Setting up a VMware Workstation Pro shared folder is one of the easiest ways to move files back and forth between your main computer (the host) and your virtual machine (the guest).
A shared folder can be opened by both at the same time, so there’s no need to keep plugging in USB drives or wrestling with drag and drop.
Folder sharing isn’t turned on by default, but setting it up only takes a few minutes. I’ll show you exactly how to share a folder in VMware Workstation Pro with a Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual machine, and where to find it on Windows XP and Linux too.
Still using VMware Player? I’ve written a separate guide to setting up a shared folder in VMware Player.
The Short Version
- Create an empty folder on your PC to share, such as VM_Share.
- In Workstation Pro, open VM, Settings and click the Options tab.
- Select Shared Folders, choose Always enabled and tick Map as a network drive in Windows guests.
- Click Add, browse to your folder and click Finish, then OK.
- In the virtual machine, open File Explorer, click This PC and look under Network locations.
Prerequisites Before You Start
For shared folders to work, VMware Tools must be installed inside your virtual machine. It provides the drivers that let the guest talk to your real computer’s files.
If you haven’t installed it yet, start the virtual machine, click VM on the menu bar, select Install VMware Tools and follow the prompts.
If that option is greyed out, here’s how to fix Install VMware Tools greyed out. And if your virtual machine runs an older version of Windows, follow my guide on how to install VMware Tools on Windows XP and Vista.
Haven’t got Workstation Pro yet? It’s free. Here’s how to download VMware Workstation Pro.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up a Shared Folder
1. Create a Folder on Your Host Computer
First, create a brand new folder on your physical computer’s desktop, or wherever you want it to be. Give it a clear name, like VM_Share.
Security Tip
Use a new, empty folder just for this, rather than sharing a personal folder like Documents or Downloads.
A shared folder creates a link between your virtual machine and your real computer, so it’s better to keep it to one dedicated folder.
2. Open the VMware Virtual Machine Settings
Make sure your virtual machine is fully powered off or suspended. If it’s running, some sharing options will be greyed out.
Right click your virtual machine in the Library pane on the left and select Settings, click VM, Settings on the menu bar, or press Ctrl and D.
3. Configure the Shared Folders Options
In the Settings window, click the Options tab at the top. In the left hand pane, select Shared Folders.
Under Folder sharing on the right, change the setting from Disabled to Always enabled. The other choice, Enabled until next power off or suspend, switches sharing off again when you shut the virtual machine down.
Just below that, tick Map as a network drive in Windows guests. Windows then gives the shared folder its own drive letter, which makes it much easier to find.
4. Run the Add Shared Folder Wizard
- Click the Add button to open the Add Shared Folder Wizard, then click Next.
- Click Browse next to the Host path box, find the folder you created in Step 1, select it and click OK.
- Give the share a name, as it will appear inside the virtual machine, or leave the name it suggests. Click Next.
5. Set Permissions and Finish
On the last screen, leave Enable this share ticked.
If you don’t want the virtual machine to be able to change or delete files in the folder, tick Read-only as well. Then click Finish, and OK to close the Settings window.
How to Access Your Shared Folder in Windows 10 & Windows 11
Now that sharing is set up, start your virtual machine.
Open File Explorer inside the virtual machine and click This PC in the left hand pane. Under Network locations you’ll see a new drive called Shared Folders, followed by vmware-host and a drive letter (usually Z:).
Double click it and your shared folder is waiting inside. Anything you put in that folder on your real computer shows up here straight away, and the other way round.
Can’t See the Drive? Use the Address Bar
Click in the File Explorer address bar, type this and press Enter:
\\vmware-host\Shared FoldersThat opens your VMware shared folders even if the drive hasn’t been mapped.
Shared Folders on Windows XP and Vista
Shared folders work on older versions of Windows too, as long as the right VMware Tools is installed. Workstation Pro no longer includes it for XP and Vista, so you have to download it first (see the Prerequisites above).
Once it’s installed, the shared folder appears in My Computer as a network drive, or you can open it by typing the same address into the address bar.
Shared Folders in a Linux Virtual Machine
Linux doesn’t use a drive letter. With open-vm-tools installed, your VMware shared folders appear inside this folder:
/mnt/hgfsIf that folder is empty, open a terminal and run these two commands. They mount the shared folders until the next restart:
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs
sudo vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs -o allow_otherTo mount them automatically every time, follow Broadcom’s guide to HGFS shared folders on Linux. If you’re setting up Linux Mint, my guide to installing a Linux Mint virtual machine covers the rest.
Troubleshooting: VMware Shared Folder Not Showing?
If you’ve followed the guide but the shared folder is empty or missing, work through these:
- Check Folder sharing is still on. If you chose Enabled until next power off or suspend, it switched itself off when you shut down. Change it to Always enabled.
- Restart the virtual machine. A full restart is often all Windows needs to pick up the new network drive.
- Check VMware Tools is installed and running. Look for its icon in the system tray, next to the clock. If it’s missing, install it from the VM menu, or fix the greyed out option first.
- Type the address yourself. Enter the vmware-host address from the section above into File Explorer’s address bar.
- Turn on Network discovery. If Windows shows a network error, open Control Panel, Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Center, Advanced sharing settings, and turn on Network discovery for private networks.
- On Linux, mount it. Run the vmhgfs-fuse command from the Linux section above.
A Vital Security Reminder: Mind the Walled Garden
One of the biggest benefits of a virtual machine is that it runs inside an isolated walled garden, completely separate from your real computer.
When you create a VMware Workstation shared folder, you’re deliberately opening a small tunnel through that wall. That’s handy for swapping files, but remember that files can travel both ways.
If you’re testing risky software, visiting dodgy websites or handling suspicious files inside the virtual machine, malware or ransomware could use that shared folder to reach your real computer.
Keep Your PC Safe
Only share a dedicated, empty folder. Tick Read-only if the virtual machine only needs to read files. And turn folder sharing off when you aren’t using it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is the shared folder in a VMware virtual machine?
A: On Windows, open File Explorer, click This PC and look under Network locations for Shared Folders on vmware-host, usually drive Z:. On Linux, look in the /mnt/hgfs folder.
Q: Why is my VMware shared folder not showing?
A: The most common reasons are that VMware Tools isn’t installed, folder sharing switched itself off after a shutdown, or the virtual machine needs a restart. Check all three, then try typing the vmware-host address into File Explorer.
Q: Do I need VMware Tools for shared folders?
A: Yes. Shared folders only work when VMware Tools, or open-vm-tools on Linux, is installed in the virtual machine.
Q: Can I use a shared folder with a Linux virtual machine?
A: Yes. The shared folders appear in /mnt/hgfs. If that folder is empty, mount it with the vmhgfs-fuse command in this guide.
Q: Does this work in VMware Player?
A: Yes, the steps are almost the same, although the menus look a little different. See my guide to shared folders in VMware Player.
Q: Is a VMware shared folder safe?
A: It’s safe for everyday files, but it is a link between the virtual machine and your real computer. Share an empty, dedicated folder, use Read-only where you can, and turn sharing off when you’re testing anything risky.
Summary
A shared folder lets you pass files between your virtual machine and your real computer. Turn on Always enabled, add one dedicated folder, and find it under Network locations in the virtual machine.
It’s incredibly useful, but keep in mind that it’s a real link between the two systems.
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Written by Jeff Porter. I’ve been fixing Windows PCs since 2010 and I’m CompTIA Network+ certified. More about me