How to download VMWare Workstation?

[Het Patel]

I have spent enough time to download Workstation Pro 16, but I just don't find a way due to the new site transition and poor or no support. I'm not entitled to download the product. So I try make a "build you profile" to get access. For that I need a "Site ID". For which I have to create a case which has still not be responded after many days. I tried contacting support but the page is down. How do I get the product? VMware workstation 16.2.4 pro

[Michael Bronzini]

Broadcom doesn't seem to have an interest for small/medium based companies with valid licenses but no support contract.
I could not create a Site ID and I'm left with only a basic user account.
But the good news for VMware Workstation Pro 17, is that Broadcom has made it free for personal use.
So anyone can download VMware Workstation Pro 17.0 for Personal Use (both Linux & Windows versions)

Use this link:
https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware%20Workstation%20Pro

You will see the following choices:

/Michael

[jay-ekon]

Yeah we used microsoft winget to update our vmware workstations, it was the easiest way on mass, and we have a site id, and yet we don't even have access to our entitlements.

Winget has removed VMWare Workstation Pro now and they noted that the download URL needs personal headers to download.
https://github.com/microsoft/winget-pkgs/pull/154072

However for your case of just needing an old 16 package if you still have your license key, I have a work around, Winget recorded the old URL for 16 in this file

https://github.com/microsoft/winget-pkgs/commit/a70919bbb15938583252a6b991e6b45458c462ce

It was 

https://download3.vmware.com/software/WKST-1625-WIN/VMware-workstation-full-16.2.5-20904516.exe

And you can try to get it via archive.org, however, those downloads are crazy slow and might disconnect.

https://web.archive.org/web/20221227151709/https://download3.vmware.com/software/WKST-1625-WIN/VMware-workstation-full-16.2.5-20904516.exe

[rmilling]

In my case, I have 2 v17 pro licenses with on-going entitlement to access maintenance updates. I do not need support, just access to download updates. Well, without a site ID, the Broadcom support site and support staff seem to have no way to provide the entitled access.  Worse, repeated requests to escalate the non-compliance for resolution, seems to fall on deaf ears.

[Jordan Clarfield]

In the same boat here. Cannot get ANY info from Broadcom OR VMware re my workstation 17 pro. 

There is a vast difference from needing support vs. needing access to download files. I think I was forced into the 'free' download, because I got a notice a couple weeks back saying "You need to update your VMware software" for it to keep warning. I should have thought twice before hitting "yes". Now, every time I boot my virtual machine, I get "WMWare Tools unrecoverable error: (host-10284): Exception 0xc0000096 has occurred".

All my internet searches did not reveal any direction or advice on repair (aside from being told to make a Broadcom account). Made a Broadcom account, and don't see ANYTHING about my license/subscription/account, etc. Its as if I created a free broadcom account for no specific reason.

Does anyone have any idea what's going to happen with this? A lot of people out there are saying non-corporate/business users are gonna get left out in the cold...any actual concrete info in these regards?

[Giuseppe Zaccone]

I'm in the same situation as you.

Following Michael Bronzini's advice, I only get that the download request is blocked with a "screening request" message and the forbidden sign

[Nancy Lov]

@Giuseppe Zaccone u shd click on agree terms and conditions then u will be able to download 

[RaSystemlord]

The generic answer to this question is the following. However, the Pro version is probably not "Free" - it is only an Evaluation version. Player is free for personal use. So, this is how it ever was.

Not tried any installs since I'm sticking to versions that I got during VMware times. Downloads seem to work, though.

---

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. 

[Technogeezer]

The generic answer to this question is the following. However, the Pro version is probably not "Free" - it is only an Evaluation version. Player is free for personal use. So, this is how it ever was.

It's not the "same as it ever was" While this statement is true for Workstation versions prior to 17.5.2 it is not for 17.5.2 and later. Since 17.5.2, Workstation Pro is free for personal use -- not a "30-day free Evaluation use" -- and the mechanics of "licensing" it for free personal use are built into those versions. They did not go back and retro-fit Workstation Pro versions of 17.5.1 and earlier for the new licensing model -- so they can not be used for free outside of a 30 day evaluation period. There are some "quirks" if you try to install 17.5.2+ on top of an existing licensed Workstation implementation and want to switch to the free personal use license -- you may need to delete the existing licensing information in order to get the installer to offer the free personal use option.

