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Big DataNewsVMware Workstation Pro 25H2 Expands Hardware and OS Support
VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 Expands Hardware and OS Support
Big Data

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 Expands Hardware and OS Support

•February 8, 2026
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TechSpot (sitewide)
TechSpot (sitewide)•Feb 8, 2026

Why It Matters

Free, feature‑rich virtualization lowers entry barriers for developers and IT teams, accelerating multi‑OS testing and cloud‑native workflows. The broader CPU and OS support positions VMware as a go‑to platform amid growing demand for hybrid development environments.

Key Takeaways

  • •25H2 adds USB 3.2 and hardware version 22.
  • •Supports Intel Lunar Lake, Arrow Lake, Meteor Lake CPUs.
  • •Adds guest OSes: RHEL 10, Fedora 42, Debian 13.
  • •Workstation Pro free for commercial, educational, personal use.
  • •New dictTool CLI edits .vmx configuration files.

Pulse Analysis

VMware Workstation Pro has long been a staple for developers and system administrators who need to spin up isolated environments on a single desktop. The 25H2 release, denoted by the year‑2025 second‑half naming convention, continues that legacy while shifting the product’s business model. By removing the license key requirement and extending free usage to commercial customers, VMware removes a traditional cost barrier, encouraging broader adoption across startups, enterprises, and educational institutions that rely on rapid prototyping and cross‑platform testing.

From a technical standpoint, 25H2 brings several notable upgrades. The suite now supports the latest Intel Lunar Lake, Arrow Lake, and Meteor Lake CPUs, ensuring optimal performance on modern hardware. USB 3.2 compatibility and hardware version 22 unlock faster peripheral access and advanced virtual device features. A new command‑line utility, dictTool, simplifies .vmx file manipulation, while expanded guest OS support—including RHEL 10, Fedora 42, Debian 13, and upcoming SUSE releases—broadens the testing matrix for developers targeting diverse Linux distributions and even macOS Tahoe via Fusion. Security hardening addresses CVE‑2025‑41236 through CVE‑2025‑41239, reinforcing trust for enterprise deployments.

The market impact of a free, fully‑featured Workstation Pro cannot be overstated. Organizations can now standardize on a single virtualization platform without licensing overhead, streamlining DevOps pipelines and reducing the need for separate sandbox solutions. This move also pressures competitors to reconsider pricing strategies and feature roadmaps. As cloud‑native development accelerates, the ability to run containers, Kubernetes clusters, and multi‑tier architectures locally positions VMware as a critical bridge between on‑premises development and cloud deployment, ensuring its relevance in the evolving IT landscape.

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 expands hardware and OS support

VMware Workstation Pro Download Free – 25H2 17.6.4

Last updated: January 6, 2026

Overview

VMware Workstation Pro lets you run Windows, Linux, and BSD virtual machines on a single Windows or Linux PC. The 25H2 release is great for developers and system administrators who need to build, test, and demo software across a variety of devices, platforms, and clouds. It makes it easy to run complex local virtual environments to simulate operating systems, platforms, and clouds from the same desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different editions of VMware Workstation?

The product line consists of two editions: Workstation Pro and Workstation Player. Collectively they are referred to as “VMware Workstation,” and any differences are called out explicitly.

Is Workstation Pro still a paid product or is it free now?

The licensing model changed in 2024. Workstation Pro became free for personal use and was later extended to all users, including commercial ones.

What are the differences between Workstation Pro and Workstation Player?

  • Workstation Pro – Designed for IT professionals and developers. It offers a fully‑featured interface, virtual networking, cloning, vSphere connectivity, tabbed UI for multiple VMs, and more.

  • Workstation Player – Intended for single‑VM operation (graphical or command‑line via vmrun). It provides a lightweight sandbox for running one OS at a time.

Do I need to dual‑boot or repartition the disk?

No. VMware Workstation stores virtual disks as files on your existing file system, so no partitioning is required. You can run multiple operating systems simultaneously and switch between them with a click.

What’s the best way to move a VM from one host to another?

