VMware has released a big update to Workstation Pro (Windows and Linux) and Fusion Pro (Mac), its popular virtualization software. With the latest update, the service is adopting a new version model, switching away from traditional numbers like 17.6.X to one that Microsoft uses for its Windows releases. Now, the latest versions of VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are 25H2 (just like the latest Windows 11 update), which reflects the release year and its second half.
Besides a new version scheme, VMware Workstation/Fusion Pro 25H2 introduces several new features, such as dictTool, a new command-line utility for inspecting and editing VMware configuration files (vmx), USB 3.2 support for faster data transfer and better compatibility, Hardware Version 22 for better performance and compatibility with the latest hardware, and Hyper-V/WHP detection to help users detect the current virtual machine running mode.
Additionally, the update brings support for more processors and guest/host operating systems:
| Processors | Guest OS | Host OS |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Lunar Lake Intel Arrow Lake Intel Meteor Lake |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 Fedora Linux 42 openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC) SUSE Linux 16 (Beta) Debian 13 Oracle Linux 10 VMware ESX 9.0 (Workstation: general, Fusion: Intel systems only) macOS Tahoe (Fusion: Intel systems only) |
Workstation: RHEL 10, Fedora Linux 42, openSUSE Leap 16.0 (RC), SUSE Linux 16 (Beta), Debian 13 Fusion: macOS Tahoe (Intel and Apple Silicon) |
Finally, VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro version 25H2 contain several bug fixes and improvements:
- Security fixes across both Workstation and Fusion.
- Accessibility enhancements to improve usability.
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Workstation-specific fixes:
- Resolved UI issues on Windows with resizing and window controls.
- Optimized Linux support bundles for easier handling.
- Reduced excessive logging by the VMware Authorization Service (vmauthd) in Windows Event Viewer.
- Option to discard VM suspend states.
- Fixed Linux full-screen crash and Intel GPU 3D acceleration issues.
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Fusion-specific fixes:
- Resolved dead key input issues.
- Fixed USB “Plug in Action” settings persistence.
You can download the latest VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro release from the official website for free (registration is required). Full release notes for the latest updates are available here, and the announcement page here.
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