Windows 11, the latest and much-anticipated operating system from Microsoft, promises a range of new features and enhancements that are grabbing the attention of tech enthusiasts worldwide. To experiment and familiarize oneself with this new OS, many users resort to virtual environments. Among the popular choices for this is VMware Workstation Player. It is essential to note that the newest version of VMware Workstation Player is designed to support the installation of both Windows 11 and VMware Tools. The significance of installing VMware Tools on your Windows 11 virtual machine can’t be overstated. This suite of utilities optimizes the performance of your virtual machine, ensuring that it runs efficiently, responsively, and smoothly. Even though VMware might recognize Windows 11 and automatically install VMware Tools when creating a new virtual machine, there are instances where this doesn’t happen. But there’s no cause for concern. Whether it’s a matter of preference or necessity, this risewindows tutorial will guide you through the process of manually installing VMware Tools on a Windows 11 VMware Workstation Player.
How to Install VMware Tools on VMware Workstation Player?
To install VMware Tools on a guest Windows 11, do the following:-
Step 1. Firstly, click on the Player in the menu of VMware, and then select Manage > Install VMware Tools.
Step 2. Now, it will mount a virtual CD-ROM in a few seconds on guest Windows 11. You will also see a notification of a virtual CD-ROM on the right-side bottom corner of the taskbar. To access, open the File Explorer by pressing Windows + E keys from the keyboard and then navigating to CD-ROM.
Step 3. Right-click on the mounted CD-ROM and select Install or run a program from your media.
Step 4. When “User Account Control” prompts, click the Yes button.
Step 5. Then, VMware Tools will start installing on your guest machine. Click Next.
Step 6. After that, click the Next button on the following screen.
Step 7. Then, click the Install button.
Step 8. Next, click Finish.
Step 9. Lastly, press the Yes button to complete the VMware Tools setup.
Now restart the guest Windows 11. You can now avail of almost all the features of your host machine, such as sound, USB, CD-ROM, etc. Also, the mouse will work smoothly now.
Conclusion
Installing VMware Tools on a Windows 11 virtual machine in VMware Workstation Player is crucial for an optimized and responsive virtual experience. This tutorial simplifies the process into nine easy steps, ensuring even those less familiar with the software can enhance their virtual machine’s performance. With VMware Tools installed, users can expect better integration between the host and virtual machine, and a smoother mouse and peripheral experience.
