VMware Fusion
Run Windows on your Intel-processor Macs with VMware Fusion.
Available to
Faculty, Staff, Students
Platforms
Mac
Install Time
~20 minutes
Before You Begin
Select a guide below to access download links and instructions. You will be prompted to Sign in with Google if you are not already logged in.
Installation Instructions
You will need to download VMware Fusion for this installation to work correctly.
- Download for Student, Faculty, or Staff.
- Click Download.
- You will now receive a message that Google Drive can’t scan this file for viruses since it has exceeded the maximum size that Google can scan. WFU IS controls and has scanned to ensure it is virus free. You may download it with confidence. Click Download anyways. Please note, this file is large and will take a while to download. For the best experience, it is recommended you download this while on campus or somewhere you have a high-speed internet connection.
- Once downloaded, Click on the .zip (by default, the file will be located in your downloads folder). This will expand the file and store it in the same folder. You will need to copy this to a newly created folder once you start the VMware Fusion software installation. Please refer to those installation instructions which can be found on the VMware Fusion 10.x installation tab found above. It is advised you delete the .zip file to free up space on your computer once the file has been extracted.
Installation Instructions
Please note: VMware Fusion only runs on Intel-based Apple computers. If you have an M-series Apple computer, please submit a request and install Parallels.
Please note: VMware Fusion Pro 12 requires macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer. If you have an OS version older than Catalina, please contact the IS Service Desk for assistance.
PLEASE READ THROUGH THESE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING THIS APPLICATION, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS.
- Download for Student, Faculty, or Staff to submit a request for a VMware Fusion license (this could take up to 48 hours to receive).
- Once you have received an invitation email, you can continue to these steps.
- Click on the link in the email to proceed.
- Click on the green “click here” button to proceed.
- Click on Register on the right.
- Complete the registration form (you must use your @wfu.edu email address that the email was sent to).
- Click on the link to go to D2L Brightspace.
- Click on VMware Software Licenses and then Software Products & License Keys.
- Click on the Software License Catalog link in the middle of the page.
- Click Request for VMware 12 Fusion Pro.
- Click the green click here to redeem button.
- Once submitted, you will get an email with the Software Key (this can take several hours to receive).
- Go to the following site (log in with your @wfu.edu email address and password you set during registration).
- Click on VMware Fusion Pro 12 under the Direct Links for Software Download list.
- Click DOWNLOAD NOW towards the bottom of the page.
To Install VMware Fusion:
- Double-click the installation file VMWare-Fusion.dmg.
- Click OPEN to continue installation.
- Once the installation has completed, a new folder will appear in your Documents folder called “Virtual Machines”
- You will need to copy the Windows 11 VM downloaded from the tab above to this Virtual Machines Folder. Once copied to the new location, double-click the file.
- If prompted that a new version of VMware Fusion is available, please download this new version. (VMware is very good about keeping their application up-to-date so please be sure to download the updates when prompted, also be sure to install the VMware tools every time you update, instructions for doing so can be found below.)
- Double click the newly copied WFU Win11 VM from the /Documents/Virtual Machines folder. Fusion will ask if this is a NEW, Moved It or Copied It VM. Answer “Copied It”.
- WARNING – If you have another VM application installed on your system that is set to default, this application may launch rather than VMWareFusion. Please ensure VMWareFusion is your default VM application.
- Once the VM has launched you may need to modify the default screen resolution by moving your mouse to the top of the VM and invoking the Fusion menu. Choose Virtual Machine -> Settings -> Display. Uncheck “Use full resolution for Retina Display”.
- You will be prompted to install McAfee Antivirus, do not install this product. You will receive the automatic installation of End Point Security which is supported by the university.
- Install VMware Tools – On the VMware Fusion menu, select Virtual Machine -> Install VMware Tools.