag and drop
VMware Workstation folder shares

Note that in both cases, you will need the VMware Tools in the guest OS and activate the corresponding option in the settings of your virtual machine.

Windows file transfer
1. Drag and drop and copy/paste
2. VMware file sharing on Windows
File transfer on Linux (Debian / Ubuntu)
1. Drag and drop and copy/paste
2. VMware file sharing on Linux

1. Windows file transfer

1.1. Drag and drop and copy/paste

To begin, you can easily transfer files from the physical PC to the virtual machine with a simple drag and drop.
But, you can also use copy/paste in both directions (physical machine to virtual machine and vice versa).

However, to do this, make sure that these features are enabled in the settings of your virtual machine.
By default, these options are enabled and are available in the "Guest isolation" section :

Enable drag and drop
Enable copy and paste

Note : if these options are disabled and dimmed, shut down the virtual machine to enable them.

To transfer a file from the physical computer to the virtual machine, simply drag it to the virtual machine window (where the guest OS is displayed).
You can also right-click "Copy" on the physical computer and right-click "Paste" in the guest OS.

A VMware transfer window will be displayed and another will be displayed by the guest OS.
As you can see, the files or folders dragged/dropped will be copied by the guest OS from a folder with a weird name.

In fact, when you use drag and drop, the VMware tools temporarily copy the data into a subfolder "vmware-xxxx\VMwareDnD" of the temporary folder of the guest OS.

To share folders on your physical PC to make them read-only (for security) or read/write (if needed) by the virtual machine.

To do this, open the settings of the virtual machine and go to the "Shared Folders" section and select the desired option :

Disabled : VMware file sharing disabled (default value)
Always enabled : always enabled (for this virtual machine)
Enabled until next power off or suspend : activated until the virtual machine is power off or paused
Map as a network drive in Windows guests : Automatically create a network drive where you will find all the shares created here. Which makes it easier to access these shares.

Click Add to create a new share.

The Add Shared Folder Wizard appears.

Click Browse to select the folder you want to share and make available to the virtual machine.
Then, enter the name under which this share will appear in the guest OS.

Enable sharing by checking the "Enable this share" box and check the "Read-only" box if you want this share to be read only.

Save the settings and click Yes.

If you don't check the "Map as a network drive ..." box, the share will not appear in Computer (or This PC) by default.

In order to access it, you will have to go through the network option (but you will probably encounter a network discovery disabled by default error).
To access them without problem, type : \\vmware-host\Shared Folders

As you can see, our InformatiWeb share appears.

In this folder, we find the files of this shared folder.

To make your life easier, we recommend that you check the "Map as a network drive in Windows guests" box to have VMware Workstation automatically create a network drive whose contents will match the list of shared folders here.

In Computer (or This PC), you will see a "Shared Folders" network drive that is accessible with the letter Z and is mapped to \\vmware-host\Shared Folders.

As expected, you will have access to the list of shares created in the virtual machine settings.

How do I transfer files to VMware?

Using the Drag-and-Drop Feature. Drag-and-Drop Requirements and Restrictions. ... .

Using the Copy and Paste Feature. Copy and Paste Requirements and Restrictions. ... .

Using Shared Folders. Guest Operating Systems That Support Shared Folders. ... .

Mapping a Virtual Disk to the Host System..

How do I copy and paste a file to a VM?

Using keyboard shortcuts Right-click and select Copy, or press Ctrl+C to copy the text. In the VM, click where you want to paste the text. Press Ctrl+V.