In this article
Check your environment
Before installing VMware Tools through open-vm-tools, make sure that your environment is compatible. This quick check will prevent unnecessary errors and ensure that VMware features integrate correctly with Ubuntu.
The method described here applies to most versions of Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server supported by Canonical:
- Ubuntu Desktop: LTS versions (22.04, 20.04…) and current releases (for example 23.10)
- Ubuntu Server in a minimal environment without a graphical interface
If you do not know which Ubuntu version you are using, run:
lsb_release -a
There is no need to mount the VMware Tools ISO manually on these platforms because the tools are available directly from the Ubuntu repositories.
Install VMware Tools on Ubuntu
Once Ubuntu is ready, VMware Tools can be installed with a single command through the open-vm-tools package, maintained in Ubuntu’s official repositories. This package is a better replacement for the old proprietary tools distributed by VMware.
For Ubuntu Server (without a graphical interface):
If you use Ubuntu Server or a minimal version without a desktop environment, the following command is enough:
sudo apt install open-vm-tools -y
This installs the core services required for VMware integration, including:
- Clock synchronization
- Restart management from the host
- Correct identification of the machine in VMware vSphere or Workstation
For Ubuntu Desktop (with a graphical interface):
For an Ubuntu machine with a graphical interface (GNOME, KDE, XFCE…), you must also install open-vm-tools-desktop:
sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop -y
This additional component enables desktop-related features:
- Automatic resizing of the VM window
- Drag and drop of files between host and guest
- Shared clipboard for copying and pasting text or files
- Support for VMware shared folders
This lets Ubuntu install only what is needed for the current context, avoiding unnecessary overhead on command-line machines.
Restart the virtual machine to apply the changes
After installing the packages, a complete restart of the virtual machine is required so that all VMware Tools services initialize correctly.
sudo reboot
Without this restart, the tools may be installed but inactive, preventing the VM from benefiting from the expected improvements.
Don’t let the algorithm decide for you
Add Assistouest to your preferred sources on Google so you can find our guides faster when you search for an IT solution.
Check that VMware Tools is working correctly
After restarting, you should check that the VMware Tools services are running. Use the following command in a terminal:
vmware-toolbox-cmd -v
This command returns the installed version number, confirming that the tools are recognized and available.
VMware Tools improves VM performance by allowing it to access hardware more directly. For VMware Workstation to work correctly, hardware virtualization (VT-x or AMD-V) must be enabled in the BIOS. VMware is a type 2 hypervisor; the distinction from type 1 hypervisors such as Proxmox explains its performance limitations.
An error occurred. Please try again in a moment.