Copy the entire VM folder (including the .vmx and .vmdk files) to the new host and open it with Workstation Pro. Choose “I moved it” rather than “I copied it” when prompted to preserve MAC addresses and settings.

What’s a good strategy for sizing virtual CPUs and cores per socket?

Most users assign a single virtual CPU socket and allocate multiple cores to it (e.g., 1 × 4 cores) unless specific software licensing requires a different layout.

Why does my VM run slowly, and how can I improve performance?

Common causes: insufficient host RAM/CPU, disabled hardware virtualization (VT‑x/AMD‑V), or running many intensive VMs at once. Improvements include allocating more resources, installing VMware Tools, enabling VT‑x/AMD‑V in BIOS, and using SSD storage.

Features

  • Run VMs and Containers on a Single PC – Deploy local OCI containers and Kubernetes clusters with VM isolation, virtual networking, and the new vctl CLI tool.

  • Develop and Test for Any Platform – Virtualize virtually any x86 OS on a desktop PC.

  • Baked‑In vSphere and ESXi Support – Run ESXi and vCenter as VMs and connect to remote vSphere environments.

  • Secure and Isolated Desktops – Create a second desktop with separate privacy settings, tools, and networking.

  • Powerful Multi‑OS Concurrency – Run multiple OSes side‑by‑side, switch instantly, drag‑and‑drop files, and share peripherals.

  • Snapshots & Videos – Take snapshots to preserve VM state and record video of VM activity for debugging, forensics, demos, or training.

  • Multi‑Tier System on a Single Host – Use the “Teams” feature to manage client, server, and database VMs as a single logical unit.

  • Cloning – Quickly create multiple copies of a VM from a single installation for standardized deployments.

  • Portable VMs (ACE Option Pack) – Deploy secure virtual machines on USB thumb drives for mobility.

What’s New in 25H2

  • New Naming Scheme – “25H2” denotes the year 2025 and the second half of the year.

  • dictTool (Workstation & Fusion) – Command‑line utility to inspect and edit VMware configuration files (.vmx, preferences).

  • USB 3.2 Support – Faster data transfers and better compatibility with modern USB devices.

  • Hardware Version 22 – Leverages the latest virtual hardware capabilities.

  • Hyper‑V/WHP Detection (Workstation only) – Shows the VM’s running mode and Hyper‑V/WHP status.

Expanded CPU and OS Support

  • New CPU Support (Workstation) – Intel Lunar Lake, Arrow Lake, and Meteor Lake.

  • New Guest Operating Systems

    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

    • Fedora Linux 42

    • openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC)

    • SUSE Linux 16 (Beta)

    • Debian 13

    • Oracle Linux 10

    • VMware ESX 9.0 (Workstation: general, Fusion: Intel only)

    • macOS Tahoe (Fusion: Intel only)

  • New Host Operating Systems

    • Workstation: RHEL 10, Fedora Linux 42, openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC), SUSE Linux 16 (Beta), Debian 13

    • Fusion: macOS Tahoe (Intel and Apple Silicon)

Bug Fixes and Improvements

  • Security patches for both Workstation and Fusion.

  • Accessibility enhancements.

  • Workstation‑specific fixes: UI resizing issues on Windows, optimized Linux support bundles, reduced excessive logging by the VMware Authorization Service, option to discard VM suspend states, fixed Linux full‑screen crash and Intel GPU 3D acceleration issues.

  • Vulnerability Resolutions – CVE‑2025‑41236, CVE‑2025‑41237, CVE‑2025‑41238, CVE‑2025‑41239 (see VMSA‑2025‑0013).

  • Additional Fixes – CVE‑2025‑2884 (moderate severity).

  • License Change – Workstation Pro no longer requires a license key and is free for commercial, educational, and personal use.

Download Information (summary)

  • Version: 25H2 (also available as 17.6.4, 17.6.3, etc.)

  • File size: 302 MB

  • Supported OS: Windows, Linux

  • License: Freeware

This article provides a comprehensive overview of VMware Workstation Pro 25H2, its features, new capabilities, and frequently asked questions.

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