Virtual machine hardware version compatibility for Fusion

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provides instructions to verify if the virtual machine's hardware version is up-to-date for your installation of VMware Fusion.

Virtual machines created with VMware Fusion may not power on in another version/copy of VMware Fusion due to hardware version differences.

Environment

VMware Fusion 1.x
VMware Fusion 2.x

VMware Fusion 3.x

VMware Fusion 4.x
VMware Fusion 5.x
VMware Fusion 6.x

VMware Fusion 7.x

VMware Fusion 8.x

VMware Fusion Pro 8.x

VMware Fusion 10.x

VMware Fusion Pro 10.x

VMware Fusion 11.x

VMware Fusion Pro 11.x
VMware Fusion 12.x

VMware Fusion Pro 12.x

VMware Fusion 13.x
VMware Fusion 25H2

VMware Fusion 26H1

Cause

VMware Fusion does not power on a virtual machine with a virtual hardware version that is higher than what it supports. For example, VMware Fusion 1.x does not power on virtual machines created in Fusion 2.x, 3.x, or 4.x.

Resolution

VMware Fusion powers on a virtual machine with a virtual hardware version that is lower than what it supports, but functionality may be lost. With lost functionality, menu items/settings related to virtual machine operations gray out and become unavailable.

Note: If a virtual machine is created in a different VMware product (for example, VMware Workstation) that supports a virtual hardware version, and it is then migrated to a version of VMware Fusion that does not support this level of virtual hardware, it does not power on. For example, Fusion 1.x does not power on virtual machines created in Workstation 6.x or 7.x. For information on virtual hardware versions for other VMware products, see Virtual machine hardware versions (315655).

To upgrade the virtual hardware:

In Fusion 26H1, 25H2, 13.x, 12.x, 11.x, 10.x, 8.x, 7.x, 6.x, 5.x, and 4.x:

1. Shut down the virtual machine.
2. In the Apple menu bar, select Virtual Machine > Settings.
3. Select Compatibility.
4. Select the hardware version that is compatible with the VMware product you want to run the virtual machine with.

In Fusion 3.x and earlier:

1. Power off the virtual machine.
2. Go to Virtual Machine > Upgrade Virtual Machine.
   
   Note: If the Virtual Machine menu only has an option that reads Downgrade Virtual Machine, then your virtual machine has the highest hardware version supported by that version of Fusion.

Additional Information

After upgrading the virtual machine compatibility, upgrade the VMware tools:

1. Power on the virtual machine.
2. Go to Virtual machine > Update VMware tools.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
4. Restart the virtual machine after the installation is complete.