Workstation Player is no longer offered as a separate product again starting with 17.5.2. It's still bundled with Workstation Pro but (and I'm reading the tea leaves here) VMware has hinted it's probably going away with the next major release of Workstation.

[Glen Leslie]

Sorry but https://community.broadcom.com/vmware-cloud-foundation/network/members/profile?UserKey=c12c3f28-10e5-4012-8818-523da440ecb1 doesn't add up.  Workstation Player continues to be released and was updated multiple times in the 17.6.* release series ... so why can't it be access ("not entitled" message is displayed) 

[Technogeezer]

Sorry but https://community.broadcom.com/vmware-cloud-foundation/network/members/profile?UserKey=c12c3f28-10e5-4012-8818-523da440ecb1 doesn't add up.  Workstation Player continues to be released and was updated multiple times in the 17.6.* release series ... so why can't it be access ("not entitled" message is displayed) 

Broadcom has stopped offering Workstation Player as a separate product. From their FAQ:

As of April 30th, 2024 Workstation Player and Fusion Player are considered EOS (End of Sale) and are unavailable for purchase going forward. Customers with active contracts will continue to be supported for the duration of their contract. This means products will receive regular updates, and support tickets can be filed.

Perhaps that's why the download is blocked - I'm assuming you have a basic Broadcom account with no support contract. They don't seem to want to allow download of Workstation Player since it's end-of-sale unless you have a support contract. (which seems a bit confusing since Player was a free product in the first place). 

<opinion>

I really don't understand why Broadcom is putting up these roadblocks for downloading Desktop Virtualization products. It's not like they're providing direct support for them any more or providing new licenses for old products. Can there be that much of an issue for allowing an out-of-support product to be downloaded and "let the user beware" - especially if you already have a license for the older product version? I know they think of themselves as providing software for the corporate marketplace, but the desktop hypervisor products really need to be treated differently. They're in use by more than just the typical corporate IT department. 

They may also feel that since Workstation Pro is available for free for commercial, educational, and personal uses (and it still includes the Workstation Player application) that there's not really a need for Workstation Player. Which may or may not be a valid position.

</opinion>

[Glen Leslie]

>>I really don't understand why Broadcom is putting up these roadblocks for downloading Desktop Virtualization products. It's not like they're providing direct support for them any more or providing new licenses for old products. Can there be that much of an issue for allowing an out-of-support product to be downloaded and "let the user beware" - especially if you already have a license for the older product version? I know they think of themselves as providing software for the corporate marketplace, but the desktop hypervisor products really need to be treated differently. They're in use by more than just the typical corporate IT department. >>

agreed.  I was just deploying a vm for a non-profit and want the absolute minimal install.   even though the Player is only 100MB less, it's a matter of what the end users might end up finding on their system since WS Pro has to be installed.  In any case, good to know that the WS Pro download is *the* answer for us for the time being. 

[Glen Leslie]

p.s. does anyone know if you can somehow parameterize the WS Pro install to limit the install to only Player? The installer doesn't seem to be setup to provide a custom installation where you pick only the subcomponents you want installed. 

On Windows, when I type 

"VMware-workstation-full-17.6.2-24409262.exe /?" 

it gives a few ideas but but only for "silent install" -- when you look at the manual for "silent install" it really is only silencing the dialogues and popups during the install process and automating the inclusion/suppression of services (network, sound, display etc) ...   but nothing about how to limit the installation of subcomponents.  

[cafebabe]

Same here. As far as I know, I own a license to Workstation Pro 17. I finalized my profile. And when I try to download the latest version, I get "Account verification is Pending. Please try after some time.". Its like this for weeks now. And I cannot access the customer support site, because of some Okta OAuth issue. This is beyond "acquisition issues" now.

If Broadcom doesn't care about its small/private customers, I might don't care about Broadcom when it comes to big business.

[Technogeezer]

I own a license to Workstation Pro 17. I finalized my profile. And when I try to download the latest version, I get "Account verification is Pending. Please try after some time.". Its like this for weeks now. And I cannot access the customer support site, because of some Okta OAuth issue. This is beyond "acquisition issues" now.

If you're still having issues with account verification ia pending, you're going to have to pick up the telephone and call Broadcom Support. Then indicate you're having web site access issues. If you don't you'll be waiting forever to get your account fixed.

Trying to contact Broadcom via the web or the forums won't get your problem fixed either. The phone call is your best (and IMO only) way to get it fixed.