Enabling Single Virtual Machine mode in VMware Fusion on a Mac

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information on VMware Fusion 6.x and above feature, Single Virtual Machine mode, available for Apple Macintosh (Mac) machines.

Single Virtual Machine mode reduces menu options and allows you to use only one virtual machine at a time. This feature restricts:

• User access to the virtual machine library.
• The ability to create new virtual machines.
• The ability to migrate physical machines to virtual machines.

Environment

VMware Fusion Pro 11.x
VMware Fusion Pro 10.x
VMware Fusion 11.x
VMware Fusion 7.x
VMware Fusion Pro 8.x
VMware Fusion 8.x
VMware Fusion 10.x
VMware Fusion 6.x

Resolution

To enable Single Virtual Machine mode on a Mac, perform these steps:

1. Exit VMware Fusion if it is running.
2. Open a text editor and create a file named config.
3. In the config file, enter the line:
   
   installerDefaults.simplifiedUI = TRUE
    
4. Save and close the file.
   
   Note: Ensure that the config file does not have a file extensions. To remove a file extension:
    
   1. Right-click the config file and click Get info.
   2. In the name and extension field, ensure you remove a file extension if present.
   3. Close the get info window.
   4. Click Remove when prompted to confirm the removal of extension.
       
5. On the top menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder. Enter this path:
   
   /Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/
    
6. Drag and drop the Config file to the VMware Fusion folder.
7. Click Authorize when prompted.
8. Enter your Mac password.
9. Launch VMware Fusion.

Additional Information

When Single Virtual Machine mode is enabled, you see these changes in VMware Fusion:

• When VMware Fusion is launched, the virtual machine library is not displayed.
• You are unable to create new virtual machines.
• You cannot use the PC migration assistant.
• You cannot run more than one virtual machine at a time.
• These menu options are not available:
  • Under the File menu: New, Open, Open and Run, Open Recent, Import, Show Import Library, Migrate your PC.
  • Under the Window menu: Virtual Machine Library

To re-enable normal mode, delete the config file and relaunch VMware Fusion.

1. Exit VMware Fusion if it is running.
2. On the top menu bar, click Go > Go to Folder and enter this path:
   
   /Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/
    
3. Delete the Config file.
4. Launch VMware Fusion.
   
   VMware Fusion runs normally with all features restored.