Downloading VMware Pro

[RaSystemlord]

How to download VMware Workstation Pro, the latest version for Windows? (17.6.1 or something since a couple of days). I know, register to Broadcom Support and click the Download document - it takes me to their main page. To get into the Download Page - where is it? I have the key and bought several licenses, which are not in the Profile, but that is not the problem in hand.

I gather somebody has cracked this up.

[RaSystemlord]

Thanks Dryst! Really good service.

[RaSystemlord]

The generic answer to this question is this:

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So I tried the steps to get vmware workstation for personal use: 

• You can register with personal email for this it seems. I used @outlook.com
• Go to their support site Home - Support Portal - Broadcom support portal and click Register in the upper right corner
• Enter your email address and the CAPTCHA-code and continue
• You receive an email. Enter the code and continue. Choose a password. At the profile page summary, click "I',m done"
• You should be bounced back to the support page but you are not signed in. 
• In the upper right corner, click Login and use your email address and password. 
• In the upper left corner, on the gray line below the header, click "Software" (next to Hardware), then VMware cloud foundation and then on the white flyout menu, click "My downloads" (upper right corner)
• On the downloads page, search for workstation in the search box upper right. Then go to "vmware workstation pro"
• In the results list, click on vmware workstation pro 17 for personal use and then the desired version
• In the left corner above the table, click on "I agree to the terms and conditions". This is where you will be prompted to "verify" your details. You need to be careful to enter correct details about address, country etc. Nonsense here can cause your verification to fail and you'll not be able to proceed. 
• Once verified, click on the cloud icon after the vmware workstation download to get the installer file. 

[Markku Lehtola]

Hi,

new portal is a joke. I don't have any "site id", so I can't download and when trying to open a "new case" for this, site just tries to "authenticating the user", but never finish. Workstation Pro

[Vivek Wanelkar]

Just register with any email id and use following link to select product for download.

https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware+Workstation+Pro

[Mark Carder]

Thanks Vivek.  That worked.

[janne kroll]

I am doing exactly this:
https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware+Workstation+Pro

I am logged in with my registered user, but getting this:

[Jesse Gilleland]

I heard someone say "Broadcom is where good companies go to die" and given the difficulty navigating through a simple process, I'm starting to believe it.  

My company is sending me to Nutanix training next month.

[RaSystemlord]

I don't know. VMware Horizon is pretty good.

VMware Workstation Pro is also pretty good, if you don't upgrade version 17.5.2 for nothing and don't try to Download it from Broadcom. You can nowadays find it from anywhere else, practically speaking. You can also Download it from Broadcom if you do exactly how instructed in these pages - do not use intuition.

[Fred Allen]

I agree... the Broadcom support site is one of (if not THE) most difficult sites to navigate I've ever seen.

Almost impossible to find where to download workstation pro... and I still have not found where to download versions EARLIER than 17.5, since they removed enabling virtual printers in 17.5 and higher... so my old printer (which has NO host drivers) won't work.

[snok tard]

Navigating this site will drive you absolutely INSANE. I spent 10 minutes fumbling around trying to find the download link. Ended up just giving and typing "VMware Workstation Pro archive.org" and found the link in 2 seconds. Absolutely insane.

[RaSystemlord]

Yes. My instructions that you referred to has probably been out-dated 10 times by now.

That's way my last 10 answers have been "UTFG" - use Google. It just doesn't seem to be the kosher answer on this Forum.

[Sabrina Kelly]

Thank you. Worked for me.

[RaSystemlord]

I'm glad that it worked. 

However, it is Free now. You can download it "from everywhere" - like from archive.org.

[Naresh Balla]

I don't know why they have to make everything hard. This worked for me. Thanks.

[tyruei]

What a terrible disaster of a site.

I finally found a working link after nearly 40 minutes of fighting through this site, the ticketing site, and the auto-updater...

https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware%20Workstation%20Pro&freeDownloads=true

[FireWalkWithMeIT]

You aren't kidding. What a headache trying to find a simple download link.

Thank you for this link. This was the only way I was able to get the file download started.

