How to Repair VMware Player Installation

Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
How to Repair VMware Player Installation

In this guide, you will learn how to repair VMware Player installed on Windows 10/Windows 11. You can repair VMware workstation player when you notice issues with the VMplayer application.

According to VMware, VMware Player is a free desktop application that lets you run a virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Workstation Player is a free desktop application that lets you run a virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC.

VMware Player provides an intuitive user interface for running preconfigured virtual machines created with VMware Workstation, GSX Server, and ESX Server.

Almost all the VMware software programs such as VMware Workstation, VMware Tools can be repaired including the VMware Workstation Player. If you notice your VMware player isn’t working correctly, you can easily repair the installation.

Note: VMware Workstation Player has no technical support entitlement. Meaning, you cannot get any kind of support for VMware player from the company. However, you can review the documentation, knowledge base, or the communities for assistance.

How to Repair VMware Player Installation

Let’s look at the steps to repair the VMware Workstation Player installed on Windows 10/Windows 11 computer. First, exit the VMware Workstation player application running on your computer.

The repair option for VMware workstation player is available in the Control Panel > Programs and Features. From the list of programs, click VMware Player and select Change.

Repair VMware Player Installation
Repair VMware Player Installation

Now the VMware Workstation Player setup wizard pops up. To continue with repair, click Next.

VMware Player Setup Wizard
VMware Player Setup Wizard

Repair VMware Workstation Player Setup Wizard Options

The VMware Workstation player setup wizard provides the following options:

  1. Change – This option lets you change the way the features are installed. You can remove or add the features to the existing VMware player installation.
  2. Repair – The repair option repairs the VMware player errors in the most recent installation by fixing missing and corrupt files, shortcuts and registry entries.
  3. Remove – Use this option to remove or uninstall the VMware workstation player from your computer.

From the list of options, select Repair.

Repair VMware Player Installation
Repair VMware Player Installation

To begin the repair of VMware Workstation player, click Repair.

Repair VMware Workstation Player
How to Repair VMware Player Installation 9

The setup wizard now repairs the VMware player installation on your computer. At this point, do not attempt to launch the player. Wait for the repair operation to complete.

Repairing VMware Player
Repairing VMware Player

The repair VMware workstation player operation is completed successfully. Click Finish to close the setup wizard. You don’t have to restart your PC after the repair is complete.

Now launch the VMware player on your computer and all the previous issues related to VMware player should be resolved now.

Repair VMware Workstation Player Installation
Repair VMware Workstation Player Installation

VMware Player Command Line Options

The below table lists all the command line options for VMware player. You can manage your virtual machines with VMware player using the following cmd options.

VMware Player Command Line OptionDescription
-vDisplays the product name, version, and build number.
-XEnter the full screen mode when the virtual machine is powered on.
–unityEnter unity when virtual machine is powered on.

Based on my findings, there is no command line option to repair VMware workstation player. In case I get to know about it, I will update the post.

The next section describes how to uninstall the VMWare player from the computer. In case the repair option doesn’t resolve the issues, you can uninstall VMware player and install it back.

Uninstall VMware Workstation Player

You can uninstall the VMware Player from your computer with following steps:

  • On your computer, go to Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features.
  • From the list of programs, select VMware Player program and select Change.
  • On the VMware Workstation player setup wizard, select Remove.
  • Complete the remaining steps of setup wizard to uninstall VMware Player.
Uninstall VMware Workstation Player
Uninstall VMware Workstation Player

If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below.

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Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
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Prajwal Desai is a Microsoft MVP in Intune and SCCM. He writes articles on SCCM, Intune, Windows 365, Windows Server, Windows 11, WordPress and other topics, with the goal of providing people with useful information.
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