How to copy Workstation virtual machine from one location to another

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information on copying a virtual machine in VMware Workstation.

Copying the virtual machine is the most thorough way of backing it up.You can also copy the virtual machine, in case you want to image or clone it. However, ensure that this does not violate any licensing agreements with the manufacturers of the operating system or any applications installed on the virtual machine.

Environment

VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Linux)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Windows)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 9.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
VMware Workstation 6.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 16.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Windows)
VMware Workstation 6.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 16.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)

Resolution

Process to copy the virtual machine:

1. Shut down your virtual machine.
   
   Note: Copying a virtual machine while it is running or suspended can create a copy that may not boot.
    
2. Select the folder where the virtual machine is stored and press Ctrl+c.
3. Select the location where you want to copy the virtual machine.
4. Press Ctrl+v.
   
   You see a progress bar, indicating that the virtual machine is being copied.
   
   Note: This does not affect your current virtual machine.
    
5. Power on the copied virtual machine. Workstation prompts you to indicate if you have moved the virtual machine or copied it.
6. Select the Moved It option if you are moving the virtual machine locally on the hard drive.
   
   This option indicates that it is the same virtual machine, which is being started from a new location. Therefore, all settings are retained.
   
   Note: If you select the Copied It option, a new UUID and MAC address are generated. This ensures that there are no conflicts in the network. For more information, see Changing or keeping a UUID for a moved virtual machine (1541).

Additional Information

For translated versions of this article, see:
Workstation 仮想マシンを別の場所にコピーする