VMWare Worksation Pro Certificate Error

[Ronald VonColln]

Recieving the following error on our VMWare Workstation Pro station.

[rainer_xxl]

I have the same problem too.

[pcguy999]

Having the same issue on 17.6.3 which I just recently updated to without any issues. 

[Juergen Heckel]

Same here too

[RaSystemlord]

This has been covered in other thread, where the advice is that Update is not even supposed to work within current VMware Pro architecture.

However, the general advice has always been uninstall and install. Doing Update is looking for trouble with any complicated software (like Windows) and uninstall/install is the safe bet for the software to work as it is supposed to work. Only with some small software, Update works well, as an example with Notepad++

Maybe the confusion comes from Linux world. Unlike in Windows, in main Linux distributions, Linux actually KNOWS what packages need to be there, what needs to be updates and what can be removed. There the Update or rather Upgrade works well. On any used-Windows installation, this is just a guessing game - even the uninstall, in Windows, in theory cannot work in all cases - however, with uninstall there is a better control of things than with Update.

[Ian Forbes]

Broadcom has added a DNS redirect for all old vmware.com domains to broadcom.com which has broken the update service. You'll have to login to the support portal and download the newest version from there. 

[Juergen Heckel]

I downloaded this new version

VMware-workstation-full-17.6.3-24583834.exe(401.43 MB) Build Number: 24583834

Mar 04, 2025

Feb 24, 2025

 and got the same certificate error as before.

[Technogeezer]

From what another Broadcom employee posted, it's not just as simple as the new re-direct. As I was led to believe from another post, the mechanism for customers to obtain software updates for VMware products is changing (update access will be tied to support accounts and product entitlements). Since there are no entitlements for the free Desktop Virtualization products, this in effect removes the ability for in-product updating.

My belief is that it's going to take some thought from the Broadcom team and a product update to return in-product updates to Workstation (and Fusion).  When is that going to happen? Your guess is as good as mine. Broadcom (and VMware before them) haven't been very quick to release any product fixes outside of critical security issues. .

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Jan Nelken]

I have only 2 simple question:

1. Is VMware Workstation Pro a free product?
2. If it is - where one can download installable image of VMWare Workstation Pro and VMWare Tools?

[Keith Vrabel]

I don’t know about how Broadcom is doing any of this, however the PRO version of both Workstation and Fusion were a paid product! The PRO versions provide a lot more features.

Thank you,
Keith Vrabel
[e-mail]

[Keith Vrabel]

I have VMware Fusion Pro (for Mac) and am receiving the same error. 

Also from what I see so far, none of my previous purchases of the VMware software have carried over or been listed under my account now with Broadcom. Since Broadcom purchased VMware everything should carry over, all purchases, license keys, etc. 

One possible solution I have seen listed was to download the most recent version and re-install. The doesn't seem possible since I don't have access to any of my purchased VMware products & license keys. 

[Technogeezer]

Since Broadcom purchased VMware everything should carry over, all purchases, license keys, etc. 

One would think that they should have, but they didn't.

Broadcom effectively has removed downloads of all versions of Fusion prior to 13.5.2 and Workstation prior to 17.5.2 for those of us that don't have support contracts. They made a partial attempt to return access to some purchased keys that were found on the old VMware site, but that depended on the migration of your account which in a lot of instances didn't go smoothly. And even then, keys older than 2 years aren't displayed. It's doubtful that Broadcom can or will find those old keys for you..

Broadcom seems to be enforcing the notion that they are not providing downloads for out-of-support software.

My advice in the future for any vendor is to download keys and product installers for any software that you purchase -- or newer versions that you update to. Then archive both the keys and the installers. You can't depend on vendors providing those assets forever -- especially after they become end-of-life software (or the vendor disappears and turns the product into abandonware).

The doesn't seem possible since I don't have access to any of my purchased VMware products & license keys. 

If you want to upgrade to the latest versions available for download, you don't need any purchase history or license keys. Fusion and Workstation can be downloaded from the Broadcom support portal with a basic account. The versions you can download there do not require license keys - they can be used for commercial, educational, and personal purposed for free. 

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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[Keith Vrabel]

So it seems like Broadcom is basically saying, we don’t care what anyone purchased previously because you didn’t pay us!

Personally, I don’t count on vendors! I have my original download and the original license key. And currently, from what I can find I am on the current version of VMware Fusion 13.6.3. So it was auto-upgrading until just recently. Since, normally if you purchase say VMware Fusion Pro 13.x you can then upgrade to every version of VMware Fusion Pro 13.x without issue and would then have to purchase the new version 14.
It would seem that if Broadcom was smart they would have completed the migration properly so that everyone would update and then get prompted when the new version was released and therefore informed that, in my case version 14 was released and then, as in the past I would get prompted or directed to purchase version 14.x. In the past, when VMware was VMware this is how it worked and when the new version came out I would purchase the new version. Now I have reluctance and will start checking alternatives.

