Editing the .vmx file for your VMware Fusion virtual machine

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps for editing the .vmx file of your VMware Fusion virtual machine. Editing of a .vmx file may be required to complete steps in a Knowledge Base article or at the request of VMware Support staff.

Environment

VMware Fusion 

VMware Fusion Pro

Resolution

Caution:

• Before you alter the virtual machine's files, VMware recommends copying the virtual machine's bundle to a safe location (either on an external hard drive or anywhere else on the Mac's hard drive) to backup the virtual machine. For more information, see Best Practices for virtual machine backup (programs and data) in VMware Fusion.
• Before editing the .vmx file of the virtual machine make a backup copy of the .vmx file.

To edit a .vmx file:

1. Ensure the virtual machine is shut down (not suspended).
2. In VMware Fusion, from the Apple menu bar, go to Window > Virtual Machine Library.
   
   Note: If the virtual machine is encrypted, you need to click on settings and enter the password when prompted.
    
3. Hold the Option (Alt) key and right-click the virtual machine. Select Open Config File in Editor.
   
   To open the .vmx in TextEdit in Fusion 4.x and above:
   • Select Show in Finder
   • Right-click the virtual machine and select Show package Contents
   • Locate the .vmx file and open it in a text editor.
     
     You can now add or edit lines as needed. Lines are displayed in no particular order.
   
   Note: While editing the .vmx file in TextEdit, disable Smart Quotes option from TextEdit > Preferences > New Document. Smart quotes, if enabled, will not work in the .vmx file and the virtual machine will fail to boot.
    
4. When finished, close the window which auto-saves it (Mountain Lion) or click Save a version (Lion) or Save (not Save As) (Snow Leopard and earlier), and exit.

The changes made to the .vmx do not take effect until the next time VMware Fusion is opened (quit it first, if it is currently open). Alternatively, double-click the .vmx file to apply the changes and open the virtual machine immediately.

 

Additional Information

The .vmx file contains settings for your virtual machine's behavior. Some of these settings are accessible through the Virtual Machine > Settings menu option, but some settings can be changed only in the file.