How to Setup a VMware Shared Folder

By / VMware Workstation Pro / 5 minutes of reading

Step by step guide.

Setting up a VMware workstation 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). When enabled, a shared folder is accessible by both systems at the same time, saving you from having to constantly plug in USB drives or rely on finicky drag-and-drop actions.

While folder sharing isn’t turned on by default, configuring it on your home computer only takes a few minutes. This guide will walk you through exactly how to share folders in vmware using a Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual machine.

Table Of Contents
  1. Prerequisites Before You Start
  2. The Step-by-Step Guide to Setup Shared Folder
  3. How to Access Your Shared Folder in Windows 10 & Windows 11
  4. Troubleshooting: VMware Shared Folder Not Showing?
  5. A Vital Security Reminder: Mind the Walled Garden
  6. Summary

Prerequisites Before You Start

For shared folders to work properly, you must have VMware Tools installed inside your virtual machine.
VMware Tools provides the underlying drivers that allow the guest operating system to communicate with your physical computer’s hard drive.
If you haven’t installed it yet, boot up your virtual machine, go to the top menu, select VM > Install VMware Tools, and follow the on-screen prompts.

If your virtual machine is running a legacy version of Windows, you might have problems getting VMware Tools to install, follow this guides How to Install VMware Tools on Windows XP and Vista

The Step-by-Step Guide to Setup 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. Name it something clear, like VM_Share.

Security Tip: It is best practice to use a newly created, empty folder specifically for this purpose rather than sharing an existing personal directory like your entire Documents or Downloads folder.
A shared folder creates a link between your guest and host machines so it’s better to have a dedicated folder for the prupose.

2. Open the VMware Virtual Machine Settings

Make sure your virtual machine is fully powered off or suspended (if it is running, some sharing options will be greyed out).

Right-click your virtual machine in the left-hand library pane and select Settings, or click VM > Settings from the top toolbar.

or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + D.

Opening VMware Workstation settings.
Select your virtual machine in the Library panel and then open the Settings.

3. Configure the Shared Folders options

Inside the Settings window, click on the Options tab at the top. From the left-hand navigation pane, select Shared Folders.

Under the Folder Sharing section on the right, change the setting from Disabled to Always enabled.

Right below that, make sure to check the box for Map as a network drive in Windows guests.
This ensures Windows automatically assigns a drive letter to your folder.

Enable shared folder and settings.
Select “Always enabled” and “Map as network drive”.

4. Run the Add Shared Folder Wizard

Click the Add button to open the setup wizard, then click Next.
Click the Browse button next to the Host path box and navigate to the folder you created in Step 1, select it, and click OK.

You can give the share a custom name as it will appear inside the VM, or leave it as default. Click Next.

Adding a shared folder to VMware virtual machine.
Click the Add button.
Browse for folder to add as a shared folder
Then use the Browse button to locate and select the folder on your host that you want to use as the shared folder.

5. Set Permissions and Finish

On the final screen, leave Enable this share checked. If you want to prevent the virtual machine from modifying or deleting files on your host computer, you can optionally check Read-only.
Click Finish, and then click OK to close out the main Settings menu.

How to Access Your Shared Folder in Windows 10 & Windows 11

Now that the link is configured between your host and guest systems, turn on your virtual machine.

To find your shared files, open File Explorer inside the guest virtual machine and click on This PC from the left-hand sidebar. Under the Network Locations section, you will see a new drive labeled Shared Folders (\vmware-host).

Double-click this network drive, and you’ll find your shared folder waiting for you.
Anything you drop into this folder from your physical computer will instantly show up here, and vice versa!

Shared folder location in VMware
You’ll find the shared folder in Network Locations in File Explorer.

Troubleshooting: VMware Shared Folder Not Showing?

If you followed the guide but the network location is empty or missing, try these quick fixes:

  • Reboot the Virtual Machine: A full power cycle is often required for Windows to recognize the newly mapped network drive.
  • Check VMware Tools: Open your VM’s system tray (next to the clock) and verify the VMware Tools icon is present and running. If it is outdated, select VM > Update VMware Tools.
  • Turn on Network Discovery: If Windows throws a network error, open your VM’s Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings, and ensure Network Discovery is turned on for private networks.

A Vital Security Reminder: Mind the Walled Garden

One of the greatest benefits of a virtual machine is that it operates inside an isolated “walled garden.” It is a sandboxed environment completely separated from your actual computer.

When you create a VMware Workstation shared folder, you are intentionally opening a small tunnel through that wall.
While this is incredibly convenient for swapping files between the host and guest, remember that it also allows files to move both ways.
If you happen to be testing risky software, visiting dodgy websites or handling malware inside your virtual machine, dangerous files or ransomware could theoretically use that shared folder bridge to reach your physical host computer.

To keep your main PC completely safe, only use a dedicated, isolated folder for your shares, and turn off folder sharing when you aren’t actively using it.

Summary

Enabling a shared folder lets you pass files and folders between your VM and “real” computers. It’s incredibly useful but you have to keep in mind that it’s a physical link between the two systems.

Related Posts

Add A USB Device To VMware Workstation Pro
You can also add USB drives to your VM. Easy and quick to do.

How to Backup VMware Workstation Pro Virtual Machines: The Complete Guide
Create a complete backup of any virtual machine. Especially useful if you’ve activated a copy of Windows on your VM.

VMware Workstation Pro Snapshots
Snapshots are a quick way to save the virtual machine state before making any changes.

Setup a Home Network in Windows

Setting up a home network in Windows 10 or Windows 11 lets you share files and folders between all your desktop PCs and laptops

Access documents, pictures and any other files that are stored on a different PC to the one you’re using right now.

Click Here
How to setup a home network in Windows 10 and Windows 11. 5 Simple steps.

Find this and other related guides in – Computer Tech Guides – Windows 11 – Windows 10

At Home Computer Step By Step Guides

At home computer website logo. Easy to follow tutorials for users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.

Scroll to Top