Thank you,
Keith Vrabel
[e-mail]

> On Mar 31, 2025, at 11:42 AM, Technogeezer via Broadcom <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
> <https: community.broadcom.com>
> VMware Workstation <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation communities community-home digestviewer?communitykey=fb707ac3-9412-4fad-b7af-018f5da56d9f>
> Post New Message <mailto:[e-mail]>
> Re: VMWare Worksation Pro Certificate Error <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation discussion vmware-worksation-pro-certificate-error#bm99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c>
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> <https: community.broadcom.com network members profile?userkey=c12c3f28-10e5-4012-8818-523da440ecb1>
> Mar 31, 2025 11:41 AM
> Technogeezer <https: community.broadcom.com network members profile?userkey=c12c3f28-10e5-4012-8818-523da440ecb1>
> Since Broadcom purchased VMware everything should carry over, all purchases, license keys, etc.
> One would think that they should have, but they didn't.
>
> Broadcom effectively has removed downloads of all versions of Fusion prior to 13.5.2 and Workstation prior to 17.5.2 for those of us that don't have support contracts. They made a partial attempt to return access to some purchased keys that were found on the old VMware site, but that depended on the migration of your account which in a lot of instances didn't go smoothly. And even then, keys older than 2 years aren't displayed. It's doubtful that Broadcom can or will find those old keys for you..
>
> Broadcom seems to be enforcing the notion that they are not providing downloads for out-of-support software.
>
> .My advice in the future for any vendor is to download keys and product installers for any software that you purchase -- or newer versions that you update to. Then archive both the keys and the installers. You can't depend on vendors providing those assets forever -- especially after they become end-of-life software (or the vendor disappears and turns the product into abandonware).
>
> The doesn't seem possible since I don't have access to any of my purchased VMware products & license keys.
> If you want to upgrade to the latest versions available for download, you don't need any purchase history or license keys. Fusion and Workstation can be downloaded from the Broadcom support portal with a basic account. The versions you can download there do not require license keys - they can be used for commercial, educational, and personal purposed for free.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> - Paul (technogeezer)
> vExpert 2025
> ------------------------------
> Reply to Group Online <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation communities all-discussions postreply?messagekey=99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c&ListKey=1b0a16ce-2127-4fae-a840-018f5da56726> Reply to Group via Email <mailto:[e-mail]?subject=re:%20vmware%20worksation%20pro%20certificate%20error> View Thread <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation discussion vmware-worksation-pro-certificate-error#bm99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c> Recommend <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation discussion vmware-worksation-pro-certificate-error?messagekey=99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c&cmd=rate&cmdarg=add#bm99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c> Forward <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation communities all-discussions forwardmessages?messagekey=99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c&ListKey=1b0a16ce-2127-4fae-a840-018f5da56726> Flag as Inappropriate <https: community.broadcom.com vmware-cloud-foundation discussion vmware-worksation-pro-certificate-error?markappropriate=99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c#bm99e24327-4a27-40fd-a56d-0195ecce992c>
> -------------------------------------------
> Original Message:
> Sent: Mar 30, 2025 11:27 AM
> From: Keith Vrabel
> Subject: VMWare Worksation Pro Certificate Error
>
> I have VMware Fusion Pro (for Mac) and am receiving the same error.
>
> Also from what I see so far, none of my previous purchases of the VMware software have carried over or been listed under my account now with Broadcom. Since Broadcom purchased VMware everything should carry over, all purchases, license keys, etc.
>
> One possible solution I have seen listed was to download the most recent version and re-install. The doesn't seem possible since I don't have access to any of my purchased VMware products & license keys.
>
>
> Original Message:
> Sent: Mar 26, 2025 12:34 PM
> From: Ronald VonColln
> Subject: VMWare Worksation Pro Certificate Error
>
> Recieving the following error on our VMWare Workstation Pro station.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[Jan Nelken]

I paid license for VMware Workstation Pro and several renewals; I am not
happy with Broadcom approach.
This last case made my mind: Broadcom pushed me into VirtualBox world.

[goldeneye_007]

"It would seem that if Broadcom was smart they would have completed the migration properly so that everyone would update and then get prompted when the new version was released..."

Big assumption there. The clown show continues.

[Keith Vrabel]

What I had said was really not an assumption but a statement. If the migration was done properly everything would have been better! However, from what I have experienced when Broadcom becomes involved things get worse and generally everything is blamed on anyone else. But this is just what I have experienced with Broadcom most of the time.

Thank you,
Keith Vrabel
[e-mail]

[Technogeezer]

I have VMware Fusion Pro (for Mac) and am receiving the same error. 

Not surprising. It's the same problem as Workstation users are finding. There's no workaround from Broadcom other than accessing updated product installers from the Broadcom support portal and use them to upgrade Workstaiton/Fusion.

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- Paul (technogeezer)
vExpert 2025
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