[RaSystemlord]

FireWalkWithMe: The downloads are not always what they seem.

You can perhaps load some version from archive.org (I used it for 17.5.2. Linux).

OR

you can google the download and use your favorite Windows download site since VMware Pro is for Free.

[FireWalkWithMeIT]

Thankfully the link that Tyruei posted worked just fine and I was able to install VMware.

Link: https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware%20Workstation%20Pro&freeDownloads=true

I did happen to experience just about every other issue mentioned on this post before I got to this thread though. Chat support not working, Data not found on the download page which is where you land from VMware's own website/link, etc. You have to wonder if they do this on purpose.

[Sabas Matikas]

Thank you so much RaSystemlord for the this post, it works and helps a lot ...

[RaSystemlord]

Thank you Sabas! I'm glad it worked for you.

On the other hand, since it is freeware, you can load it "from anywhere", just like any other Windows program that you need to download "from everywhere in the Web" before you get Windows running decently.

I tested archive.org with Linux version of 17.5.2. No issues, just Download, install and use.

Alternatively, it has been mentioned that you can still download EVERY version of VMware from vmware.com place. Just search this forum for it.

[Viral Shah]

For anyone still not able to get to the download link, here is the link: https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/free-downloads 

You will need to register first and then access above site. 

[robnicholsonmalt]

Thanks for this - I was going around and around a bit. Not the easiest of sites to navigate if you only visit infrequently.

[Anthony Stubbs]

Hello Broadcom Community,

Downloading VMware Workstation Pro (like version 17.6.1) has become more complex since Broadcom took over; you're right-registration is required, but accessing the actual download page often redirects users to the Broadcom homepage instead of directly offering the installer. A tip: once logged in, search "VMware Workstation Pro" in the portal's Downloads section, or try navigating via their Product Documentation > Downloads menu. 

Have a Nice Day!!

Edited by moderator to remove an advertisement for an outside service. 

[Technogeezer]

Make sure you are following the latest instructions on how to download Workstation. Broadcom recently made a change to collect all their free software offerings outside of the main "My Downloads" page you find on your account in the support portal.  

The latest instructions on how to download Broadcom free software offerings can be found at https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/397417/ . You can also use the link posted above which gets you directly to the free downloads page.

Remember that you will need to check the box to agree to terms and conditions before downloading will be allowed, even for the free software.

The KB article I linked to also has advice on what to do if you keep getting "account verification required" after following the instructions. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Morc001]

Technogeezer, you should've banned the user instead of replying as I believe this is an advertisement for a streaming service than a genuine forum post. This may be an AI generated post as there's no (as far as I could not find) Product Documetation -> Downloads menu on the Broadcast or VMWare webpage.

[Martha Green]

Finding the actual download link for VMware Workstation Pro (like version 17.6.1) on Broadcom's site has become unnecessarily complicated. Even after registering and accessing the so-called "Download Document," users are often redirected to the main support page without clear navigation to the install files. If you've already purchased licenses and have your key, the challenge isn't activation-it's simply locating the installer. Broadcom's site lacks transparency in this regard. To bypass this frustration, I highly recommend using netmirror it simplifies access to official VMware files and often hosts direct links to the latest versions.

Thanks!

[Technogeezer]

If you're getting re-directed to the main support page unexpectedly, you may wish to drop a message over in the Water Cooler community. The admin of the community site frequents there, and does tend to look into issues with the web site similar to yours. Or call Broadcom support and note that you are having web site access issues. 

Broadcom has distanced themselves from all perpetual licenses purchased from VMware. That includes tracking perpetual licenses as well as providing downloads of the old versions that were perpetually licensed. If you didn't download installation media for the version you're licensed for before the Broadcom acquisition of VMware, your only hope is to search software archival sites.  You won't find those versions from a Broadcom site. 

As part of the changes made in recent months, Broadcom eliminated "unauthenticated downloads" as a matter of corporate policy. This means access to their download content requires a login with a registered account. "Direct links to the latest versions" would still have to abide by the account registration requirements that Broadcom has put into place. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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