How to create a shortcut to a VMWare Workstation Player 15 VM?

Question

I'd like to start a VMWare Workstation Player specific Virtual Machine from a link, rather than starting VMWare, then double-clicking on the VM.

VMWare provides an explanation on this procedure for the Pro product, but it doesn't work with the Player.

Is this possible?

Solution 1

tl;dr: Required command vmplayer.exe HelloWorld.vmx

First find the vmplayer.exe executable full path. Default path is:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\vmplayer.exe" 

Run that path with --help option in Command Prompt for the help window:

Usage: vmplayer.exe [OPTION ...] [--] [configuration file]

where OPTIONS are:

-v          Show program version
-X          Enter full screen mode
            when a virtual machine is powered on
--unity     Enter Unity
            when a virtual machine is powered on

Now find the required VMware virtual machine configuration file with .VMX file extension. For example:

"%UserProfile%\Desktop\Virtual Machines\Windows 10 x64\Windows 10 x64.vmx" 

Hence the full command will be like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Player\vmplayer.exe" "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Virtual Machines\Windows 10 x64\Windows 10 x64.vmx" 

Too long, isn't it? Create a shortcut of vmplayer.exe with that command. This also works in Command Prompt. Make sure to user double quote the path because the path contains spaces. This may help.

Solution 2

VMware KVM mode shortcut is a better way!

Create desktop shortcut with this target:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-kvm.exe" "%UserProfile%\Documents\Virtual Machines\Windows 10 x64\Windows 10 x64.vmx"

Read this article for more information:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2057914

Solution 3

You should be able to just double-click on the VM's .vmx file. If you have only VMware (Workstation) Player installed (and not VMware Workstation Pro), then the VM should automatically open in Player.

If you want to double-click on an icon from a more convenient location, you can do a right-mouse-button drag on the .vmx file to create a shortcut to it and then move the shortcut wherever you want.