Cannot drop and drag from guest Windows 11 arm to host Sequoia 15.2 and vica versa on VMware Pro 13

[Paul Heinrich]

I have newly installed guest VM Windows 11 arm on my host Mac Studio M2 Ultra using VMware Pro 13.6. after some finagling. The Mware Tools is installed, and in the Isolation menu drag-and-drop is enabled. But drop and drag is still not allowed.

Any help that I can obtain is greatly appreciated.

[Technogeezer]

I'm not seeing that in my Windows 11 ARM 24H2 (latest build) installation.

Can you verify the VMware Tools version installed in Windows through Settings > Apps > Installed Apps? You should see an entry in there for VMware Tools. If it's 12.4.5, can you try downloading VMware Tools 12.5.0 from Broadcom's software download page, install it, and see if the symptoms persist.

Can you drag and drop to a File Explorer window?

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- Paul (technogeezer)
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[Paul Heinrich]

Sorry about belated reply. Anwway, you wrote:

"Can you verify the VMware Tools version installed in Windows through Settings > Apps > Installed Apps? You should see an entry in there for VMware Tools.

I couldn't find it in the "Windows Installed apps".

Also, you wrote: "VMware Tools. If it's 12.4.5, can you try downloading VMware Tools 12.5.0"

Its Professional Version 13.6.2

Finally you asked: "Can you drag and drop to a File Explorer window?"

no

[Paul Heinrich]

I found this:

VMware Fusion 13.6.2 Release Notes

Unable to install VMware Tools on macOS 15 Sequoia host operating system The Install VMware Tools button is grayed out on a device that uses macOS 15 Sequoia operating system. Workaround: Download VMware Tools and execute the installation steps in installing tools VMware 13.6.2 

I have downloaded it and look at "Installing VMware tools" to see if it helps.

[Paul Heinrich]

Hi,

I figured out how to install VMware Tools, installed them, and checked permissions in Isolation menu, and restarted Windows 11. 

Now able to move files back and forth from host to guest.  Did not need darwin files.

[Technogeezer]

The item in the release notes I believe applies to macOS guest operating systems on Intel Macs. Fusion 13.6 no longer includes the VMware Tools that are considered "legacy" -- and that includes the VMware Tools for macOS guests on Intel. Since Broadcom doesn't provide those legacy installers on their regular software download pages, they posted the link in the release notes so that you can get those legacy tools installers if you need them (for example, for macOS VMs).

VMware Tools for Windows 11 ARM are bundled with Fusion 13.6. They're also available for download from Broadcom's regular software download site (and can be downloaded from with Broadcom basic accounts -- no corporate account, subscription, or support contract needed). 

If you didn't find the VMware Tools listed in the "Installed Apps" in the Windows VM, then you didnt have Tools fully installed. That's likley why you weren't able to drag/drop/copy/paste.

The procedure to install the network driver on the 24H2 ISO downloaded from Microsofts web site (not from Fusion's "Get Windows from Microsoft") only installs the network driver. It doesn't install the full set of VMware Tools that are needed to support drag/drop/copy/paste and window resizing. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
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